Clear Is the Water

This book began as an account written during my long journey in 2011 around Ireland with a visit to Berlin. Later, stories from my two previous journeys, 2009 and 2010 were added, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and England. The book tells of extraordinary meetings with people, unbelievable coincidences and my being welcomed to perform Irish music, improvise on flutes and whistles and play with great bands. The magic also occurred in Berlin and a reader’s imagination will be stretched to embrace some of the experiences I am able to relate. In my first paragraph I speak of miracles, defining such, “as an act of selfless kindness, or an event that is such a coincidence, as to be hard to believe”. Just imagine, the River Boyne flows next to the Bounty Bar (Trim) where I attracted the attention of a band waiting to drive to a late night “gig”. I sang “Red is the Rose”, which highlights the River Boyne and the band invited me to perform with them at their “gig” and in particular to sing that song. “Clear is the water” comes from the chorus of that song. When I first performed for an hour in the Bounty Bar I had no idea that it was voted the best pub in Ireland for music ( 2003) and had hanging on the wall, just above where I sang, a ship’s wheel, a thank you gift to Billy Wilson, the publican, from “The Dubliners”.