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Having a whale of a time in Greystones. Two nights

Having a whale of a time in Greystones. Two nights in this fab place.

Can we have a pet dog? This is a question many par

Can we have a pet dog? This is a question many parents aren't prepared for. All I could think of was the responsibility. The hassle of finding a place for the dog when we go on holiday, and making sure it had a daily walk...or two. Eventually I caved in and we got a cockapoo pup. We named him Rogan and we all love him. Here he is tiring me out on his daily walk.
What I hadn't expected was the upside of being a dog owner. The morning walks with Rogan clear my head and when we get back he lies by my desk as if to say "time to write." He rests there for an hour or more which also helps to keep me in my seat when I might otherwise get distracted. There really is some truth in that saying..a man's best friend.

Free Spirit. The story behind the song. The first

Free Spirit. The story behind the song.

The first time I heard a bouzouki was on the debut album by the Irish folk band Planxty. I was a young teenager rifling through my parents record collection looking for some buried treasure. Sandwiched between Big Tom and the Mainliners and The Soundtrack to South Pacific was an album that featured a live shot of the band lit by a single spotlight.

I was immediately intrigued and when I slipped it out of the sleeve and the needle dropped I was not disappointed. I had never heard anything quite like it. A strange combination of stringed instruments creating a sound that was both ancient and futuristic. What were these guys playing? I checked the sleeve notes and saw the name of an instrument I had never heard of before ...bouzouki.

Many years later we were recording an album in Amberville Studios owned by our friend, and collaborator Enda Walsh. The deadline to finish was fast approaching and we were still one song short. Part of the appeal of this particular studio is the fact that Enda has amassed a vast collection of weird and wonderful instruments including, moogs, wurlitzers, harmoniums and yes, a bouzouki.

In a last ditch attempt to summon up some inspiration he picked it up and started attempting to play it. Declan, a fellow Planxty fan, was immediately energised and started joining in on guitar weaving around Endas notes. The music sounded playful and untethered, the title Free Spirit came to mind and lyrics followed quickly. A couple of hours later we had the final song for our 2006 album, Fingerprints.

So, thank you Andy Irvine and Planxty, for introducing us to the wonders of that strange Greek instrument.

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