Christy Chat

The recent tour of England and Scotland was a memorable trip for me. It began with a visit to Liverpool’s Anfield Rd. with my son Andy and our good friend Michael Devine. The game was between Liverpool and Newcastle and, being neutral, I sat in the middle. It was an exciting prospect to be back

We started back in Dingle on August 24th. A great night in The Hillgrove, first time back there in 22 years and it’s still as lively as ever. Moving Hearts did a few stints there, most memorably the night of Cid’s 40th birthday back in1981.We performed what turned out to be quite a pagan ritual.

“As I went out by Galway Town, to seek for recreation” One night last May, in Nuremore near Carrickmacross in the County of Monaghan, a woman’s voice quietly requested “The Curragh of Kildare”. I made mental note and continued to sing out into the night. It was a great gathering. My first time back in

June 15th 2012. It’s a crazy old world these days. Hard to know what to believe, who to believe, where we will all end up, what’s going to happen…. But this beautiful day the sun shines, there is great singing going on in the trees and bushes. There is a gang of Magpies lurking around.

April 1st.  (On The Mail Boat) We sailed across the Irish Sea and into Holyhead. We sashayed through the shed, over the Menai Bridge and loaded up the SatNav for The Pennines. Before we knew it we were freewheeling down into Leeds, great City of fame where I first played Club Memphis in 1967. Back

March-April 2012 I’m writing this in The Riverside Hotel in Enniscorthy. Amazed to hear that it is 6 years since we played here as I have very clear recall of the last time. Jimmy McCarthy came to that gig and joined us afterwards for a mug of tea in the Bridle Suite. Having the writer

February 7th 2012 I’m back in Manchester again 45 years on. Back then I went from club to club doing floor spots and trying to pick up a gig anywhere I could. Pickings were lean, but for my Auntie Kathleen out in the Lancashire town of Bury, I might not have survived my folk apprenticeship.

Thanks to all who have been in touch since the last letter. Thanks too for Seasonal greetings proffered in great abundance and for all your support during the recent run of gigs.  Some interesting talk about venues on the site recently. I like it when we get your impressions of various gigs and venues. Michael