HI Kieron,

I was at the concert on Jan 31st. I can't compare it to the old concerts as
i'm only 29 and was a only a tot when they were together before. I went with
a few guys from work who saw Planxty reguarly,including the various
different line up's etc. They all agreed that they found Planxty better
today than ever before. They did say that the concert differed from the
one's back in the 70's in that the band were seated and much more relaxed on
stage now, whereas it was a bit hectic back then. Over all it was the best
music event i ever witnessed by a clear mile and am kicking myself i was
born 20 years too late, hopefully there will be more concerts.

I was into Irish music for years and decided after seeing Andy Irvine play
at the Cork Folk festival that i was finally going to learn the mandolin
like i always wanted. I never took it up for fear of failing at it. That was
four years ago and am sorry now i did'nt do so sooner. I go to see Andy any
time i can, and found an uncanny resemblance to my own story when reading
yours on your website. I was trying to get Andy's book "aiming for the
heart" with no success so i approached him during the break at a concert in
the Lobby bar in Cork. His was really sound to speak to, and signed my copy
of rain on the roof for me. He gave me his postal address and said to a drop
him a note and he would send on the book. I could'nt believe that this
superstar was so down to earth and would even speak to me, never mind giving
me his home address?. When i wrote to him i asked about rude awakening which
i could'nt get which he also send me, with a note on those "bloody record
company's". He said that the recording company's were holding back on his
albums, so much so that he found it difficult to get the album himself.
Reading his account of writing to Woody Guthrie in his youth took on a new
meaning for me after this. At one concert people were calling for all the
old stuff like "sing the blacksmith Andy", "Indiana Andy" etc etc. He seemed
to be a little put off by nobody asking for any song from his recently
released album way out yonder. Sensing this i called for "carrickfergus", to
which he replied "which one", which i thought to myself " does he think i'm
calling for the other more popular Carrickfergus. I then shouted , "no Andy-
born in Carrickfergus" will do fine. He smiled at this and thanked me for
liking his new album.

At the planxty concert they came on stage and everybody was gob smacked at
the music they played. The sound coming from Andy's instrument on the
opening set was without doubt the greatest, and most beautifully played
music i've ever heard.

Good luck with the site

God bless,
John Lynch