The passing of Tommy Makem on 1st August was a sad milestone on the road of Irish and world folk music. It would take a lot of space to document the life and achievements of the legendary Keady man who, with The Clancy Brothers, completely revolutionised how Irish people in particular viewed their rich heritage of song, poem and story and in so doing launched what became known as the “Folk Revival†on this side of the Atlantic. A marvellous interpreter of traditional songs, he was also a prolific songwriter, adding many classics such as “Four Green Fieldsâ€, “The Winds are Singing Freedomâ€, “Gentle Annie†etc etc to the tradition. His influence on folk singers and writers like ourselves is quite incalculable. In life irrepressible and in death irreplaceable, this true folk hero will be remembered for as long as songs are sung.