Yes. Brendan McGlinchey could be described as the Michael Flatley of fiddle playing, he agrees graciously. The Armagh man is one of the world's top fiddle players. He's a star in traditional music circles. He's an innovator, a performer of virtuosity, a walking dynamo of dazzling digital dexterity. He attends a reception in Iveagh House where details about a musical step, are about to be announced. McGlinchey will help introduce a new music syllabus into Glasgow, London, Manchester and Birmingham.
Eamon O Cuiv TD, the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, is here to announce the introduction of the traditional Irish music examination syllabus to the UK from January next. Senator Labhras O Murchu greets him. Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann are ready to rock. The men from AXA Ireland, sponsors of the initiative, including AXA executive director Aidan Cassels are on hand also. The news is "timely and appropriate", says O Murchu.
Limerick woman Helen Gannon, director of the US St Louis Irish Arts School, is here too, hoping the syllabus will be in the US by 2002. Micheal O hEidhin, developer and devisor of the programme, is here too. Dr John O'Conor, from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, officiates. We almost forget that Bill Clinton has been in town.