Welcome to the home on the web of Packie Manus Byrne, the much-loved traditional singer, tin-whistle player and storyteller from southwest Donegal, Ireland.

On this site you'll find all kinds of information about Packie, plus details and extracts from his growing literary output.

News - February 2003. Packie celebrates his 86th birthday this month. This year his home town of Ardara, Donegal (pronounced Ar-DRAH, by the way) has decided to honour him with a 3-day "Cup of Tae" festival on the weekend of 4-6 May. The festival (the first edition was last year, in honour of the town's celebrated fiddler, John "The Tae" Gallagher) will feature a delayed local launch of Packie's three books, and performers from the local area and from England will sing Packie's songs. If you are anywhere in the area, call in - it should be a joyous occasion.

2002 was a very active year for Packie. After close to 10 years of more or less staying put, he decided it was time get out and about a little more and appeared at several festivals in Ireland and England, including the traditional song festival held in the Inishowen area of Donegal, England's National Folk Festival in April, and the Sidmouth International Festival (Devon) in August. He capped this year with and a mini-tour of folk clubs in the London area in September, in the company of the young Inishowen singer Breda McKinney. These appearances were a very welcome development from a man who had refused to sing or play in public for over 10 years, and who had not travelled to England in many years because of fragile health.

Why not wish Packie a happy 87th year by sending him a message by email?

Packie's latest book, A Dossan of Heather, is a collection of his unique repertoire of traditional tunes, accompanied by stories, photos, and lots of other information. It's published by Mel Bay, and you can order it from your local music store.  Click here for more information, reviews, and extracts from the book.

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Packie's books:

Recollections of a Donegal Man by Packie Manus Byrne Roger Millington Publishing 1989 Packie's autobiography, Recollections of a Donegal Man, has become a classic, enthusiastically received by readers and reviewers on both sides of the Atlantic.	My Friend Flanagan: tall tales told by Packie Manus Byrne Roger Millington Publishing 1996 Among Packie's many talents is a great gift for comic storytelling, which found expression in his second opus, My Friend Flanagan

In North America, Packie's first two books can be ordered from amazon.com. For other options, see the page Where to find Packie's stuff.

Packie's latest:

A Dossan of Heather Irish traditional music from Packie Manus Byrne of Donegal compiled and edited by Jean Duval and Stephen Jones (book/CD set) Mel Bay Publications 2001 Packie's long-awaited tune collection. In North America, this book & CD set is available directly from Mel Bay Publications, Inc. or at your local music store. For other options, see the page Where to find Packie's stuff. In Britain and Ireland, it should soon be in the shops also...

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