Spring has finally sprung after a long, cold, wet winter here in Co. Cork. Since we last spoke to you it’s been business as usual – writing, singing, playing, recording and enjoying life as much as we can with our family and friends. We were very sad to lose some lovely friends – Singer/Songwriter Christie Hennessy, Accordionist Johnny Cronin, Singer and Raconteur Chris Andretti, Archivist and Song Collector Tommy Munnelly, Legends Ronnie Drew and John Martyn and most recently our dear friend, traditional fiddler, singer and teacher Seamus Creagh, one of nature’s gentlemen. We’ll remember them all with great affection and listen to their music often.

At the moment we have several projects on the boil. My dad, Paddy Greene, is recording an album of lovely songs which will feature the Shines and the Greenes in a collaboration. It’s shaping up really nicely. We’re also recording demos of our own material for other artists and Noel Shine is recording music for a colleague’s meditation cd. All this and demos for a new Noel Shine and Mary Greene album and it’s all go! We’ll need that meditation cd ourselves by the time we’re finished. Over the past while Hank Wedel (see myspace friends) and I have gotten together and come up with a couple of songs to add to the repertoire. We’ll get together again as soon as we have a free moment in common to continue writing and singing together.

As I said earlier, keep an eye on the myspace to update yourselves on our whereabouts and just a quick note of thanks to Larry Roddy for inviting us to do one of the most enjoyable gigs we’ve had in years in Murphy’s Bar in Ballymore Eustace recently.It was a real tonic. Can’t wait to get back there. Another gig worth mentioning is a new coffee/wine concert that has started recently in the NOSH n COFFEE in Ballincollig Co. Cork. The folks there have come up with a gig modelled on the house concerts in America. We had the pleasure of launching the gig and had a great night with special guests including Ellen Shine, Matt Crannitch and Con Fada O Drisceoil. Con was awarded composer of the year by the TG4 Irish Music awards – the first songwriter to be awarded the honour. It’s great to see these lovely intimate gigs going from strength to strength. I heard recently that The famous Lobby Bar in Cork has returned to running concerts. Maybe this is a sign of people returning to their roots, turning to their friends and foregoing the ‘flash’ of the celtic tiger era. Maybe there is a silver lining…

We had many lovely concerts last summer in Dingle in both John Benny Moriarty’s Pub and Saint James Church and we’re hoping to return there often this summer along with our old stalwarts the Mills in Ballyvourney and The Kerry Way. Hopefully you’ll be able to come see us somewhere around the country. Don’t hesitate to drop us a line on our links page or on myspace if you have any news or queries and thanks for dropping by. All the best.