For "Dossan of Heather" readers and those who know Packie Ma

Whistle
1

Packie will be 85 on February 18. To those of us who know this great Irish character - singer, storyteller, whistleplayer, actor, etc. etc. - this is something of a miracle, since he has been in poor health for many years. I think it’s his spirit that’s keeping him alive, that and contact with people.

He doesn’t get out much these days, so if any of you feel like sending him a card for his birthday, it would surely give him a smile.

Packie Manus Byrne
12 Drumaghy Park
Ardara, Co. Donegal
Ireland

Just don’t expect a reply!

Thanks,
Steve
Just don’t

2

Will do. Packie is the reason I play the whistle today so anything I can do to repay him the years of joy he has given me will be a pleasure.

3

Hi Steve,
Brigitte here, thanks for reminding about Packie’s birthday, we were wondering when it was. I did read all of his books and found them very good, probably I could be abit biased here… “My friend Flannagan” is really funny and especially “Recollections of a Donegal man” I found fascinating as some of the people in the stories are grand-uncles/-cousins etc. of Colins’ :slight_smile: same as Packie. So I could learn about the roots of the family and how life was like at that time in Donegal and in “Dossan of Heather” about the music they played… I hope to be able to meet Packie in person this year as from what I have heard about him, he seems to be a very nice guy… does he like German chocolate :wink: ?
Thanks again Brigitte

4

Thanks for letting us know, Steve. I only know Packie through the Dossan of Heather (and what a fine tune and story collection that is), but that is enough. I’ll send a card.

5

In case any newer members are mystified as to who Packie Manus Byrne is, you can find out more by clicking the www icon at the foot of my messages.

Here’s a picture of the man playing a G whistle made by Bernard Overton.

Talking of Overtons, Brigitte, I think it’s really neat that Packie and Colin are distant cousins. I was also tickled when Colin told me he had played Brian Finnegan a tape of Packie’s playing and that Brian was taken aback to realize that here was a man who had perfected the art of triple-tonguing long before Brian was born…

Thanks in advance to everyone who sends Packie a card. If you can’t see your way to doing that and would like an easy way to salute him, you can leave a message on the web site (www icon below) - as John Barter has done. I know Packie will really appreciate your kind words, John. Passing on the tradition has always been important to him.

Steve

6

I’ll send him a card, too, think maybe he’d get a kick out of a cowboy card?

7

I have just spoken to Packie on the phone - today is his birthday - and he told me that he received “a stack” of cards last week, including quite a few from North America, and he thanks everyone for their kind wishes.

Healthwise, he’s not feeling too great - he usually hits a low spot around February. He said that if he wasn’t sick at this time of year he’d be worried that something was wrong! But as usual he’s very cheerful and can always find something to laugh about.

Thanks to all of you who wrote.

Cheers
Steve