Hello Kieron,

Just wanted to say what a great site and obviously a labour of love!

I've been an Andy Irvine fan for just over 30 years now - since I bought a copy of the Prosperous album when it first came out.
I was at Reading university at the time and persuaded the people running the folk club there to book this new Irish band called Planxty! They cost us £100 and we charged 25p on the door!! It was, as you can imagine just about the most stunning night I've ever experienced in a club - it might have been their first tour in the U.K - early 1973 I think!
Other memories include a great night with the Moynihan/Brady version of the band with Mike Harding as support in the Victoria rooms in Bristol (either late 74 or early 75) and the same line-up in their first farewell tour later in '75 (or was it early 76?) where several songs from the Irvine/Brady album were tried out (Bonny Woodhall, Martinmas Tide and Mary & the Soldier) and Johnny Moynihan's bouzouki fell apart on him! Then of course there was the first reunion in 1979 and a gig at the Hammersmith Odeon with Matt Molloy joining the originals - first time I ever heard "Smeceno Horo" - knock out!
The last time I saw Andy was at the St. Albans club in April 2003. He was on great form that night and George Papa-g (can't spell the full name!!) sang "Empty Handed".

Since then I've got through a Fylde Octavius, a Graham McDonald (nice but a little too solid if you know what I mean) and have just picked up the first ever guitar-bouzouki made by Brook Guitars in Devon which is great!! (Yes, I'd love a Stefan Sobell but my pockets aren't that deep!!)

I've also discovered some other great music thanks to Andy Irvine - saw Bruce Molsky at our local club last week (a great musician and a really nice man) and have been busy buying Muzsikas albums recently (check out the "Passion Music" web site if you're into Eastern European music and haven't found it already.

I'm sure I'll be visiting your site regularly - thanks for all your hard work!

Cheers

Malcolm Hobbs

(Hertfordshire, U.K.)