He spent his early years in London where he worked with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger who had an inspirational influence on him. In the early years as well as touring as a working musician he worked as a music director on a number of BBC documentary films. He has toured throughout the world and worked for many years with Dolores Keane. He composed her chart topping song "Lion in a Cage" about Nelson Mandela. He has lived in the west of Ireland for many years and has performed and toured with, De Dannan, the late Arty McGlynn, Jackie Daly, Dermot Byrne, Kevin Burke and many other musicians. He recently released "Storm in my heart," an album of original songs, two of which feature duets with Declan O'Rourke and the late John Prine. His recently published memoir "Storm in my heart" has been described in a Foreword by President Michael D Higgins as "A journey through the world of music, made with passion, showing a creativity that has a profound dedication to justice at its heart."