I'm in Ireland for the launch of book  Doolin. The book was published on June 1 and was on Amazon before copies were delivered to Irish outlets. On Thursday last I read that Doolin was # 1 bestseller on Amazon's Irish Travel and Guidebook list...a pleasant surprise. Later I noted that it was # 1 on Amazon's Folk and Traditional Music list...a book on Bob Dylan was # 3. My publisher told me yesterday that the book has sold out in Ireland and has gone back to press.…

a story from my collection 'Out of the Blue'

Dreamin' Dreams

Just days after MJ celebrated his thirtieth year in America, the foreman gripped his hand, muttered that…

My music career began the year I joined Mickey Moran's Country and Oldtime Stars. I was seventeen, had long hair and played electric guitar, one of the solid red axes like Keith Richards had. Good for the image, Mickey said. There were four of us in the 'outfit', as he called it: himself played  a piano accordion, Tats was on the drums, me  on guitar and Tony Flynn covered clarinet, flute, maracas and tambourine. Mickey  did the…

One glorious July morning, I was on my way to help John Joe Maher make hay, when I noticed a crowd of strangers in the town square. A film crew, so I strayed from my path and went to see what they were at.…

Granda had a 'thing' about the church — he was excommunicated during the Irish War of Independence for carrying a gun, and that turned his head. Even though Bishop Harty took him back to the fold afterwards and blessed him and everything, Granda never went back spiritually. He just…