Welcome to this, our A to Z of Irish Music edition of Irish Connections Magazine.

Music, music, music I love it. Since I started this magazine it has alwavs been on my mind to pay tribute, in some way, to those who have entertained us over the years with their music. As my editor Tony Quinn and I started to compile the list, it seemed that every hour we would be adding numerous artists or bands and in the end the list was enormous. The sad thing is, and I hope you all understand, that to include everyone in this edition would have been impossible, but we took great enjoyment from putting it all together and I do hope you will enjoy it also.

This edition will take you back, way back to where it all started with traditional musicians, then through the Showband era with bands like the legendary Brendan Bowyer and the Royal, The Clipper Carlton, The Dixies, The Miami, Joe Dolan and The Drifters, The Plattermen, and finally up to the present day to famous international acts such as Van Morrison, U2, The Dubliners, Christy Moore, Phil Coulter, The Chieftains, Sinead O'Connor, Dana, The Wolfe Tones, The Corrs, The Cranberries, Riverdance, The Saw Doctors, The Pogues, Westlife, Samantha Mumba; as I said the list goes on and on.

This edition will, I hope, be your Irish Music Bible of sorts, with lots of information on our past and present performers and be another reason why we Irish can be very proud of who we are.

Again, it gives me great pleasure to present this edition to you for your enjoyment.

Paddy McCarthy - Publisher