Tír na nÓg

It's a bit like losing your virginity....you never forget. So when I first saw and heard Tir na nOg...well, I was just a pimply 13 year old school boy. I was at that time (1972) a massive Jethro Tull fan - let's be honest, they were at that time one of the greatest exponents of rock/acoustic music - I was in love with Benefit and Aqualung in particular and Thick as a Brick was about to be launched. So when I went to see Tull at Plymouth Guidhall in 1972 I couldn't wait to see them, so any f**kin' support band was a bit of a pain. However......two long haired hippy guys got up on stage and said they were Tir na nOg and played some of the most beautiful songs I had ever heard in my life. During their set there was a lot of banter between Leo and Sonny which endeared them even further to the audience, but what really stuck were the songs - they were just great! I saw them again at the Plymouth Continental Hotel in 1973 with Martin Carthy supporting and they were amazing! They did an encore of Love Lost (I think) and the venue turned the house lights on! Leo was furious! They didn't stop playing but Leo's look in his eyes was so f**kin scary that I reckon he could have asked for anything and got it! And then they split! And then they got together again! Thank god....they are too good to let go .... Boy D