"I've taken up traditional Irish guitar classes, in trad guitar, you play by note rather than chord, which is difficult. I used to play guitar before, but in the country and western style, based on chord-playing.

"When classes started nearby in Gurteen, I felt it was a great opportunity. Before, there was no place to learn music. This area is noted for its trad, and the fact that the famous fiddle player, Michael Coleman, was born and reared a mile from here was an inspiration to me. My father was also a fiddle player and was over 70 years making bodhrans professionally.

"There's normally about ten10 or twelve12 in the class. It's great to see that many guitarists playing together. We learn reels and jigs and airs.

"My eight-year-old daughter is learning tin whistle and it'll be good craic when we can play along together. When I was growing up, there used to be plenty of sessions in the house. You might be put to bed, but you wouldn't sleep."