Hi C and Congrats again on the very comprehensive ITMA exhibition. They have created a warm and welcoming environment to showcase the massive extent of your work, it’s not often in Dublin you see an open door !! It was wonderful to watch the clips and to hear the re recorded songs, many with additional context or notes, some real gems, I particularly liked the a capella versions. To see the setlists and posters and even some notes from very young children was to bring to mind so many gigs and places. I feel I will need a return visit. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
From Radio Eireann sponsored programmes from way back a song, always introduced as ‘Johnny Kelly and the Capital Showband’ and tune was “The Black Velvet Band”, we hadnt known back then we were hearing the backing instruments of Sweeney’s Men on that song, I loved tthat ballad and still do. Des Kelly had a big part in the life of Sweeney’s Men and the start up of Planxty.
Christy's reply
Happy to read about Des Kelly here…. Butch Moore was the lead singer with the Capital, Johnny Kelly ( Des’s brother and drummer) sang the ballads and took the lead on Black Velvet Band…
When Planxty kicked we were a 4 piece with no agent or manager….Andy had Des’s contact from Sweeney’s Men days…Des came to a rehearsal and straightway took us on…he provided us with a Van, a PA system and got us on the road (Liam and I shared the driving, Andy looked after the kitty, Donal set up the Amp, the Hurley crazy boxes and the Binson echo)… we recorded our first single on Des’s label, Ruby Records….that was a minor success,got a lot of airplay, people began to hear Liam Óg segue into a hot reel after The Three Drunken maidens… Des gained us a spot on the Late Late Show and gigs started to come in..our second single was The Cliffs of Dooneen…..Des went around all the Irish record companies to no avail…then he approached Phil Coulter in London who signed the band.Phil produced our first 3 albums and did a deal with Polydor in London…
Des managed the band across those early years…he remained a dear friend until his death in 2017….
after The Capitol, Johnny Kelly ran The Poitín Still in Spiddal..many of The Capitol Showband went on to have long careers in music
Yes, You’re right Christy, I don’t believe it’s on any records.. unfortunately..I hadn’t heard it but it’s gorgeous, I had to have a listen! It’s possibly on some archived radio shows, I’ve found a few from the embankment and abbey tavern. A lot of the recordings from that time seem to have been recoded over or lost… but always come across some new pieces of past (like these) and it’s great!
Awe that’s amazing the connections all round.. I had no idea Uncle Tom played with you…I will be delighted to talk about it with both of them ☺️ Tom is with Aja now … uncle Des isn’t playing so much anymore but he sure is brilliant! The musical gene sure is strong in the Moore’s…guitar players particularly !! Next two generations from butch Des and Tom are sweeping on through!! You may have more connections to come.. haha
It’s So great to hear.
I had no idea that about Des Kelly!! Dad always said the musicians in the Capitol were top class. And true life long friends! I’m hoping to catch Eamon Monaghan / the last one from the band!
I’ll enjoy listening now and connecting the dots! Agreed about river-dance 👌 Look forward to reminiscing with fam about you!! Xx I’ll definitely try to find you at one of your shows and say hello for sure!!
Christy's reply
Just had a listen to Aja… beautiful sound, great playing and singing….thanks for that info
Hi Christy,
Congratulations to all involved
getting the exhibition up and running.
We’re up at the end of October and are
looking forward to seeing it. But like Hilary said
It will take a few visits to get through it all. How bad ?
All good back west. Tabhair Aire.
Bourkey
Christy's reply
The Pesto Kid…
Tearing into it…
the ITMA exhibition is a deep dive….3 years ago I brought in boxes , bags, copy books..all the stuff that was lying about here gathering dust…its amazing what they have created from it… Val and I went in before the opening and pottered about for almost 2 hours….
getting ready now for the annual return to Vicar St…..
Hello Christy,
Heres a screenshot I managed to grab from Patsy’s video of Andy Irvine. The video didn’t work for me but I did get this. Andy is playing an instrument that looks like a guitar with 8 strings? Guitouki??? 😃 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DHEpuHpZS/
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Thats our AKI….on he goes..true to form…ploughing that straight furrow like he’s been doing for manys the year
I have loved your music for years Christy & recently purchased Bright Lights On the Road & Darkness Before the Dawn, both of which I am absolutely loving. My brother played on the guitar & sung many of your songs and songs that you have covered. One of his favourites was Before The Deluge. He died suddenly 3 years ago & hearing you singing it live on the above CD fills my heart. We went to see you at the Variety Hall in Leeds in the 90s. Any plans to tour the UK again?
Christy's reply
No plans at the moment Jane….I miss all those great gigs once enjoyed around Yorkshire…. so many clubs, friends, songs…great nights
Aw that is lovely Christy. Thank you so much sharing that and taking the time to reply. I’ll have to go and have a listen to that song now ☺️ both mom and dad (butch) always played your music during their interval / between their sets. Christy Moore and Phil coulter were among their most played! Lovely to connect! 🫶🏼
Christy's reply
Hey Tara…I dont know if your Mother ever recorded “The Flower of Finae” ..I can still hear her sing it in Clane Co Kildare after a Bodenstown Sunday gathering around 1965….
I had the good fortune to play with two of your Uncles…Uncle Des played on an album called “Unfinished Revolution” which i released in the 1980s. Your Uncle Tommy played Bass in the first Moving Hearts line up… I think he played one gig with us before transferring to play with Paul Brady’s Band… Eoghan O’Neill then joined Moving Hearts…..If memory serves,I think your Uncle Des also played on Planxty’s Timedance which many believe (me included) led to the birth of Riverdance….
another connection…Planxty was managed by Des Kelly…Des also played Bass and was Band Leader with The Capitol Showband …I well remember your Dad “Walking The Streets in The Rain”when he sang with The legendary Capitol…Des often spoke fondly of your Father …
Yet another connection. Uncle Des Moore wrote the music notation for a song book I release circa 1982… Des did not need to use a Capo ..thus many of the songs were written in keys far beyond my comprehension (B flat F sharp Am Flat !!!) A legendary Guitar player…
They’ve really nailed the new shop Christy! Well worth a visit!
I dropped an old mandola into them earlier this year, was in shite! They did a lovely job on it, sweet as a nut now, and for a very fair price!
Out of interest what was the mandolin you got? They dont have them too often. I know they had a vintage martin in there a while back (rare enough) but when I went it t’was gone!
I’d say the mirror was installed for Slash’s next visit!
Christy's reply
The Mandolin is a Vintage Vega
also found a lovely Vintage Gibson Guitar that I play here every day
and a distressed Atkin (Gibson J45 copy) Guitar that I play here every night
I’ve not managed to gig either of them yet
the Vega sounded lovely in the shop..I tried to knock a tune out of it here but soon reverted to the day job…
Lovely intimate gig last night with Andy. Played lots of the old classics including O’Donoghue’s… a great story.
Some tracks from his new Woodie Guthrie album . His Guitar picking was note perfect as was his voice. A pleasure to have him in a local venue…. We even had a long haul listener in from Stockholm especially for the Gig. Ye old rockers are still the best 👌👌.
Ride on,
Patsy
Christy's reply
I’m thinking that Guitar you mention might be a guitar shaped bouzouki…if I’m wrong no doubt someone will let us know
I’ve always enjoyed Andy’s gigs
the only guitar I’ve seen him play was a jumbo called “Peter”…i’ve not seen or heard it since the late 1960s….
Awright there Christy, greetings from across the Irish Sea. We’ve resigned ourselves to the fact that you’re unlikely to be across to see us on this side of the watter again, and that the last Barras was probably the *last* Barras; this realisation prompted a trip to Cork in June to see an amazing Marquee gig and to Dublin last November for the awesome Vicar Street gig on Saturday 1st, and mighty trips they were – each very special in their own ways, and both a tick off a bucket list. I hear another trip to Dublin might be necessary to visit the new exhibition, but we also promised friends in the north of the island that if you were to be playing in Belfast again any time, we’d do our utmost to be there. I was wondering if you could tip us an aul’ wink there and let us know if that’s something we should be watching out for? Nobody else will be paying any attention, and I’ll keep quiet about it…..
Hello Christy,
I’ve enjoyed watching all the things going on at itma around yourself and your collection. When i get there I’m thinking your recordings added to the archive might be a kind of list of your favourites and that will maje them a core repertoire for us folk singers out in the cold. I remember asking you what your favourite songs are. Maybe nearly 200 is a good enough stab at it. I’m looking forward to finding out about them. It sounds like a good collection to spend a life learning
Rebecca
Christy's reply
at the time of writing my favourites to sing …Gortatgort, Matty, Magdalen,16 Jolly Ravers,Fidel & Che,Lawless,Lemon Sevens,John Of Dreams,Patrick Murphy,Boy in The Wild…….it will be a different set tomorrow….main thing is to play every day…next gig is 3 weeks away….daily prep is ongoing
I love that shop…I got 3 guitars and a mandolin from Owen…traded in two guitars….have not been in the new shop yet….good to hear about the booths…always paro in there playing my few chords…I’d love to know who needs the mirror
Hi Christy, the rolling piano on this version of Little Musgrave makes it even better
https://tombarry.bandcamp.com/track/little-musgrave
Rory
Ps Bandcamp is still the best forum to get artists properly paid
Hi C and Congrats again on the very comprehensive ITMA exhibition. They have created a warm and welcoming environment to showcase the massive extent of your work, it’s not often in Dublin you see an open door !! It was wonderful to watch the clips and to hear the re recorded songs, many with additional context or notes, some real gems, I particularly liked the a capella versions. To see the setlists and posters and even some notes from very young children was to bring to mind so many gigs and places. I feel I will need a return visit. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
From Radio Eireann sponsored programmes from way back a song, always introduced as ‘Johnny Kelly and the Capital Showband’ and tune was “The Black Velvet Band”, we hadnt known back then we were hearing the backing instruments of Sweeney’s Men on that song, I loved tthat ballad and still do. Des Kelly had a big part in the life of Sweeney’s Men and the start up of Planxty.
Happy to read about Des Kelly here…. Butch Moore was the lead singer with the Capital, Johnny Kelly ( Des’s brother and drummer) sang the ballads and took the lead on Black Velvet Band…
When Planxty kicked we were a 4 piece with no agent or manager….Andy had Des’s contact from Sweeney’s Men days…Des came to a rehearsal and straightway took us on…he provided us with a Van, a PA system and got us on the road (Liam and I shared the driving, Andy looked after the kitty, Donal set up the Amp, the Hurley crazy boxes and the Binson echo)… we recorded our first single on Des’s label, Ruby Records….that was a minor success,got a lot of airplay, people began to hear Liam Óg segue into a hot reel after The Three Drunken maidens… Des gained us a spot on the Late Late Show and gigs started to come in..our second single was The Cliffs of Dooneen…..Des went around all the Irish record companies to no avail…then he approached Phil Coulter in London who signed the band.Phil produced our first 3 albums and did a deal with Polydor in London…
Des managed the band across those early years…he remained a dear friend until his death in 2017….
after The Capitol, Johnny Kelly ran The Poitín Still in Spiddal..many of The Capitol Showband went on to have long careers in music
Yes, You’re right Christy, I don’t believe it’s on any records.. unfortunately..I hadn’t heard it but it’s gorgeous, I had to have a listen! It’s possibly on some archived radio shows, I’ve found a few from the embankment and abbey tavern. A lot of the recordings from that time seem to have been recoded over or lost… but always come across some new pieces of past (like these) and it’s great!
Awe that’s amazing the connections all round.. I had no idea Uncle Tom played with you…I will be delighted to talk about it with both of them ☺️ Tom is with Aja now … uncle Des isn’t playing so much anymore but he sure is brilliant! The musical gene sure is strong in the Moore’s…guitar players particularly !! Next two generations from butch Des and Tom are sweeping on through!! You may have more connections to come.. haha
It’s So great to hear.
I had no idea that about Des Kelly!! Dad always said the musicians in the Capitol were top class. And true life long friends! I’m hoping to catch Eamon Monaghan / the last one from the band!
I’ll enjoy listening now and connecting the dots! Agreed about river-dance 👌 Look forward to reminiscing with fam about you!! Xx I’ll definitely try to find you at one of your shows and say hello for sure!!
Just had a listen to Aja… beautiful sound, great playing and singing….thanks for that info
Hi Christy,
Congratulations to all involved
getting the exhibition up and running.
We’re up at the end of October and are
looking forward to seeing it. But like Hilary said
It will take a few visits to get through it all. How bad ?
All good back west. Tabhair Aire.
Bourkey
The Pesto Kid…
Tearing into it…
the ITMA exhibition is a deep dive….3 years ago I brought in boxes , bags, copy books..all the stuff that was lying about here gathering dust…its amazing what they have created from it… Val and I went in before the opening and pottered about for almost 2 hours….
getting ready now for the annual return to Vicar St…..
Hello Christy,
Heres a screenshot I managed to grab from Patsy’s video of Andy Irvine. The video didn’t work for me but I did get this. Andy is playing an instrument that looks like a guitar with 8 strings? Guitouki??? 😃
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DHEpuHpZS/
Rebecca
Thats our AKI….on he goes..true to form…ploughing that straight furrow like he’s been doing for manys the year
I have loved your music for years Christy & recently purchased Bright Lights On the Road & Darkness Before the Dawn, both of which I am absolutely loving. My brother played on the guitar & sung many of your songs and songs that you have covered. One of his favourites was Before The Deluge. He died suddenly 3 years ago & hearing you singing it live on the above CD fills my heart. We went to see you at the Variety Hall in Leeds in the 90s. Any plans to tour the UK again?
No plans at the moment Jane….I miss all those great gigs once enjoyed around Yorkshire…. so many clubs, friends, songs…great nights
Aw that is lovely Christy. Thank you so much sharing that and taking the time to reply. I’ll have to go and have a listen to that song now ☺️ both mom and dad (butch) always played your music during their interval / between their sets. Christy Moore and Phil coulter were among their most played! Lovely to connect! 🫶🏼
Hey Tara…I dont know if your Mother ever recorded “The Flower of Finae” ..I can still hear her sing it in Clane Co Kildare after a Bodenstown Sunday gathering around 1965….
I had the good fortune to play with two of your Uncles…Uncle Des played on an album called “Unfinished Revolution” which i released in the 1980s. Your Uncle Tommy played Bass in the first Moving Hearts line up… I think he played one gig with us before transferring to play with Paul Brady’s Band… Eoghan O’Neill then joined Moving Hearts…..If memory serves,I think your Uncle Des also played on Planxty’s Timedance which many believe (me included) led to the birth of Riverdance….
another connection…Planxty was managed by Des Kelly…Des also played Bass and was Band Leader with The Capitol Showband …I well remember your Dad “Walking The Streets in The Rain”when he sang with The legendary Capitol…Des often spoke fondly of your Father …
Yet another connection. Uncle Des Moore wrote the music notation for a song book I release circa 1982… Des did not need to use a Capo ..thus many of the songs were written in keys far beyond my comprehension (B flat F sharp Am Flat !!!) A legendary Guitar player…
Hope this clip works Christy.
https://youtube.com/shorts/SBf_aD8UHeM?feature=shared
did not connect Patsy but the Apple Jelly makes up for it !
They’ve really nailed the new shop Christy! Well worth a visit!
I dropped an old mandola into them earlier this year, was in shite! They did a lovely job on it, sweet as a nut now, and for a very fair price!
Out of interest what was the mandolin you got? They dont have them too often. I know they had a vintage martin in there a while back (rare enough) but when I went it t’was gone!
I’d say the mirror was installed for Slash’s next visit!
The Mandolin is a Vintage Vega
also found a lovely Vintage Gibson Guitar that I play here every day
and a distressed Atkin (Gibson J45 copy) Guitar that I play here every night
I’ve not managed to gig either of them yet
the Vega sounded lovely in the shop..I tried to knock a tune out of it here but soon reverted to the day job…
Lovely intimate gig last night with Andy. Played lots of the old classics including O’Donoghue’s… a great story.
Some tracks from his new Woodie Guthrie album . His Guitar picking was note perfect as was his voice. A pleasure to have him in a local venue…. We even had a long haul listener in from Stockholm especially for the Gig. Ye old rockers are still the best 👌👌.
Ride on,
Patsy
I’m thinking that Guitar you mention might be a guitar shaped bouzouki…if I’m wrong no doubt someone will let us know
I’ve always enjoyed Andy’s gigs
the only guitar I’ve seen him play was a jumbo called “Peter”…i’ve not seen or heard it since the late 1960s….
Awright there Christy, greetings from across the Irish Sea. We’ve resigned ourselves to the fact that you’re unlikely to be across to see us on this side of the watter again, and that the last Barras was probably the *last* Barras; this realisation prompted a trip to Cork in June to see an amazing Marquee gig and to Dublin last November for the awesome Vicar Street gig on Saturday 1st, and mighty trips they were – each very special in their own ways, and both a tick off a bucket list. I hear another trip to Dublin might be necessary to visit the new exhibition, but we also promised friends in the north of the island that if you were to be playing in Belfast again any time, we’d do our utmost to be there. I was wondering if you could tip us an aul’ wink there and let us know if that’s something we should be watching out for? Nobody else will be paying any attention, and I’ll keep quiet about it…..
Hello Christy,
I’ve enjoyed watching all the things going on at itma around yourself and your collection. When i get there I’m thinking your recordings added to the archive might be a kind of list of your favourites and that will maje them a core repertoire for us folk singers out in the cold. I remember asking you what your favourite songs are. Maybe nearly 200 is a good enough stab at it. I’m looking forward to finding out about them. It sounds like a good collection to spend a life learning
Rebecca
at the time of writing my favourites to sing …Gortatgort, Matty, Magdalen,16 Jolly Ravers,Fidel & Che,Lawless,Lemon Sevens,John Of Dreams,Patrick Murphy,Boy in The Wild…….it will be a different set tomorrow….main thing is to play every day…next gig is 3 weeks away….daily prep is ongoing
Ahhh ffs, you are right of course C https://youtu.be/hnhhxVI1YOc?is=HBABegLRYT7FGa5W hiding in plain sight obviously !! H
great song for Garavaghy
Evening Christy / All!
A great feature / interview with Owen from Some Neck Guitars on radio this morning.
Well worth a listen.
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/47aa50a4-ab7a-43b6-ad82-b4df00b15d74/
I love that shop…I got 3 guitars and a mandolin from Owen…traded in two guitars….have not been in the new shop yet….good to hear about the booths…always paro in there playing my few chords…I’d love to know who needs the mirror