Joan & I have been honoured to receive a gift of Michael Dwyer's new book of poems. Michael has been the outstanding Officer, for many years, of the Beara Association, based in Boston ----- but known about in many parts of the world. A native of Inches in the Eyeries Parish at home in Beara, he has lived for years in Boston, and has lectured far and wide. I had the honour of teaching him while in Kilmacowen Primary School, and I must say that he was one of my brightest pupils ----- a young fellow of considerable talent, a talent which has lived on to the present day ---- and I hope for many years to come. God bless you, Michael, and also your lovely wife and family. From the "ould Master", Riobard (and also Joan, and the accordeon). Talking about the accordeon, I remember one day in Kilmacowen School, beside the fire, with my pupils enjoying the "crack", and I playing the accordeon with Irish jigs, reels, and hornpipes. I had my head down, playing with fire on my fingers hopping off the keyboard. When I looked up, there was the Schools' Inspector standing in the door, with a huge smile on his face. I was lucky ----- because he happened to be one of the lads with me in the Teachers' Training College in Drumcondra, Dublin. When school time was over, we spent the rest of the evening up on the hill overlooking the school, and showing him all the interesting Townlands and telling him about all the people who lived, and were living, there in the olden and present times. He and I went home happy. You know the old saying: "The Devil you know, is better than the Devil you don't know". I was lucky to have met the right "Devil" !! I'm sure that Mick won't mind me telling the story. Riobard.