Christy Chat

Just home from The Liffey Banks sessions at the Grand social – The Máirtín O’Connor Band featuring Maírtín O’ Connor on Accordion, Cathal Hayden on fiddle and banjo, Seamie O’Dowd on guitars and vocals and Jim Higgins on percussion. It was my first time in The Grand Social and it was a great treat. It’s

Germany, Holland, Belgium 2011. Michael collected me at 8.30 am on Thursday 29th and we make our way to the Stena Seacat out of North Wall, Dublin Port. I love the way the on board traffic controllers park the vehicles, they remind me of the lads with the green cap bands that used to help

It’s that time of summer again. Paddy is gone to the Boston Fleadh. Johnny’s at the hay in Rossnowlagh. Geoff at the lights on Sandymount Green. Mick with the Dubs on Hill 16. Dickon at the Black and Decker hammer and thongs. Davy at the mixer mixing Altan songs. Decky on the roads with The

News has come in of the passing of Mike Waterson. We send our condolences to Ann and all the childer and grand children, to Norma and her family and to all the extended clan. Mike was an old friend whom I did not see often enough since 1972.There was great soul in his singing. Along

Barrowland, Glasgow, Sat 16th April 2011… (I am writing this in Manchester having travelled here after last nights gig in Barrowland, Glasgow.) We returned to Scotland and kicked off with 2 nights at The Queens Hall Edinburgh and then Westwards to The Clyde where we played the Glasgow Concert Hall before heading to The East

Dear Listeners…. The Spring Gigs have been going well and we have settled back in after our Jan-Feb break. Starting back after 2 months I was uneasy and nervous. However, the welcome and good vibes from the Mullingar audience soon had us well primed and the never ending tour was back on track. Wexford went

Sunday, Jan 23rd 2011. This 3rd Sunday of 2011 kicked off for me when I heard John Spillane and his brother Maurice doing an interview on “Miriam meets” (RTE Radio 1). It was spellbinding. John and I share many things in common from our boyhood days (mine in Kildare and his in Cork 15 years

Nov 27th.Morning of GPO (SIPTU gathering) A state of fear and panic, the Soldiers of Destiny are exhausted trying to remember which yarn they spun 5 minutes ago. The bankers, developers, regulators and swindlers have, collectively, spent less time under arrest than Joe McNamara who parked his lorry at Government Gates in a peaceful enough