I first met Catherine McNulty when I moved to Saula, Achill in 1994. I ended up living in the house next door to this lovely woman - this lovely neighbour. She was a kindly neighbour. All her children had moved out and were making lives for themselves, and her husnband had died years ago. She had lived a hard life yet she remained both cheerful and friendly.

Everytime when I used to walk by her house on the way to cut turf on the bog I used to stop and we would have a chat about this and that. When passing in my car I'd always look out and see her with her smile and wave.

Then sadly, over a very short period around christmas 1997, she took ill and went into hospital and within a few weeks she was dead and would never return to her home. I had lost a good friendly neighbour.

I just had to write a song about her. But this isn't a sad song but, rather, a song to celebrate her smile and her cheerfulness. Although she's gone I still remember her and have fond memories of her.

It is very strange to realise that she never heard this song written about her. Such is life!