Tomorrow,I’m meeting up with my oldest pal/partner in music crime -Fred….marking 60 years since we first met at the start of secondary school…
We’ll re run many familiar stories and toast absent / lost friends…there’ll be choice words for some cruel teachers and praise for a few good guys…. In particular ‘ Barney’a veteran English teacher.When he taught us,he’d long worked out that a good way to hold attention of teenage boys was to at least make lessons interesting!Poetry often featured works by WB Yeats…as we started to listen to /play music,Donovan featured heavily….LPs on budget Marble Arch label.When we heard him sing of ‘Wandering Aengus’,dots were joined back to clasroom poetry…over many rehearsals and hundreds of gigs,we were often grateful for links that led to the setlists.
I’m writing ltoday as it’s very apt that you’ll be on the road to Sligo. Years after Barney’s influence,I spent a few days in County Sligo….a magical trip with a soundtrack including your version of Wandering Aengus’…
Thankfully,you’ve featured heavily in many decades of my music making,I’m wondering if you currently play the wonderful Yeats ballad.
Enjoy travels and music.
Dave
Christy's reply
I hope to sing it tonight here in Sligo, words by Yeats, music from Judy Collins, learnt from Richie Havens that giant of soul and song…
nuns,brothers,priests and lay teachers tried to beat/force,cajole us into poetry…Richie Havens held the key to enlightenment
here tonight in Knocknarea, between Queen Maeve and Ben Bulben, the car park is filling up, the room is full, I’m getting nicely nervous, the guitars are re strung and ready to hum, in 70 mins I hope to be out before the lamps..out there one more time as the leaves turn to brown
An Arena gig, not surprising in the year of the Botanic and Iveagh Gardens ! It will be 12 years in Oct since you last played this venue I think. It’s a change compared to the hotel gigs or even the Gillooly Hall ! Enjoy it all. Beir bua agus beannacht.H
Christy's reply
all I recall from the last gig here is Declan Sinnott and Myself posing with T Shirts that said “NO FRACKING HERE”..
A grand day for a spin past Ben Bulben.
It’s been a while since we’ve been to one of your gigs….. anticipation is building….
It’s been a funny old year so far , highs and lows but every day is a good day.
A wise man said recently the first 60 years are the worst…..we are about to test that theory !!
thats our beloved Young Brother Kevin Barry Moore aka Luka Bloom….we have another Brother Andy in Cork and three great Sisters Eilish in Dublin, Anne in Clare and Terry in Kildare…Thankfully we are all still here on The Island, each one a songster always cherishing memories of our Singing Mother, Nancy Power ( Yellow Furze Woman)…Luka sings of our Father ( The Man is Alive)
Hi Christy any chance of you coming back to Liverpool in the future? How about putting some merch for sale on the website, some old t.-shirts that need replacing 🤣
Christy's reply
no current plans ..how I’d love to hit The Phil again
re merch….Its prob not a goer…but I’ll run it past the boss
Many moons ago,we played support for Maire and Chris. Knowing I had to announce their set,I asked for the pronunciation of her surname. I ran through it a few times before the crunch moment…characteristically, Maire was very gracious about the result! Happy days…
http://www.maireandchris.com is a shortcut to the dynamic duo… Lots of info about activities/ other artists on the Oldbridgemusic site. D
Christy's reply
they make beautiful sounds
just last night I rewatched Art McGlynn’s*** story on TG4’s “Sé mo Laoch” series…also saw Steve Cooney’s tribute and Alec Finn’s on the same TG4 series
we are very fortunate here in Ireland to have this TV channel which constantly transmits Music Programmes of the highest calibre
*** Máire’s Ní Cathasaigh’s sister Nollaig was married to the late Arty McGlynn….Nollaig is a brilliant fiddle/violin player who .among her many achievemnts , played with us in Planxty in the early 1980s
Interesting gig news just in from Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman… Via. http://www.oldbridgemusic.com wonderful musicians and several US,England,Germany gigs before Christmas…always a treat.lots of good stuff on their website too.
Manchester Folk Festival is gearing up for Spring next year….a buzz that Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver are booked for Sat 22/3 at 9pm…I’m hoping to see them and hopefully,have a chinwag with Gerry…he’s from the same suburb as me,so he’ll be on his home city…
Enjoy travels and gigs
Dave
Christy's reply
I really like Lisa & Gerry… Gerry’s “Speech Project” remains up there among my Top Ten
Myself and my lovely partner, Emma (I love the ground whereon she stands) are travelling over from Glasgow to see your show in Sligo tomorrow. I have seen you in the Barrowlands a few times- always fantastic. We are both so looking forward to the show- Andy
Christy
On youtube just released is a taster of Réamhcheol / Overture from Fíorusice – The Legend of the Lough |
by the wonderful John Spillane.
I am looking forward to the release hugely.
Rory
Christy's reply
I’ve been looking forward to John’s Opera since first mention……
Was it you that spoke about A diary of a super tramp? I have acquired a copy but have not had time to read it yet.
There is currently a midges infestation in Conamara. There is a song in it yet.
Bring your midge spray all the way to Galway bay…They might eat your head away.!!
With all the thousands for a bike shed at Leinster house, it would be better invested in the mass extinction of midges and the nasty creabhar aswell don’t forget him ..he’s waiting for you as well..footing turf is tough enough .you are having a nice day and he makes everyone miserable. A special court must be assembled to assess the magnitude of his crimes.
See you soon a mhac bán
CS
Christy's reply
very important that our TDs and Senators maintain dry saddles ….god forbid them every getting chafed or saddlesore….
Hi Christy,
Maybe a verse on “The Shed” could be squeezed into “I love politicians “……… perhaps the Honda 50 could shelter in it; but then again it would be out of place in Brady’s yard.
Best regards
Patsy
Hi C. Surely a verse about the Bike Shed will appear sometime soon ? Such a pity the new album is done and dusted, you could have written into history, Ride On !! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
my chain is rusty, back wheel pumptured, dynamo knackered, sturmey-archer seized up, all for lack of a shed, me poor auld Rudge beyond repair
On the railway theme Christy,
Beeching ripped up the tracks around Hawick in 1969.
As a 5yo my only recollection was being taken by my granny and great aunt to melrose ( to a toy shop) on the train out of Hawick.
Boxcar Willie, now there’s a musical name to conjour with. ……..and of course ‘i hear the train a coming…’ johnny Cash.
Though Woodie Guthrie is said to have rode the trains around america picking up songs, and he was a top, top man.
Rory
Christy's reply
Rick rack rickety rack
see the train coming down the track
….(Gerry Rafferty)
I can recall from many years ago, a Frank Hall sketch, TV, a railway platform, a railway commuter arrives to sing an air: “Pardon me Sir, is this the Supertrain to Sligo……” it ran to the air of a Glen Millar tune. Looking out the train window comes an officious-looking Frank Kelly in railway uniform who sings the next line.
“The Eurostar to Sligo” would fit that same air. I cant think of the tune’s name. (Might have come back….)
Hi Christy
Tomorrow,I’m meeting up with my oldest pal/partner in music crime -Fred….marking 60 years since we first met at the start of secondary school…
We’ll re run many familiar stories and toast absent / lost friends…there’ll be choice words for some cruel teachers and praise for a few good guys…. In particular ‘ Barney’a veteran English teacher.When he taught us,he’d long worked out that a good way to hold attention of teenage boys was to at least make lessons interesting!Poetry often featured works by WB Yeats…as we started to listen to /play music,Donovan featured heavily….LPs on budget Marble Arch label.When we heard him sing of ‘Wandering Aengus’,dots were joined back to clasroom poetry…over many rehearsals and hundreds of gigs,we were often grateful for links that led to the setlists.
I’m writing ltoday as it’s very apt that you’ll be on the road to Sligo. Years after Barney’s influence,I spent a few days in County Sligo….a magical trip with a soundtrack including your version of Wandering Aengus’…
Thankfully,you’ve featured heavily in many decades of my music making,I’m wondering if you currently play the wonderful Yeats ballad.
Enjoy travels and music.
Dave
I hope to sing it tonight here in Sligo, words by Yeats, music from Judy Collins, learnt from Richie Havens that giant of soul and song…
nuns,brothers,priests and lay teachers tried to beat/force,cajole us into poetry…Richie Havens held the key to enlightenment
here tonight in Knocknarea, between Queen Maeve and Ben Bulben, the car park is filling up, the room is full, I’m getting nicely nervous, the guitars are re strung and ready to hum, in 70 mins I hope to be out before the lamps..out there one more time as the leaves turn to brown
To Pat: I’ll send you an email today.
To Christy, good luck tonight in Sligo
An Arena gig, not surprising in the year of the Botanic and Iveagh Gardens ! It will be 12 years in Oct since you last played this venue I think. It’s a change compared to the hotel gigs or even the Gillooly Hall ! Enjoy it all. Beir bua agus beannacht.H
all I recall from the last gig here is Declan Sinnott and Myself posing with T Shirts that said “NO FRACKING HERE”..
A grand day for a spin past Ben Bulben.
It’s been a while since we’ve been to one of your gigs….. anticipation is building….
It’s been a funny old year so far , highs and lows but every day is a good day.
A wise man said recently the first 60 years are the worst…..we are about to test that theory !!
Thanks for all . See/Hear you very soon.
Its some joint this Marty….see you in a while
Hello Christy,
Here’s some remarkable that I came across this morning. From one of your brothers
https://youtu.be/49ORLl_umIw?si=-U64hW8qZ1ri3eRO
Rebecca
thats our beloved Young Brother Kevin Barry Moore aka Luka Bloom….we have another Brother Andy in Cork and three great Sisters Eilish in Dublin, Anne in Clare and Terry in Kildare…Thankfully we are all still here on The Island, each one a songster always cherishing memories of our Singing Mother, Nancy Power ( Yellow Furze Woman)…Luka sings of our Father ( The Man is Alive)
Hi Christy any chance of you coming back to Liverpool in the future? How about putting some merch for sale on the website, some old t.-shirts that need replacing 🤣
no current plans ..how I’d love to hit The Phil again
re merch….Its prob not a goer…but I’ll run it past the boss
Just remembered an LP,featuring Maire and Nollaig – Casey sisters…ace title…’Sibling Revelry’! D
Hi Christy
Totally agree about TG4…
I was lucky to see Clancy and Makem a few times…Nollaig on fiddle and Archie Fisher,later Arty…
http://www.oldbridgemusic.com has info about numerous Casey projects …
Many moons ago,we played support for Maire and Chris. Knowing I had to announce their set,I asked for the pronunciation of her surname. I ran through it a few times before the crunch moment…characteristically, Maire was very gracious about the result! Happy days…
Dave
http://www.maireandchris.com is a shortcut to the dynamic duo… Lots of info about activities/ other artists on the Oldbridgemusic site. D
they make beautiful sounds
just last night I rewatched Art McGlynn’s*** story on TG4’s “Sé mo Laoch” series…also saw Steve Cooney’s tribute and Alec Finn’s on the same TG4 series
we are very fortunate here in Ireland to have this TV channel which constantly transmits Music Programmes of the highest calibre
*** Máire’s Ní Cathasaigh’s sister Nollaig was married to the late Arty McGlynn….Nollaig is a brilliant fiddle/violin player who .among her many achievemnts , played with us in Planxty in the early 1980s
Hi Christy
Interesting gig news just in from Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman… Via. http://www.oldbridgemusic.com wonderful musicians and several US,England,Germany gigs before Christmas…always a treat.lots of good stuff on their website too.
Manchester Folk Festival is gearing up for Spring next year….a buzz that Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver are booked for Sat 22/3 at 9pm…I’m hoping to see them and hopefully,have a chinwag with Gerry…he’s from the same suburb as me,so he’ll be on his home city…
Enjoy travels and gigs
Dave
I really like Lisa & Gerry… Gerry’s “Speech Project” remains up there among my Top Ten
Myself and my lovely partner, Emma (I love the ground whereon she stands) are travelling over from Glasgow to see your show in Sligo tomorrow. I have seen you in the Barrowlands a few times- always fantastic. We are both so looking forward to the show- Andy
Well played with the Gerry Rafferty lines,Christy
Always a treat…
‘The coat she wore still lies upon the bed
The book I gave her that she never read…’
(‘her father didn’t like me anyway’…GR)
Less is more…
Dave
Christy
On youtube just released is a taster of Réamhcheol / Overture from Fíorusice – The Legend of the Lough |
by the wonderful John Spillane.
I am looking forward to the release hugely.
Rory
I’ve been looking forward to John’s Opera since first mention……
CM,
Was it you that spoke about A diary of a super tramp? I have acquired a copy but have not had time to read it yet.
There is currently a midges infestation in Conamara. There is a song in it yet.
Bring your midge spray all the way to Galway bay…They might eat your head away.!!
With all the thousands for a bike shed at Leinster house, it would be better invested in the mass extinction of midges and the nasty creabhar aswell don’t forget him ..he’s waiting for you as well..footing turf is tough enough .you are having a nice day and he makes everyone miserable. A special court must be assembled to assess the magnitude of his crimes.
See you soon a mhac bán
CS
very important that our TDs and Senators maintain dry saddles ….god forbid them every getting chafed or saddlesore….
Hi Christy,
Maybe a verse on “The Shed” could be squeezed into “I love politicians “……… perhaps the Honda 50 could shelter in it; but then again it would be out of place in Brady’s yard.
Best regards
Patsy
Ride on Patsy
Hi C. Surely a verse about the Bike Shed will appear sometime soon ? Such a pity the new album is done and dusted, you could have written into history, Ride On !! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
my chain is rusty, back wheel pumptured, dynamo knackered, sturmey-archer seized up, all for lack of a shed, me poor auld Rudge beyond repair
On the railway theme Christy,
Beeching ripped up the tracks around Hawick in 1969.
As a 5yo my only recollection was being taken by my granny and great aunt to melrose ( to a toy shop) on the train out of Hawick.
Boxcar Willie, now there’s a musical name to conjour with. ……..and of course ‘i hear the train a coming…’ johnny Cash.
Though Woodie Guthrie is said to have rode the trains around america picking up songs, and he was a top, top man.
Rory
Rick rack rickety rack
see the train coming down the track
….(Gerry Rafferty)
“Chatanooga Choo Choo”.
Recorded by but not written by Millar.
Frank Hall’s comedy writers were to keep the railway theme!
bring back Ballymagash
Gipp, Frankie back well again pleased to report – touch wood and all of that.
De Dannan brought us some splendid music, C.
Dolores
I can recall from many years ago, a Frank Hall sketch, TV, a railway platform, a railway commuter arrives to sing an air: “Pardon me Sir, is this the Supertrain to Sligo……” it ran to the air of a Glen Millar tune. Looking out the train window comes an officious-looking Frank Kelly in railway uniform who sings the next line.
“The Eurostar to Sligo” would fit that same air. I cant think of the tune’s name. (Might have come back….)
Tom Moore