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As regular listeners to my programme will know I spend much of my time in Ireland and when there, I tend to look out for stuff for the programme in the shops in Galway and Westport - my house is half way between those two metropoli. Last week in Galway I picked up the new CD from , Ships In The Forest. I put it on the CD player when I got home, and played it through three times over. She is in even better voice than ever and the choice of material is superb. A tad more reflective than some of her albums, it is chock full of great songs, mostly traditional, though there is a brilliant version of 's The Fiddle And The Drum. Get the album if you can - it is beautiful. Musicians on the CD by the way include three of the Vallely brothers, and Kris Drever. It is also produced by Donald Shaw - quite brilliant.

That night I went to the local arts theatre in Clifden to see The Tailor and Ansty, an adaptation of the book by Eric Cross. It is a terrific piece of theatre and is coming over to London soon. The story is a simple one: an old couple in the glens of Cork open their house to all and sundry; it is a rambling house full of laughter, song and wisdom, then along come the clergy. I think you can guess the rest. The acting is superb, great comic timing and the play gives a real sense of what traditional Irish storytelling and music making was like in the middle of the last century.

The play is coming to the UK but unfortunately only to London. If you get a chance, do go and see it. It will enrich your life.ÌýÌýVisit 's websiteÌýfor more details.