I’d always wondered how a fella from Nova Scotia landed up with a bunch of Scottish maniacs, and I realised why when I heard him sing. They knew what they were doing, they’d found gold within Bruce. I never had the privilege of meeting the man himself, but got to know him (kinda) through fans, and his band mates. The laughter provoked from stories shared has been deep, wide, and long lasting. There have also been tears. Bruce’s kindness is legendary, and his humour wonderful (see: Songwriter’s Circles). 

He brought a new energy to band and fans, ensured one from N. Ireland would hang around for the rest of the journey, and he was very kind to me when I told him, via social media, of what he and Runrig meant to me, what the band had done for me, as a fan. 
Lucky enough to catch a Circle before he moved house, I had the time of my life, craic top notch, the music out of this world (as Bruce said, ‘you’ll meet the family, and there’s always the possibility of chaos!’). I really enjoyed that mad, chaotic, beautiful glimpse behind the scenes; it felt like home. Jodi and Dylan are wonderful musicians, and have their father’s drive and humour. 

I’m glad to have known him through his music, through his Circles, and through his fans. As another fan reminisced, "Only he would liberate a Shaun the Sheep rucksack from a fan, give it pride of place onstage, and call it Seamus!"
My own father and I never got the chance to attend a Runrig gig person, but when The Last Dance was on TV recently, I told him it was on, and we watched together; it took several years, but we did "go"! It was a moment I’ll always treasure, just as Kim, Jodi, and Dylan will treasure every moment they have of a pretty amazing human, and a beautiful soul to boot. 

There’s a legend in Ireland, of Tír na nÓg (land of youth and beauty), whose entrances are, among many, a shaft of sunlight shining on the water. The next shaft of sun on the water in Halifax will be Bruce, checking up on everyone. 

I am heartbroken, and all my love goes out to the Guthro siblings, to Kim, Dylan, and Jodi, to those of his community, Runrig, and their fans around the world. I am so sorry he’s gone, but all the days of the afterlife, he’d rather be with you. May he visit you in dreams. 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.