Mairead, I guess you sold your pub in Teelin? Alas. I am coming to Ireland next week with my nephew. Any chance you or your mates are playing anywhere next week? Would love to see you play or you sing, again. Saw you/met you in Hollywood Ireland and in Marin County CA USA. Best, Steven Quevedo (lawyer/writer)

Now you've done it! I played the album for my neighbor and now she wants me to order her one.
Order up!
Tom Porter

Hey Mairead, I just got my album from Ireland, love it! Some *GREAT music* in there! I'll order two or three more for gifts.
My favorites are track numbers 2, 5, 7, 11, 12 and 13.
I love that song on track 7, Mo Nion O, it's absolutely gorgeous! And Nellie Bhan is a real differant and fun song too.
Wow! Great Job! And Annbjorg is wonderfull too, tell her and everyone else on the album thanks!
Sure you don't need any golf balls? I have a golf ball factory right out my back door!
Regards, Tom Porter

Hey Mairead, I ordered your solo album, you and Annbjorg Lien play very well together, a great collaboraton! And *of course* I love hearing the music from that part of Donegal, my grandfather was from Buncranna and played fiddle too but he came to the U.S. and the drink took him early.
My fiddle teacher Katherine (The Angel Band) still has that postcard you signed for me in her teaching studio.
I'm in Myrtle Beach, S.C. now, too cold up there in New Hampshire for me! Bought a condo on a golfcourse.
I don't need an alarm clock, I just leave the back slider open and awaken to the golfers swearing when they miss their shot, ah......Heaven!
I get them back though!
I put a sign up at the ditch that seperates us from the golf course, it says, "Danger! Copperhead Snakes!" They'll be looking in the ditch for their ball see the sign and "Oh Shit!" They hightail it and I wait for five minutes and get my trusty rake!
I must have *a thousand* golf balls by now! ;)
Do you and Dermott play golf? lol I can send you over 3 or 400 no problem! I can always get more!
I'm waiting for the exchange rates to get better before I go to Ireland again,...OUCH!Any new albums comming out by Altan?
Sincerely, Tom Porter

Hello Mairead,
I got "Imeall" and listenend to it some days along. I tried to send you a message to your myspace site about the cd, but it doesn't work.
Therefore I write to you at the guestbook.
"Imeall" is a wonderful record. The songs give strong impression of your Irish homeland. With the tunes you can find yourself in the meadows, the moors, the hills of Eire.
And above the tunes your lovely voice is sparkling like the morning dew reflecting the sunlight.
Thanks for your wonderful music.
Hope to hear and meet you once live.
Otfried

Greetings from Colorado. I discovered your music through YouTube. So I ordered your CD using my wife's Paypal account. You do great work. Keep playing and we'll keep listening.

Hi Mairéad I think your new hair style suits so well. I enjoy your programme. You are so natural. I hope you continue doing this work. Slan go fóil Pauline

Hi There
Remember me? How are you? We all miss you so much. We haven't seen anything knew with Altan. Is the band still together?
All is fine over here. You know I lost Howard in 2007 from complications from a car accident we had in 2006. He really loved you. I was just wondering how I can get a copy of your new cd to play on my program. The program still continues, and next year will be it's 40th year.
Much love,
Roz Larman
23457 Schoolcraft St.
West Hills, California 91307 USA

Hi Mairead!
I haven't talked to you in many years, but you may remember me - you introduced me to Kieran Curran and we became friends, as well as Moira Bonner and the rest of the band.

I've written a book that's become a worldwide bestseller and thought you might be interested in knowing about it. All the time I knew you guys I was living with a Barn Owl in my home, in my bedroom actually! I was a biologist studying owl behavior and adopted an injured baby Barn Owl in 1985 and lived in close quarters with him until he died in 2004. It's what they call an "immersion study" and he was like a son to me, the way a pet can be sometimes.

So I wrote a book about Wesley, my owl, and was so surprised when it went on the NY Times Bestseller list last fall, and the LA Times and the Indiebound bestseller list. It's gotten a lot of awards and is now published in many languages (not Irish, sadly, but I'm looking into having it done privately. Maybe I could pay Lillis to do it or someone. It would mean a lot to me to have it out in Irish!), but it IS available in Ireland! Maybe you've seen it even.

Anyway, if any of you are interested, it's kinda the story of my life.

I see you're doing a solo album of Donegal songs! Good for you! That's wonderful - more of the pure drop!

Cait Reed says hi, she's my closest friend and we talk every single day. We are also writing a book together and I'm moving to Colorado close to where she and Richard live because I feel much better in the very high altitudes and cool weather up there (9,000 feet).

I hope all is well with you and with all the guys! Say hi to them for me!

Oh yeah, there's a video of me and the owl cuddling (never before seen - an owl cuddling w/ a human) on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vufEqpZZql0

God bless you and all that you do!

Sincerely,
Stacey O'Brien

Mairead:
Just listened to your album for the third time today! It is SO gorgeous. The arrangements are stellar and the playing is fabulous, as always. And your singing.. well, I must stop gushing here..We must do some of this with the Sisters!