Not much time to look around Dublin’s fair city.

The venue was The Point, very large and very rock 'n' roll. As I arrived at the back of stage area there was a man with a familiar face waiting to see me: Nuggie McGraw. After 40 years I knew exactly who he was. In the late 50s, he drove The Wildcats, Billy Fury and all the Larry Parnes stable around Ireland. The days in Waterford came flooding back to me in an instant. Me playing (or trying to!) Chopin preludes and Jim Sullivan and Tony Belcher ploughing through Bach’s Chaconne. Happy Days.

After a diet of chicken sandwiches for twelve weeks, it was great to be welcomed backstage with a large room for all of us and a menu of HOT food. It was great to hang out with the crew. They are always 24 hours ahead of us so we don’t get to spend much time together. They are the best team I have ever worked with. Ed Bicknell, who has toured the world with all the big boys said he has never seen a crew like it anywhere (under the expert direction of Tour Manager Roger Searle). Praise indeed.

The show was great and the Dublin crowd were, as always, warm and friendly. After introducing Mark and Cliff, as we do each evening, just before we went into the next number, a young girl got up and shouted “Who's yer man on the drums?” in a broad lilting accent. As we all pointed to the name on the bass drum the audience applauded me, and the young lady for asking.

Drove to Belfast in a bus that was designed for motorway travel only. On one occasion, it hit a winding stretch of road we got thrown all over the place.

Again no time to look around Belfast as we had some press to do and suddenly it was time for sound check. No problem as, hopefully, I will come back to this great city in years to come. I have in recent years played golf in the Johnny Mathis Classic in aid of NSPCC and have made some great friends.

The hall was fantastic, similar to Birmingham but a much brighter sound. After the show we where blessed with another hot meal. Paul Smith, a friend of Hank’s flew in to see the show and took us out to dinner.

We are on the home stretch now and are on a high. Probably the best tour ever!