The Boys of the Lough, including Cathal McConnell, will be appearing at the Clark Art Institute, in Williamstown, MA, this Saturday, March 3, at 8pm. As my wife and I are bringing some supplies to my daughter in school there, we’ll take advantage of the karma and see the Boys. If you’re in that area it’s a real opportunity. Hope to see some of you there.
Philo
PS - Paul, I’m bringing my little green (delrin) man.
…including Cathal McConnell
Cathal McConnell was the only name I was confident would be included, actually.
Aren’t the Boys pretty much Cathal + side men these days?
Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine…
With Cathall are Dave Richardson (1973), Kevin Henderson (2002), Brendan Begley (1997), and Malcolm Stitt (1997).
Philo
Would you have ticket info, Philo?
Mike
All of whom are excellent musicians. I don’t think of them as Cathal’s side men at all, though he is obviously the senior member and probably the best known of the group. The Boys did a concert last year at the college I graduated from and it was just wonderful. If you can, make it to their concert. I wish I could.
Rats! I can’t make it-- Charlene is working until 7 or so tomorrow and we’d never make it over the mountain in time. Please let Cathal try out the Green Man and forward his comments or suggestions to me.
BTW-- if you haven’t already been throught the Clark museum yet, make time for it. It’s one of the best small art museums I’ve ever seen. Paintings and sculpture by all the big names: all (or most) were part of a private collection! Worth a trip for anyone traveling in the area.
If any of you make it to the concert and pick up a copy, or perhaps already own their CD “Twenty”, check out the photo credit for the main centerfold and back of the CD case. 
Mike - Tickets can be reserved 413-458-0524 and picked up at the box office after 7pm Sat. $24 a pop, first come first served seating; don’t take my seat! 
Paul - It’s amazing that a little town, albeit one intertwined with a college campus, has two really fantastic museums; the Clark is one of the best museums anywhere, and the Williams College Museum is wonderful also. I’ve got it all planned; Cathal will make the little green man famous…
Philo
Just back and the concert was foot stompin’ fantastic. Nice venue for a concert - all seats good. They did two sets and came back for a third after a much deserved standing ovation. Cathal was great on flute and whistle; his whistle was a Generation blue (nickel) Eflat, upon which he showed off a bit. He also has a lovely voice, as does Brendan Begley who also astounded on concertina and accordion. Kevin Henderson of Shetland was wonderful on fiddle. Dave Richardson (composer of Calliope House, a personal favorite) wrote at least one new song for the performance and played mandolin. Newcomer Malcolm Stitt accompanied on his big left-handed guitar and added the Scottish touch.
I spoke briefly with Butch from our first NE Whistle Gathering and even more briefly with Cathal after the show. Most endearing was seeing my spouse stomping her foot in perfect time to the music throughout (except thankfully during a couple of beautiful ballads).
Sorry Paul didn’t even get a chance to whip out the little green man; can you get an autograph on delrin? 
Philo
Short of an engraving pen, I’m not sure you can mark Delrin at all. That stuff seems to shed chemicals of all sorts, which is why it is commonly used for medical components.