A Legend Passes

Yesterday, Irish folk singer Tommy Makem died of lung cancer in a nursing home in Dover, NH. He's been an icon of Irish music for literally my entire life - since the Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem appeared on Ed Sullivan in 1961, the year I was born.

I've enjoyed his music for as long as I can remember, though I could never claim to be a real fan. For me, the biggest kick was simply that there was this really famous guy who actually lived in the same little town as me.

My ex-wife's family, especially my ex-mother-in-law were close to the Makems and the Clancy's as well as Eugene Byrne's family. So I did manage to meet Tommy and Eugene a couple of times. Call me a hick, but I got a small kick out of seeing Tommy showing up late for Easter mass, standing in the back in sneakers and jeans - and what the hell is he doing in the French parish when his Irish church is a two minute walk away?

Now he's gone, though his sons continue the musical tradition and his daughter the cultural ones.

We know you were a teetotaller, but I hope you won't mind us tipping back a few in your memory, Tommy.

In Other News

Tonight is opening night for "Moby Dick, the Musical". Alex is running the lights for this show being performed at the Northwood Masonic Lodge (I don't think it's a temple, I forget.) He's asked me to wait until next week to see it so I can give his girlfriend a ride and that's when her schedule allows her to go.