Hi Christy,
I recall asking, a few years ago ,about that fabulous musical piece at your gigs. i think it turned out to be THE ROCK, brilliant piece of music and musicianship,
rory
Christy's reply
When Cathal Hayden goes into overdrive ….sparks begin to fly
Thanks for a very memorable gig on Wednesday Christy, some man for one man, and thanks for the shout out too, the Madrid niece was well chuffed and we all had a ball singing along and enjoying the tunes young and old.
Adelante!
Christy,
I would like to send youst best wishes, a new song.
It’s gentle and loving. It’s called ‘Missing’,
How do I get it to you?
MP3 and lyrics sheet standing by.
With every best wish,
Helen Brennan.
Hey Christy – just to let you know that your SSL cert for the site expired today, so anyone visiting is getting a security alert, and some may not be able to view the site at all.
You might want to get onto your tech support and get them to arrange for a new cert to be issued – this is usually done via the people who host your site – a crowd called digital ocean in your case.
Thanks to Smal for Billy Strings tip off…brill music and playing…reading Billy’s back story,he overcame a lot of hardships in early years…fair play….
As ever,thanks for great context to songs via sleevenotes…frequently listening to ‘Darkness before dawn’…huge credit to Pete Kavanagh’s detail and song structure. Such a sad episode and,as so often,banished from even local history,until a wordsmith and balladeer enter the fray…I hope ancestors of the Dorans and Dr Rowan tree hear the fine tribute.
Dave
Christy's reply
thanks Dave….good to see Pete Kavanagh’s song referenced…he has pointed up a chapter in the history of my home town that was silenced during my life time…Thank You Pete Kavanagh…
“Remember The Doran Family, as the Troubles linger on,
reflect upon Freedom, in the darkness before the dawn”
My next job on the list for today is listening to my brother arguing about my Dad’s old microwave. He’s a real living Father Matthew…
Rebecca
Christy's reply
this is Eoin O Ceannabháin…top singer …and also a candidate in the forthcoming general elections when he will sand for The People Before Profit Party
The song was written by Patrick Galvin, the late Cork Poet and Play Writer….I sang it on Wed night last when his Son, Macdara Galvin, attended Vicar Street ,Dublin..I recorded it back in 1971 on an album called “Prosperous”
Hi Christy,
Every year or two I check in to see if you’ll play a gig or two in NZ and each time you tell me you tell me that you’re long travel touring days are over.
Sitting with my kiwi, Irish educated Labrador in front of the brazier,I’m having a few jars listening to tunes and making myself homesick, It’s time to ask again.😀
Give Val and the kids a NZ holiday! 😀
If it’s still too far i’ll have to check in when I next get back to see my own Whanau in God’s County (Strangford, Co Down) next year or the year after.
Have you listened to the Ballad of John Hume, Tommy Sands.
All the best to you and your Clann and all back home.
Gerry
Christy's reply
Hi Gerry,its a grand damp windy Winter’s morning here, Thanks Be…good to hear from you….its time for me to admit that I wont be travelling up to Aotearoa again…I’m very fortunate to be still working, still able to carry the songs, put on a show…..I perform one gig a week here in Ireland and thats the way its going to be for as long as I can continue…hopefully we can hook up when you next land in Strangford…I’ll check out Tommy’s song….
CM
I was so sorry to hear about Johnny Duhan.
There’s a black cloud of sadness over Bearna.
That beach is called Silver strand in English but Trá na gCeann as Gaeilge. It was always known for a famous battle. It’s about half a mile from where my grandfather’s grandfather and great grandfather drowned in 1922. There is a stone on Barna pier remembering all who have lost their lives at sea. God rest them all.
I was in Bearna today …pity the day is so short this time of year for searching.
CS (20)
Ah great Rebecca, all those Dublin places and thingys listed by you…including a bit of O’Casey….rhymed off by the great Irish/Dublin tourist you are …and I am sure the Dublin irony/humour hasn’t escaped you …the Fr. Matthew Bridge, named after the great teatotaller and founder of the temperance movement, leads one directly to Dublin’s oldest pub, as you pointed out in your post! And with O’Shea’s just across the road, a great drinking area …poor Fr Matt must be turning in his grave as people pound the pavement on the way to the pints….
Paula Meehan…unlikely,I’d have found her superb words,if not for the mentions here.Ditto,Highlanes Gallery and much more…even music!
I’m playing a sequence of trad songs…latest being 90s Dylan’s fab version of ‘The water is wide’…It reminded me of an 80s gig when he had a trio of hard rock players. Most of the gig was hard going,but worth the round trip to Brum for solo Bob and ‘Barbara Ellen’…
Paula is a wonder, one of the best poets this country has produced, and that’s saying something. I was reading through a book of collected elegies last night and came across her poem ‘Child Burial’. There’s such rawness in that one. Id read it before but seeing it nestled amongst Virgil, Longfellow, Shelly and Catullus put the power and strength of her language into sharp relief – as Christy says, its like she’s talking with us, not to us.
I don’t have many names to drop but I had the pleasure of meeting her a few years back, and its no exaggeration to say that I probably wouldn’t be writing if not for some very kind and generous feedback she gave me on some poems, she’s also from my neck of the woods, which is another plus in her column!
Hello Christy,
Folk tale was Traudel’s favourite wasn’t it. I’ve shied away from it over the years. It feels cruel. We mistake beauty for truth, I guess. I find it hard to read.
I love this one, full of music and musicians
In solidarity
with the foggy dew, the waxy’s dargle, the dicey reillys, the heart of the rowls, the twangman, and the rocky road that led you down through the songlines of Dublin to the river itself, the seagull raucous Liffey; its smell, its swell, its angelus bells ringing o’er it, its crescent moon above and the whole world in a state of chassis
in solidarity.
Paula Meehan takes me back to a bitter wind on the Father Mathew bridge by the Brazen Head.
This snippet makes me laugh
Under a waxing crescent moon he came
to stand by me. We were heraldic:
if I was spread-eagled, he was rampant
on an azure field.
..
That was such a beautiful show tonight in Vicar Street. A tribute to Johnny Duhan to begin as you invited us to join you in singing The Voyage…followed later by a song for Kathleen Watkins and Gay with some of their family present..Beeswing was perfect. An emotional few moments at Table 6 as you treated us to a trio of songs from Wally Page…All For The Roses is so beautiful. During 16 Jolly Ravers I thought of a night in The Annesley where Wally was about to start the gig…couldn’t find his hat..he loved the hats, felt better singing with them on, and only one capo between him and Johnny Mulhearn…until the interval when Wal stood up and there was the hat under his arse and the capo inside the hat…he did a flyer of a second half after that…
Where oh where is our James Connolly was a great treat and surprise…so good to hear the songs from the new LP being so well received…I could be here all night…loved the radio chat too with Oliver Callan week…the chats are more intimate and warmer on the wireless. Thanks for a gorgeous night from start to finish and all the bits in between…it was a joy and a tonic…xx and its all for the roses, over the sea,…all for the roses..Finglas boys to be…
Christy's reply
the hard larball,
I never heard the like of it on a Winter’s Wednesday Night..
listeners from far and near gathered beneath the carousel of healing
Madrid, Budapest, Howth, Tralee, Newbridge and God only knows where else
such singin and harmonisin, it carried me along for 105 minutes
jasus Lar but betimes I was in ecstacy
ye had me in the palm of ye’re hand
I coulda gone on longer but I’d only have killed it
pascal was bullin for a smoke,
bridie needed a bagga chips
dave had to catch the bus to cork
Booterstown was calling
mick had the kettle on
paddy was after makin the sangwidges
on nights like this
My sympathy to the Duhan Families and to you on the very sad passing of fellow Limerickman Johnny Duhan . Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Saw Grannys Intentions when they played the Markets Field in 1983. If my memory serves me correct did Johnny open for Moving Hearts on a couple of occasions in Woodies of Castleisland? Saw Moving Hearts, Danny and the Valtones and Tokyo Olympics in Woodies in 1981. https://www.limerickpost.ie/2023/08/24/it-was-40-years-ago-today-the-grannys-brought-some-bands-to-play/#google_vignette
Christy's reply
Heartbreaking news.Such a tragedy for the Family.
Johnny Duhan was a very special man…. Family Man, Gentle Man, Music Man,unique songwriter, a true artist…
Also,back in the day, an exciting front man with his band “Granny’s Intentions” ,they were the talk of Limerick and later Dublin….Johnny could give Jagger a run for his money, such was his stage craft…
Then Johnny took a different road….
I was very fortunate that he shared three of his songs with me…”El Salvador” back in 1984 which I recorded on the “Ride On” Album…. “The Voyage” in 1987 which still resounds around the world, much loved , always requested by young and old…..
Johnny also wrote “100 Miles from home” which I recorded with Donal Lunny,…its on the “Box Set 1964-2004″…
Last nite in matt molloys, everyone sang the voyage to celebrate the life of such a wonderful person.el Salvador is such a beautiful song, I’m sure you will include it in ur set list again, for Johnny.
Christy's reply
it was the same story in Dublin last. night Spuddy…
the entire audience sang Johnny’s Voyage
in mourning for their fallen balladeer
Hi Christy,
After reading Paula Mehan’s poem that Smàl posted,
and listening to Life and Soul again it minded me
of the words Paula wrote about Ann in
The Statue of the Virgin at Granard speaks …
On a night like this I remember the child
who came with fifteen summers to her name,
and she lay down at my feet
without midwife or doctor or friend to hold her hand.
And she pushed her secret out into the night.
Far from the town tucked up in little scandals
bargains struck, words broken, prayers, promises
and though she cried out to me in extermis
I did not move
I didn’t lift a finger
I didn’t intercede with heaven
nor whisper the charmed word in God’s ear.
You’re right. We should build a loving pagan shrine
in her name in the middle of the island.
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Christy's reply
Hey Bourkey,
its early in the mornin, before the break of day…
thanks for quoting …
I love these lines…
Paula’s stuff is dead on…
its like,
we can get it like…
instead of talkin at us,
she does be talkin with us,
not unlike your own Rita Anne
in a different vernaculr
not tryin to impress us
feet firmly on the common ground
standing here among us…
where we need them most
Johnny Duhan was a very special man…. Family Man, Gentle Man, Music Man,unique songwriter, a true artist…
Also,back in the day, an exciting front man with his band “Granny’s Intentions” ,they were the talk of Limerick and later Dublin….Johnny could give Jagger a run for his money, such was his stage craft…
Then Johnny took a different road….
I was very fortunate that he shared three of his songs with me…”El Salvador” back in 1984 which I recorded on the “Ride On” Album…. “The Voyage” in 1987 which still resounds around the world, much loved , always requested by young and old…..
Johnny also wrote “100 Miles from home” which I recorded with Donal Lunny,…its on the “Box Set 1964-2004″…
Christy, so to hear about he passing of your dear friend, thoughts and best wishes to all.
“Death leaves a heartache that no one can heal, love leaves a memory that no one can steal”
RIP – Johnny Duhan
Christy's reply
Heartbreaking news.Such a tragedy for the Family.
Johnny Duhan was a very special man…. Family Man, Gentle Man, Music Man,unique songwriter, a true artist…
Also,back in the day, an exciting front man with his band “Granny’s Intentions” ,they were the talk of Limerick and later Dublin….Johnny could give Jagger a run for his money, such was his stage craft…
Then Johnny took a different road….
I was very fortunate that he shared three of his songs with me…”El Salvador” back in 1984 which I recorded on the “Ride On” Album…. “The Voyage” in 1987 which still resounds around the world, much loved , always requested by young and old…..
Johnny also wrote “100 Miles from home” which I recorded with Donal Lunny,…its on the “Box Set 1964-2004″…
Hi Christy,
I recall asking, a few years ago ,about that fabulous musical piece at your gigs. i think it turned out to be THE ROCK, brilliant piece of music and musicianship,
rory
When Cathal Hayden goes into overdrive ….sparks begin to fly
Thanks for a very memorable gig on Wednesday Christy, some man for one man, and thanks for the shout out too, the Madrid niece was well chuffed and we all had a ball singing along and enjoying the tunes young and old.
Adelante!
Ceart go leór
First line of message is garbled.
It should read :
I would like to send you a new song.
Cheers,
Helen.
Christy,
I would like to send youst best wishes, a new song.
It’s gentle and loving. It’s called ‘Missing’,
How do I get it to you?
MP3 and lyrics sheet standing by.
With every best wish,
Helen Brennan.
you can Post the lyric here if you wish…
Hey Christy – just to let you know that your SSL cert for the site expired today, so anyone visiting is getting a security alert, and some may not be able to view the site at all.
You might want to get onto your tech support and get them to arrange for a new cert to be issued – this is usually done via the people who host your site – a crowd called digital ocean in your case.
all sorted thank you..back on track
Hi Christy
Thanks to Smal for Billy Strings tip off…brill music and playing…reading Billy’s back story,he overcame a lot of hardships in early years…fair play….
As ever,thanks for great context to songs via sleevenotes…frequently listening to ‘Darkness before dawn’…huge credit to Pete Kavanagh’s detail and song structure. Such a sad episode and,as so often,banished from even local history,until a wordsmith and balladeer enter the fray…I hope ancestors of the Dorans and Dr Rowan tree hear the fine tribute.
Dave
thanks Dave….good to see Pete Kavanagh’s song referenced…he has pointed up a chapter in the history of my home town that was silenced during my life time…Thank You Pete Kavanagh…
“Remember The Doran Family, as the Troubles linger on,
reflect upon Freedom, in the darkness before the dawn”
Hello Christy,
Here’s a special bit of singing I came across yesterday
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1UxgaBR253/
The same singer can be heard on John Spillane’s folk opera.
Pat, ???
My next job on the list for today is listening to my brother arguing about my Dad’s old microwave. He’s a real living Father Matthew…
Rebecca
this is Eoin O Ceannabháin…top singer …and also a candidate in the forthcoming general elections when he will sand for The People Before Profit Party
The song was written by Patrick Galvin, the late Cork Poet and Play Writer….I sang it on Wed night last when his Son, Macdara Galvin, attended Vicar Street ,Dublin..I recorded it back in 1971 on an album called “Prosperous”
Hi Christy,
Every year or two I check in to see if you’ll play a gig or two in NZ and each time you tell me you tell me that you’re long travel touring days are over.
Sitting with my kiwi, Irish educated Labrador in front of the brazier,I’m having a few jars listening to tunes and making myself homesick, It’s time to ask again.😀
Give Val and the kids a NZ holiday! 😀
If it’s still too far i’ll have to check in when I next get back to see my own Whanau in God’s County (Strangford, Co Down) next year or the year after.
Have you listened to the Ballad of John Hume, Tommy Sands.
All the best to you and your Clann and all back home.
Gerry
Hi Gerry,its a grand damp windy Winter’s morning here, Thanks Be…good to hear from you….its time for me to admit that I wont be travelling up to Aotearoa again…I’m very fortunate to be still working, still able to carry the songs, put on a show…..I perform one gig a week here in Ireland and thats the way its going to be for as long as I can continue…hopefully we can hook up when you next land in Strangford…I’ll check out Tommy’s song….
CM
I was so sorry to hear about Johnny Duhan.
There’s a black cloud of sadness over Bearna.
That beach is called Silver strand in English but Trá na gCeann as Gaeilge. It was always known for a famous battle. It’s about half a mile from where my grandfather’s grandfather and great grandfather drowned in 1922. There is a stone on Barna pier remembering all who have lost their lives at sea. God rest them all.
I was in Bearna today …pity the day is so short this time of year for searching.
CS (20)
our good Companero laid to rest this day
Ah great Rebecca, all those Dublin places and thingys listed by you…including a bit of O’Casey….rhymed off by the great Irish/Dublin tourist you are …and I am sure the Dublin irony/humour hasn’t escaped you …the Fr. Matthew Bridge, named after the great teatotaller and founder of the temperance movement, leads one directly to Dublin’s oldest pub, as you pointed out in your post! And with O’Shea’s just across the road, a great drinking area …poor Fr Matt must be turning in his grave as people pound the pavement on the way to the pints….
Dave – have you heard Billy Strings? I always thought there was a touch of Woody about him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFEZOjtrwls
Hi Christy
Paula Meehan…unlikely,I’d have found her superb words,if not for the mentions here.Ditto,Highlanes Gallery and much more…even music!
I’m playing a sequence of trad songs…latest being 90s Dylan’s fab version of ‘The water is wide’…It reminded me of an 80s gig when he had a trio of hard rock players. Most of the gig was hard going,but worth the round trip to Brum for solo Bob and ‘Barbara Ellen’…
Heading for Woody soon…
All the best
Dave
Paula is a wonder, one of the best poets this country has produced, and that’s saying something. I was reading through a book of collected elegies last night and came across her poem ‘Child Burial’. There’s such rawness in that one. Id read it before but seeing it nestled amongst Virgil, Longfellow, Shelly and Catullus put the power and strength of her language into sharp relief – as Christy says, its like she’s talking with us, not to us.
I don’t have many names to drop but I had the pleasure of meeting her a few years back, and its no exaggeration to say that I probably wouldn’t be writing if not for some very kind and generous feedback she gave me on some poems, she’s also from my neck of the woods, which is another plus in her column!
Hello Christy,
Folk tale was Traudel’s favourite wasn’t it. I’ve shied away from it over the years. It feels cruel. We mistake beauty for truth, I guess. I find it hard to read.
I love this one, full of music and musicians
In solidarity
with the foggy dew, the waxy’s dargle, the dicey reillys, the heart of the rowls, the twangman, and the rocky road that led you down through the songlines of Dublin to the river itself, the seagull raucous Liffey; its smell, its swell, its angelus bells ringing o’er it, its crescent moon above and the whole world in a state of chassis
in solidarity.
Paula Meehan takes me back to a bitter wind on the Father Mathew bridge by the Brazen Head.
This snippet makes me laugh
Under a waxing crescent moon he came
to stand by me. We were heraldic:
if I was spread-eagled, he was rampant
on an azure field.
..
Rebecca
That was such a beautiful show tonight in Vicar Street. A tribute to Johnny Duhan to begin as you invited us to join you in singing The Voyage…followed later by a song for Kathleen Watkins and Gay with some of their family present..Beeswing was perfect. An emotional few moments at Table 6 as you treated us to a trio of songs from Wally Page…All For The Roses is so beautiful. During 16 Jolly Ravers I thought of a night in The Annesley where Wally was about to start the gig…couldn’t find his hat..he loved the hats, felt better singing with them on, and only one capo between him and Johnny Mulhearn…until the interval when Wal stood up and there was the hat under his arse and the capo inside the hat…he did a flyer of a second half after that…
Where oh where is our James Connolly was a great treat and surprise…so good to hear the songs from the new LP being so well received…I could be here all night…loved the radio chat too with Oliver Callan week…the chats are more intimate and warmer on the wireless. Thanks for a gorgeous night from start to finish and all the bits in between…it was a joy and a tonic…xx and its all for the roses, over the sea,…all for the roses..Finglas boys to be…
the hard larball,
I never heard the like of it on a Winter’s Wednesday Night..
listeners from far and near gathered beneath the carousel of healing
Madrid, Budapest, Howth, Tralee, Newbridge and God only knows where else
such singin and harmonisin, it carried me along for 105 minutes
jasus Lar but betimes I was in ecstacy
ye had me in the palm of ye’re hand
I coulda gone on longer but I’d only have killed it
pascal was bullin for a smoke,
bridie needed a bagga chips
dave had to catch the bus to cork
Booterstown was calling
mick had the kettle on
paddy was after makin the sangwidges
on nights like this
My sympathy to the Duhan Families and to you on the very sad passing of fellow Limerickman Johnny Duhan . Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Saw Grannys Intentions when they played the Markets Field in 1983. If my memory serves me correct did Johnny open for Moving Hearts on a couple of occasions in Woodies of Castleisland? Saw Moving Hearts, Danny and the Valtones and Tokyo Olympics in Woodies in 1981. https://www.limerickpost.ie/2023/08/24/it-was-40-years-ago-today-the-grannys-brought-some-bands-to-play/#google_vignette
Heartbreaking news.Such a tragedy for the Family.
Johnny Duhan was a very special man…. Family Man, Gentle Man, Music Man,unique songwriter, a true artist…
Also,back in the day, an exciting front man with his band “Granny’s Intentions” ,they were the talk of Limerick and later Dublin….Johnny could give Jagger a run for his money, such was his stage craft…
Then Johnny took a different road….
I was very fortunate that he shared three of his songs with me…”El Salvador” back in 1984 which I recorded on the “Ride On” Album…. “The Voyage” in 1987 which still resounds around the world, much loved , always requested by young and old…..
Johnny also wrote “100 Miles from home” which I recorded with Donal Lunny,…its on the “Box Set 1964-2004″…
We send our condolences to The Duhan family
Rest in Peace Johnny..see you later…Christy
Last nite in matt molloys, everyone sang the voyage to celebrate the life of such a wonderful person.el Salvador is such a beautiful song, I’m sure you will include it in ur set list again, for Johnny.
it was the same story in Dublin last. night Spuddy…
the entire audience sang Johnny’s Voyage
in mourning for their fallen balladeer
Hi Christy,
After reading Paula Mehan’s poem that Smàl posted,
and listening to Life and Soul again it minded me
of the words Paula wrote about Ann in
The Statue of the Virgin at Granard speaks …
On a night like this I remember the child
who came with fifteen summers to her name,
and she lay down at my feet
without midwife or doctor or friend to hold her hand.
And she pushed her secret out into the night.
Far from the town tucked up in little scandals
bargains struck, words broken, prayers, promises
and though she cried out to me in extermis
I did not move
I didn’t lift a finger
I didn’t intercede with heaven
nor whisper the charmed word in God’s ear.
You’re right. We should build a loving pagan shrine
in her name in the middle of the island.
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Hey Bourkey,
its early in the mornin, before the break of day…
thanks for quoting …
I love these lines…
Paula’s stuff is dead on…
its like,
we can get it like…
instead of talkin at us,
she does be talkin with us,
not unlike your own Rita Anne
in a different vernaculr
not tryin to impress us
feet firmly on the common ground
standing here among us…
where we need them most
Hi Christy
A sad and reflective time for Johnny’s family,friends and admirers…
http://www.salutlive.com has an excellent tribute by Colin Randall.
Dave
Heartbreaking news.Such a tragedy for the Family.
Johnny Duhan was a very special man…. Family Man, Gentle Man, Music Man,unique songwriter, a true artist…
Also,back in the day, an exciting front man with his band “Granny’s Intentions” ,they were the talk of Limerick and later Dublin….Johnny could give Jagger a run for his money, such was his stage craft…
Then Johnny took a different road….
I was very fortunate that he shared three of his songs with me…”El Salvador” back in 1984 which I recorded on the “Ride On” Album…. “The Voyage” in 1987 which still resounds around the world, much loved , always requested by young and old…..
Johnny also wrote “100 Miles from home” which I recorded with Donal Lunny,…its on the “Box Set 1964-2004″…
We send our condolences to The Duhan family
Rest in Peace Johnny..see you later…Christy
Christy, so to hear about he passing of your dear friend, thoughts and best wishes to all.
“Death leaves a heartache that no one can heal, love leaves a memory that no one can steal”
RIP – Johnny Duhan
Heartbreaking news.Such a tragedy for the Family.
Johnny Duhan was a very special man…. Family Man, Gentle Man, Music Man,unique songwriter, a true artist…
Also,back in the day, an exciting front man with his band “Granny’s Intentions” ,they were the talk of Limerick and later Dublin….Johnny could give Jagger a run for his money, such was his stage craft…
Then Johnny took a different road….
I was very fortunate that he shared three of his songs with me…”El Salvador” back in 1984 which I recorded on the “Ride On” Album…. “The Voyage” in 1987 which still resounds around the world, much loved , always requested by young and old…..
Johnny also wrote “100 Miles from home” which I recorded with Donal Lunny,…its on the “Box Set 1964-2004″…
We send our condolences to The Duhan family
Rest in Peace Johnny..see you later…Christy