Hi Cof. No apols needed mate. At least I got to say goodbye to Desi albeit ...

Hi Cof. No apols needed mate. At least I got to say goodbye to Desi albeit online. I had texted him a funny clip to which he replied, 'Appreciated, Gerry, but I would like you to know, if you didn't already that I'm on my way out, Cancer'. I nearly crapped myself as I hadn't known at all. I checked it out with a mutual friend and texted Desi back expressing my shock and ignorance of his illness, that it had been both an honour and a privilege to have played with him from he was a snotty-nosed teenager(!) in the Rossa Club to the last time we played in the Sunflower. 'Slán agus beannacht, mó chara dhílis', i bade him godbye. He died two days later. A great musician, a very funny person and a dear friend. RIP Desi.

Gerry, can I apologise again for not fully reading your most recent post ...

Gerry, can I apologise again for not fully reading your most recent post before I sent mine about Desi. I was profoundly upset, probably more than I might have thought, by Sean's news about Desi last week. I got in touch straight away with Brendy Gunn who had been to see Desi most recently and his reply affected me greatly. Sean, Brendy, Desi and I, along with my great friend and mentor, the late Frank Blaney, went back a long way, back to the late 60s, 70s and 80s and we shared a great bond which will never fade. There were so many of us from those days, and the days not long before, like yourself Gerry, who, probably believed the fun and the music would go on forever. The fun and the music will go on forever, unfortunately not all the the players will, unless, of course, we become the first immortals.

Cof

Sorry to add to Gerry's list, but just got news at the weekend from Sean ...

Sorry to add to Gerry's list, but just got news at the weekend from Sean McCann of the passing, last week, of our old friend Desi Wilkinson. I last met up with Desi, about seven years ago when my wife and I went with Sean to spend a week in Brittany with Hammy Hamilton and his wife. Desi and Genvieve where also there and we had a wonderful time with all the promises of keeping in touch and visits. As is so sadly and so often the case, so many of those promises have gone unfulfilled. RIP Desi.

Cof

Sorry Gerry, in my haste I didn't fully read your post and have just seen thar you mentioned Desi

Sorry to add to Gerry's list, but just got news at the weekend from Sean ...

Sorry to add to Gerry's list, but just got news at the weekend from Sean McCann of the passing, last week, of our old friend Desi Wilkinson. I last met up with Desi, about seven years ago when my wife and I went with Sean to spend a week in Brittany with Hammy Hamilton and his wife. Desi and Genvieve where also there and we had a wonderful time with all the promises of keeping in touch and visits. As is so sadly and so often the case, so many of those promises have gone unfulfilled. RIP Desi.

Cof

Cof McGrath's post just flagged up the chance to reflect on other deaths ...

Cof McGrath's post just flagged up the chance to reflect on other deaths of Irish musicians who passed in this last month most of whom I'd met and played with during my lifetime. Charlie Harris, box player with the Shaskeen, an excellent musician and true gentleman. Mick Coyne, piper. Eilish Moore, singer and activist, sister of Christy and mother of Conor Byrne, another fine flute player. Frank (Moose) McNamara, banjo & concertina, one of my oldest friends from my Dublin days in 60s/70s who played in Pat's many times with me and, finally, my good friend, Desi Wilkinson, flute player and academic, a friend from 70s whom I played with in Ireland, Estonia and France. Desi also played fiddle in recent years in our Old Timey session in the Sunflower. They gave pleasure to the world with their music and craic. A world which will be a colder and sadder place with their passing. May they rest in peace.

My condolences to all their families.

Just heard on the 10.00am BBC news of the passing of Moya Brennan. I didn't ...

Just heard on the 10.00am BBC news of the passing of Moya Brennan. I didn't know her well but spent a wonderful evening in the company of her, and the rest of Clannad, after Arty McGlynn and myself had been guests on an edition of "As I Roved Out" back in the early 80s. May I pass on my condolences to hers friends and family.

Cof