Andrew sings Pie Jesu

Okay, I confess I do love to watch these talent shows from time to time simply because the most amazing gifted people do show up out of nowhere. Like this young man. I mean, you really don't see this angelic voice coming. I'm right there with the ladies weeping in the audience.

Tutty's Bar, County Wicklow

This video is from last year's Music Under the Mountains Festival held annually in Hollywood, Co. Wicklow. I went over the mountains via Glendalough on Saturday to enjoy a fine sunny day and great trad music at this year's festival. It made me homesick for Kinvara. Tutty's Bar and the Hollywood Inn and the friendliness of everybody was just like the sessions I used to go to when I lived in the West of Ireland. Craic agus ceol.

WARNING

I am changing the hosting for my website so it may do down for a few days and thus affect this blog. But don't worry. All will be sorted shortly!

MacCrimmon's Lament - Martyn Bennett

I'm a little in shock here as I have just discovered that this brilliant young man - whom I listen to all the time in the car when I am travelling - died three years ago! How tragic. He is playing in the old style here, but he was also a techno-piper, plugging his bagpipes into electronic gadgets with amazing results. Oh I am so sad. He was only a little while upon the earth. Ochón. Ochón.

The Tudors

Lucky me, I was on the set of The Tudors yesterday. It is, of course, being produced in Ardmore Studios, right here in my home town of Bray. Had lunch in the canteen with Kathleen, who is the script supervisor and then we toured some of the sets - the Tower of London prison where poor Sir Thomas More was kept, the King's throne, Prince Edward's little golden cradle (Season 3 is being filmed now), also the main hall where the balls are held. I was in heaven. I love the magic of film sets and I particularly love this series. Outdoor sets include Kilruddery House (around the corner from me) and Powerscourt, a short drive away.