At the age of 85 Packie has decided that he’s tired of sitting around at home in Donegal and has been very active this year, appearing at several festivals in Ireland and England, and doing a lot of radio appearances in Donegal and neighbouring counties.
He is now embarking on a mini-tour of folk clubs for the first time in over 15 years, and if you’re in England you can catch him at these clubs:
29 August - Rose & Crown, Walthamstow (E London?)
30 August - Musical Traditions Club, King & Queen, 1 Foley St (corner of Cleveland St), London W1
31 August - Nottingham
1 September - Horsham, Sussex
2 September - Herga Folk Club (NW London if I remember right)
He’s appearing in the company of a young musician friend and collaborator, Breda McKinney (originally from Belfast). I don’t think he’ll be playing whistle but with Packie you never know.
Try to catch him - there may not be another chance. Although, with Packie, you never know. I’m hoping to make it to the 30 August gig myself and very much looking forward to seeing my old friend.
On 2002-08-26 08:27, StevieJ wrote:
29 August - Rose & Crown, Walthamstow (E London?)
Yes, East 17 (E17), to be exact, like the short-lived British pop band. As a matter of fact, I lived in Walthamstow, for a short time too, six or seven years ago.
Packie reminds me of an Energizer Bunny, he just keeps going and going and going and going. He’s one on my favorite kind of people! Lucky ducks, get to go see him! Green with envy!
Made it to Packie’s 30 August gig, the second half anyway. He was in great form, singing mainly comical songs and telling jokes. He left the serious stuff to Breda McKinney, who is a fine young singer from a long line of fine old singers from the Inishowen area of N Donegal.
We discussed the possibility of their doing a mini-tour of E Canada next year, by which time Packie will be 86! If it happens I’ll let you all know…