Earlier in the year, with the assistance of an Arts Council Award, Sha spent a month in London training, working and playing with Drumcafe and Instant Teamwork. Both were positive experiences, with clients including Unilever and the German Bank, USAG. This resulted in an affiliation between Sha and both companies, and also served to be great preparation for Shadrum circles in Norhern Ireland later in the year with BT, The Robert Horne Group and Nortel Technics.

Sha with Rick Allen

Through his connections with Remo, Sha also linked up with Rick Allen, Def Leppard's famous one handed drummer, now also a Drum Circle facilitator, while on the UK leg of their World tour. Some ideas for future projects were born.

After 2002's National Special Olympics success at the opening and closing ceremonies in Dublin, June '03 saw the 'Big' one with the World Special Olympics in Ireland. Sha was involved in three Host Town projects, one with Belfast City Council for Team America (1000 participants in over 5 hours), the second was with the Portatdown Torch Run procession hosting Team Zimbabwe. The third was with Team Costa Rica in The Ballyearl Arts Centre in North Belfast.

Shadrum and Fundrums were then resident in the Special town at the RDS in Dublin, facilitating Drum Circles with the athletes, coaches, teams and volunteers for the week of the games. With hundreds of participants in the circle at times, Rhythm was the common universal language of the moment. Also, two visits to the Santry Stadium created a carnival like atmosphere in the stands. The Remo sound shapes were an added bonus in the 'kit', and so many thanx to UnLtd (Millenium Trust Awards) for their help in assisting this huge event.

A short trip to Ibiza, and a mini tour in Russia (with Freeflow/drums'n'dj'n'sax), along with some circles at theWickerman festival in Scotland and 4 festivals in Ireland, filled the rest of the Summer for Sha. A Remo Facilitators Forum in London in September was a great opportunity for networking that included an inspiring session with Mr. Arthur Hull 'In the House' as ever displaying his mastery by facilitating the days proceedings.

Also in September, Sha started a Drum Circle with students in the Ethnomusicology Department of Queens University Belfast, for a module entitled 'Power, Passion & Performance' presented and tutored by Dr. Fiona Magowan. Fiona had recently used Sha and Different Drums of Ireland in her keynote presentation seminar at Adelaide University in Australia, where 30 years of John Blacking & Ethnomusicology were being celebrated. (For further information on the inspiring John Blackings, see 'Drumming at the Edge of Magic' by Micky Hart)

A Drum Circle with 200 staff from the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure in the W5 at the Odysee Pavillion in Belfast, was a nice way to finish 2003, and a New Year Drums'n'Dj's Gig was a fine way to 'Drum in the New'.

With Circles at weddings in Donegal and Downpatrick, ceremonies in Queens University and Pagan festivals in Ireland and various churces of different origins' all sharing the benefits of accessing and participating through rhythm, 2003 witness the ever increasing interest and recognition of the healing power of the drum through the use of the Drum Circle as a tool for unity.

Thanks to everyone who shared their Rhythmical Spirit in '03.