First Encounters: Philip Donnelly and John Prine

Philip Donnelly is an Irish musician, singer/songwriter and music producer who spent over a decade working in the US after touring there with Donovan. Originally from Clontarf, he now lives in Clonmel with his partner, Fiona

We met in Nashville about 1982: everyone in America had been saying to me 'Have you met John Prine yet?' There were three people that people kept mentioning – Townes van Zandt, Guy Clark and John Prine. I was told these were the three I had to meet and work with because they were the three best singer/songwriters.

Then I met John in Nashville. He was playing in the Exit/In and asked me up near the end of the set to join him on stage, even though we had just met. I just started playing with him and we had a great night, hung out ’til the early hours. The next day he said: ‘would you like to come out on the road with me’. I just got on a plane and left.

John's songs are so brilliant: he's in a very uncrowded room at the top of a pyramid in his craft. He's who Bob Dylan listens to. We started playing from that day on and we're still doing it. I don't tour with him now 'cos I'm here and he's there, but we've never lost contact. He's the same in real life as on stage: he's not egotistical, like a lot of people I've worked with.

John and I just hit it off. I brought him over here in 1986. That was his first trip to Ireland. Later I had a TV concert series called The Sessions. I had John on it and he met his wife Fiona at an after-party in Blooms Hotel – she was managing Windmill Lane studios.

That was 1988 and John's been coming here since,twice a year. We play snooker in Galway and play guitar as often as we can.

We have both had serious health problems recently; I had a quadruple bypass three years ago, now I’ve never felt as good. John and I talk about everything, as sometimes men in Ireland don’t.

I knew I was going to go to America from the time I was very young. I played guitar with Donovan, who brought me on a huge tour of America in 1974. I went straight from Clontarf to Hollywood. I was born to play, it’s a spiritual thing . . .

I stayed in the States for over 10 years, came back to Ireland to look after my mother when my father died suddenly. Then she died and I’m still here. This album is a life’s work for me. John and I are the same people we were when we met: he’s my great singer/songwriter, great fingerpicker, a great old friend. He put a quote on my new CD – “a great new album from a great old friend”. We’re in it for the long run.

Beyond the Pale, Philip Donnelly's new album, which features duets with Crystal Gayle and John Prine, is available on bandcamp.com

John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter and performer whose career took off after he was discovered by Kris Kristofferson in the late 1960s. Originally from Chicago, he lives in Nashville with his wife Fiona, stepson Jody, 32, and sons Tommy, 20, and Jack, 19

I met Philip at Cowboy Jack Clements’ recording studio in Nashville. My first impression was that he played great guitar and he talked a lot. Jack’s place was a hangout for all kinds of characters. I had just dissolved a band I’d had for years but didn’t like being solo, wanted somebody on the road with me, and Philip seemed like a likely candidate. We got on really good.

We’ve been through a lot together. When we were on the road, we were a party waiting to happen. Did he tell you we tried to find the perfect pint of Guinness in America in the 1980s, we would look in every town we went to to see if there was an Irish bar, or restaurants with Irish names? I think the idea was we were going to write a book about finding the perfect pint.

Philip’s very interesting, has great stories and if you hang out long enough with him, you’ll find out most of them are true. When we were touring in the States, he kept telling me that I needed to come to Ireland. Finally in the mid-80s I did; it was the first time I’d played in Ireland and I didn’t want to go home. I only played two shows and stayed two weeks. When I first came to Ireland he took me to his house, where his mom fed us. She was a real character, a bit like Philip, definitely. The two of them together were like Laurel and Hardy.

I've got a house in Ireland now and my wife's from Donegal. Philip put this show called The Sessions together in the Point. There were a couple of good after-show parties and that's where I met Fiona. We bought a house in Kinvara about 10 years ago. I try and get back in the months when I'm off the road, usually in January/February and in the summer. This summer Philip told me he wanted to finish a record he'd started five years ago. I was excited for him. But he needed a title song for the album, he was gonna call it Beyond the Pale. We just went and wrote it.

I’ve had serious health problems – it kind of helps you to grow up, when you realise you’re not a kid any more. I’m 68. When Philip and I get together, we hang out and shoot the breeze. He comes over to Kinvara to spend a few days and we’ll play some music in my local pub; I’ll go over to Tipperary and do the same.

Beyond the Pale is a big deal for Philip, he’s been wanting to finish this record for some time. I was set to help him any way I could. We’ve both been through a lot together, that strengthens the basic friendship, even when you’re miles apart.

If I don’t see Philip for a year, year-and-a-half, as soon as I see him, we pick up right where we left off.