A little bit of what you Clancy

Acknowledging the importance that the Fleadhs, first held in the early fifties, still retain in providing new Irish folk and trad talent a platform on which to develop, Liam fondly recalls his own earliest experiences as being "a little hazy because a lot of drink was consumed in those days. But when the Fleadhs began to catch on in the early sixties they were really exciting and memorable times, especially in Milltown Malbay. I'd meet the piper Willie Clancy and because in our family I was always called Willie, when we'd greet each other I'd say 'Hello Willie Clancy' and he'd say 'Hello Willie Clancy.' 'And how are we today?' 'We're fine.' 'How are our wives?' They're grand!' It was great fun."

It was at one of the Milltown Malbay fleadhs that Liam first met a then unknown who was to become another legend of Irish folk music.

"After one of the events a few of us headed for the Central Hotel and there was this brash jackeen trying to get in with us. None of us had met him before so they wouldn't let him into the hotel. Next thing we're in the middle of a session and I spotted his red head coming round the door. He was so eager to get in to hear the music that he'd crawled in through the window of the men's room! As the session progressed it became obvious that this guy was a tremendous singer. He was Luke Kelly and he was just back from England with some great songs and that great voice and we became inseparable friends for years."

Clancy believes the Fleadhs are crucially important today for many reasons.

"They're more important than ever as the homogenising effect of the American empire spreads its testicles (sic) throughout the world. There are probably better singers and musicians and songwriters in the country today than there ever were, but you turn on RTE radio and 99.9% of the time you'll hear Frank Sinatra. The RTE needle seems to have got stuck at Frank Sinatra and it's like watching old American movies. They just can't seem to get beyond that blip on the record."

Given his association with Dylan since their paths crossed in sixties New York, you're likely to catch him in the upcoming film biography of His Bobness directed by Martin Scorcese for which Liam recorded several hours of interview footage.

Now back gigging after a long break and an operation that put a "stent" in his heart, watch out for him when he comes your way and maybe you too will understand why Dylan once described him as the "best ballad singer I have ever heard in my life".

The Fleadh Cheoil runs until 29th August in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and includes performances by the Kilfenora Ceili Band, Micheal O Suilleabhain, Eileen Ivers, the Millennium Orchestra, Iarla O Lionaird and Mel Mercier.