Mike do you have a beard? just wondering as we met a bloke from England with a nice Rudall in a few sessions at Willie Week, either 2008 or 2009, mostly in “The Blondes”. If so that was a very nice Rudall, nothing wrong with it
Yes, that will be me - Englishman with beard and glasses. I went to Drumshanbo the last 3 years, so the last time I was at Willy week would probably be 2007. I adopted the strategy of hanging out in The Blondes and wait for musicians to be accreted.
Are you one of the group of guys (including Kenny of Aberdeen) who go every year and rent that house in Mullach?
Mike
Now I know you went to Drumshanbo, I think I’ve met you. Did you also go to Ennis, by any chance? At any rate, I must have met you at some point in Drumshanbo.
Ben;
yes, I was in Ennis last November. Are you the gent who was knocking around with Jon Dodd?
Mike
“Yes, that will be me - Englishman with beard and glasses. I went to Drumshanbo the last 3 years, so the last time I was at Willy week would probably be 2007. I adopted the strategy of hanging out in The Blondes and wait for musicians to be accreted. Are you one of the group of guys (including Kenny of Aberdeen) who go every year and rent that house in Mullach?” Mike
No, I’m the black uilleann piper from Lincoln, Lincs., who lives in Sweden. My girlfriend plays the fiddle, I play a Dave Williams set of pipes, and I would have been playing either a Sam Murray or Wilkes flute then, probaby the Murray keyless. We always tent in Ireland, in Doolin, and drive into Miltown. I remember your Rudall sounded very good, and was also a nice looking flute. I think Paddy O’Neill, Derry/Philly was over that year and he had an early Rudall for sale, think he was after 1200-1500 sterling then, Gary Hastings had been using the flute for a long time. Good luck with the sale of your flute 
Hiya mate!
I hope you don’t mind if I say that as as soon as you said “No, I’m the black uilleann piper…” I knew you instantly! 
Mike
Ah, so it was the pipes that gave you a clue!
“I hope you don’t mind if I say that as as soon as you said “No, I’m the black uilleann piper…” I knew you instantly!” Mike.
Not at all, there’s only a couple of us now, as Bernard Gigsby passed away last year. I thought it was the Murray you remembered 
well, I don’t suppose there are too many Irish-style flute players of German-Jewish extraction around, either. Actually our name was originally O’Meyerstein, but we had to drop the “O’” because of prejudice.
That is meant to be ironic humour - I hope it come across as such!
Nah. You’ll have seen me around, Mike. Even if you didn’t notice me in Drumshanbo, you’ll have seen me in Ennis - I was the fiddler on crutches, getting in everybody’s way. And I’m pretty sure I know who you are, now I know where you’ve been. 
Is there a thread where we can compliment the new moderator? 
Please don’t let its absence hold you back.
Postscript - if you’re intent on bigging me up, you could always hop on over to the pub, where you will find the appropriate thread …
i think it will finish between £1.9k-£2.3k flat market
well, it got up to £1750, but it didn’t make the reserve price of £2000. A thing is only worth what the market will pay, but since I paid £850 for it 15 years ago and it wasn’t even in playable condition then, I decided to keep it if I couldn’t get £2000. it is a Thing of Beauty, so I’m not disappointed. Actually, I saw a flute tutor (Goretti Anglim - some of you may know her) at the weekend and she has some students who might be interested. It should be played, rather than collected.