With the popularity of the stage shows 'Riverdance' and 'Lord of the Dance', Irish music has come to the forefront of current pop culture. Both these shows primarily feature Irish melodies, but not the lyrics. So, I set out to find some great Irish folk songs that could be sung by a choral ensemble. As I did some research, I discovered wonderful songs from native Ireland, mainly from the 1700s and 1800s, but some from an earlier time. Many of these songs were passed down from generation to generation, creating variations and/or different versions of the same song.With 'Letters from Ireland' I set out to feature some of these songs that talked about the lives, loves and adventures of the people of Ireland. I then intermixed actual letters and diary entries from the same period of time that these songs were popular.I hope you enjoy 'Letters from Ireland.'-Mark Brymer