If any of you are Pagan, chances are you've heard of Christy Moore. He's an amazing vocalist from Ireland who is probably best known among the Pagan/Wiccan crowd for his song called "The Burning Times". This was his email today:

July 11th 2005

Last week we lost our comrade Frank Harte of Chapelizod, Co. Dublin. He leaves his family broken-hearted and a host of friends in mourning at his passing. The gap he leaves is enormous but so too is his legacy. As well as being a good singer he was the most important collector of songs this country has known. Frank was a fine architect by trade but he was devoted to the world of songs. He maintained that, while the Rich and Powerful were writing and revising history the Poor and The Oppressed were writing the songs. Throughout his life he set about collecting songs from every quarter of Irish History and Society. Over the past eight years he was collaborating on a series of recordings with Donal Lunny and was still working at the time of his passing. Personally I have lost a special friend. Our relationship was based almost entirely on our mutual love of songs and singing. He was utterly generous with his vast repertoire. How often have I checked my phone messages to find Frank singing some verse I had been seeking. Sometimes he would call me just to hear a bit of a song down the phone. Betimes I opened my eyes at the end of a song to find him weeping unashamedly and then we would both laugh at the good of it for we knew how blessed our lives were with this wonderful gift of song. Last Friday at his funeral mass the family were surrounded by singers and musicians who came to bid a fond farewell.

" He was a quare one fol de dee get outa that,
He was a quare one I'll tell you"


Read on here:

http://www.christymoore.com/christy_chat.asp