Tommy Makem, 1932-2007

Like many people I know, especially of Irish ancestry, my first exposure to folk music was the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. Also to Irish music and to the cause of Irish independence. To say that they were giants is to understate their impact.

Tommy Makem died this week. I've lived in Vermont for almost twenty-five years, and I knew he lived across the river in New Hampshire, but I never went to see him. I never thought the time was running out, which, of course, was stupid, but I also wasn't sure I wanted to replace my old image of him from the 1960's.

I'll miss him.