Like hundreds of other musicians , friends and admirers I went to Stillorgan on Monday 10th March to say goodbye and lay our dear friend and favourite guitarist Jimmy Faulkner to rest.

Many others, including some close friends who flew back from America to pay their respects, had also attended the removal on the Saturday.

What was a sad prospect on the face of it soon turned into a joyous reunion as many of us had not seen each other for quite a few years. Jimmy could always pull a great crowd for a special occasion!

There were tears of laughter as many of us were literally and unwittingly 'introduced' to each other again almost as strangers... it was hilarious! Colm Flynn commented that Jimmy would have loved it and wasn't the kind of guy to want to see folks crying in their beer! How true! Jimmy's dry wit and humour will be missed almost as much as his wonderfully elegant musical talent....

Everyone repaired to Kylie's in Mount Merrion (which used to be the Sportsman's Inn in my day!) after the interment where reunions continued apace and many of Jimmy's old mates got up to pay their respects in the best way possible.. by playing some music in his memory.

A sad, joyous, bittersweet day. Lets hope there will be a number of 'farewell tours' in the not-too-distant future in Jimmy's memory! I'm sure he'll be there in spirit!