Great times,out from hibernation into the sun…
Sounding the Century exhibition ends at weekend…brilliant to have had some involvement ,to have met people with stories to share,then to photograph fascinating items…
Terrific that gigs roll on…you,Luka,Blockheads…for me,tomorrow at Martin Simpson….a rare,two in a week after Knapp and Diver.Martin Simpson doing a big favour….Waterside,Sale is a fab venue…a short tram ride for me!
Great News toda,y Christy! Karsten Jahnke Concert promoter has just written to me to tell me the cancelled Luka tour is now back on stream! Looks like a six gig tour called the Here and Now Tour, and on the 21st May 2026 Luka will play once again in Cologne, and they say my tickets are valid! It is absolutely wonderful that Luka is back on the road again!
Hello Christy.Looking forward to your gig tommorow night in Limerick. Myself and Tony are making the journey from Leeside. Another memorable night in store.Sweet music 🎶 roll on.
Hi Some good news Jim Page from Seattle is doing several gigs in Ireland in April, details here https://jimpage.net/ I believe he is also doing a gig in the famous Murphy’s Pub on the pier in Brandon, a select audience of only about 30 !! In other good news the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards have been announced, including young Carlow Piper Colm Broderick, the programme will be broadcast from UCL on 4th May and available globally. But first your own gig on Fri, I believe a gaggle of Rebels are travelling North !! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
If you send me an email address, I can send you a brief recording of the verse that will relate the timing and you could then perhaps share your thoughts on smoothing it out, if need be. I could also send it in Messenger , , ,
I have not used this new verse, having only penned it yesterday after memorizing your song City of Chicago. I meant no disrespect by writing this verse, only to add some length and depth to the song for when I share it. I am a local folk singer and perform at various venues for free, and have a fair set of Irish historical music in my set, including songs by yourself, Paul Brady, and Katie Theasby . .
The reference to “that Gal in New York Bay” refers to the Irish immigrant construction workers who worked on the pedestal base for the Statue of Liberty, and also on putting the deconstructed statue back together and on to the pedestal base . . . see https://www.ilw.com/articles/2001,0817-AILF.shtm for an article published by the ILW.
ILW.com is a leading online publication and resource center focused on U.S. immigration law, publishing Immigration Daily, an online newspaper, and offering a wide range of resources for attorneys, immigrants, and those interested in immigration law.
Again, thank you for getting back with me. . . .
Ty
Hi christy
I am very excited for tomorrow’s gig with 3 of the few remaining Blockheads.
It falls exactly 25 years to the day that the Vernacular Dracula Mr Ian Dury died.
Remembered for his lyrics, he was a reason to be cheerful…here are some more….
Reasons to be cheerful, part three
(One, two, three)
Summer, Buddy Holly, the working folly
Good golly Miss Molly and boats
Hammersmith Palais, the Bolshoi Ballet
Jump back in the alley add nanny goats
18-wheeler Scammells, dominica camels
All other mammals plus equal votes
Seeing Piccadilly, Fanny Smith and Willy
Being rather silly, and porridge oats
A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it
You’re welcome, we can spare it, yellow socks
Too short to be haughty, too nutty to be naughty
Going on 40, no electric shocks
The juice of a carrot, the smile of a parrot
A little drop of claret, anything that rocks
Elvis and Scotty, days when I ain’t spotty
Sitting on my potty, curing smallpox
Reasons to be cheerful, part three
Reasons to be cheerful
One, two, three
Health service glasses
Gigolos and brasses
Round or skinny bottoms
Take your mum to Paris
Lighting up the chalice
Wee Willy Harris
Bantu Stephen Biko, listening to Rico
Harpo, Groucho, Chico
Cheddar cheese and pickle, the Vincent motorsickle
Slap and tickle
Woody Allen, Dali, Dimitri and Pasquale
Balabalabala and Volare
Something nice to study, phoning up a buddy
Being in my nuddy
Saying hokey-dokey, singalonga Smokey
Coming out of chokey
John Coltrane’s soprano, Adi Celentano
Bonar Colleano
Reasons to be cheerful, part three
Reasons to be cheerful
One, two, three
Yes, yes
Dear, dear
Perhaps next year
Or maybe even never
In which case…..
They worked along the Erie and on that Gal in New York Bay
They laid the ties and moved the steel for the Eastern railway
They brought their dreams and calloused handsTo toil ‘neath golden skies
With blood and sweat and bridled fears And fire in their eyes
chorus
. . . To the city of Chicago
Christy's reply
Thanks for sharing your new verse ……it reads really well, might need a slight tightening up , do you sing it ? “that Gal”…I dont understand this reference !
Mary of the Gaels, Louth or Kildare? We will sort that Christy!
If youse win yours and we win ours we might meet in the Sam semi, so we better plan our trip.
I’ve got the Hiace, so I’ll motor the Landbridge from over here and will pick
you up at Aldi on the Rock Hill.
I’ll have me bodhrán, you can teach me how to play with the hand instead of the stick, maybe you’ll sing St Brigid’ cloak….
We must motor on out the long Mile Road, nip through Bluebell, maybe have a feed in the Red Cow, have a wee stop at Veronica’s rememberance plate by Newlands Cross, motor on the N7, we won’t be a million miles from the hill of Allen, is it worth stopping?
Now as we motor on to Newbridge, we have to sort out the St Brigid thing. I have an idea. Could you maybe get the Station Road closed just for us? And we can have a proper game of bowls, Ból an Bhóthair, road bowls. I picked it up from the boys of the county Armagh, maybe you had a bit of it along the Curragh.I’ve been practicing over here they call it Bosseln.
We won’t need the whole Station Road, just a couple of miles, then whoever wins with the least number of throws gets to claim Bríghid.
What do you think?
Christy's reply
our Station Road is but half a mile….once you cross the Dublin / Cork Railway line you are heading into Morristown and onto the Milltown Road…we might pass the Red Cow and motor on to Tommy Tougher’s for the feed….Tommy, God be good to him, always put up a good feed to weary travellers and theres plenty of room out back to park up for a kip before the onward journey to St Conleth’s Park….once our field of dreams…on one occasion I attempted to lob a high ball into the square in a minor match against Suncroft…the wind caught the ball and it sailed over the bar for a glorious point…..needless to say I later maintained that I was going for the score…after a subsequent fracas myself and the full back were invited to leave the field…..I met him again years later in The Rising Sun in Brownstown and we got outside a right few pints
I’d be quite content to let ye have a 50% claim on Brigid,Bridget, Breed, Breada, Brid, Bridie, Bride, Birgit….there is a enough goodness in our Pagan Goddess to cover the two counties…let her have one foit in both csmps , let us be joined at the hip
In answer to Pat , i recall being told (walking home from primary school opposite ‘the spetch’) that God Saves but George Best knocks in the rebound.
Rory
Ps
A lifelong pal sent me a wonderful saying yesterday that evokes so many happy memories….at some point in your childhood you and your friends went outside to play together for the last time,and nobody knew it.
Christy's reply
those golden years , childhood innocence, across the fields to the Curragh Plains, down upon the Liffeyside, Newbridge or Nowhere
Well Christy, a grand weekend of sport. Ireland did the business to stay in group B, Louth did the business to stay in div. 2, bet Meath! Kildare did the business and got promotion, we’ll be playing yis next season! Dundalk are flying atop division one.
But for me the great story is Thomas Tuchel as manager if England. He gave a very clever answer when asked if he’d sing God Save. He said he hadn’t yet earned the right to sing it!. Maybe some time in the future the lovely media folks might tell him he had earned the right, he said! Clever!
And can he speak Engelish proper asked some hacks. Well the Guardian says his English is more perfect and sophisticated than that of the hack questioning him!
Fun times.
Christy's reply
Well Pat…Thanks for sharing..We’ll welcome The Wee to St Conleth’s Park…maybe sort out who owns the bragging rights to St.Brigid (of Kildare)
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for all the info on Wandeting Aenghus. Much appreciated. I enjoy talking about songs after I’ve sung them, so I’ll be passing it all on to the Panther Club. Not much talking before, I’m normally straight in.
The other one I’m going to do is the Reel in the Flickering Light.
The rats and the worms and the pigeon and the dog.
Mine takes place in a graveyard. Yours is in a pub?
Just realizing I gave you the wrong email for a pic of the bonnets!
powerderek698@gmail.com
Regards
Michelle and Derek
Hello Christy,
Hope it’s a great gig tonight. Looking forward to getting to one or two later in the year, trad too.
Rebecca
Hi christy, will December 1942 get an airing again. Such depth, such emotion. Rory
Hi Christy
Great times,out from hibernation into the sun…
Sounding the Century exhibition ends at weekend…brilliant to have had some involvement ,to have met people with stories to share,then to photograph fascinating items…
Terrific that gigs roll on…you,Luka,Blockheads…for me,tomorrow at Martin Simpson….a rare,two in a week after Knapp and Diver.Martin Simpson doing a big favour….Waterside,Sale is a fab venue…a short tram ride for me!
Keeping spirits high…
Dave
Great News toda,y Christy! Karsten Jahnke Concert promoter has just written to me to tell me the cancelled Luka tour is now back on stream! Looks like a six gig tour called the Here and Now Tour, and on the 21st May 2026 Luka will play once again in Cologne, and they say my tickets are valid! It is absolutely wonderful that Luka is back on the road again!
Hello Christy.Looking forward to your gig tommorow night in Limerick. Myself and Tony are making the journey from Leeside. Another memorable night in store.Sweet music 🎶 roll on.
Hi Christy.
Are there any shows in the offing for this September?
Best wishes.
Hi Some good news Jim Page from Seattle is doing several gigs in Ireland in April, details here https://jimpage.net/ I believe he is also doing a gig in the famous Murphy’s Pub on the pier in Brandon, a select audience of only about 30 !! In other good news the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards have been announced, including young Carlow Piper Colm Broderick, the programme will be broadcast from UCL on 4th May and available globally. But first your own gig on Fri, I believe a gaggle of Rebels are travelling North !! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Thank you, Christy, for your kind response.
If you send me an email address, I can send you a brief recording of the verse that will relate the timing and you could then perhaps share your thoughts on smoothing it out, if need be. I could also send it in Messenger , , ,
I have not used this new verse, having only penned it yesterday after memorizing your song City of Chicago. I meant no disrespect by writing this verse, only to add some length and depth to the song for when I share it. I am a local folk singer and perform at various venues for free, and have a fair set of Irish historical music in my set, including songs by yourself, Paul Brady, and Katie Theasby . .
The reference to “that Gal in New York Bay” refers to the Irish immigrant construction workers who worked on the pedestal base for the Statue of Liberty, and also on putting the deconstructed statue back together and on to the pedestal base . . . see https://www.ilw.com/articles/2001,0817-AILF.shtm for an article published by the ILW.
ILW.com is a leading online publication and resource center focused on U.S. immigration law, publishing Immigration Daily, an online newspaper, and offering a wide range of resources for attorneys, immigrants, and those interested in immigration law.
Again, thank you for getting back with me. . . .
Ty
Reasons to be fearful 1 (Netanyahu) 2 (Trump) 3 (Putin).
Hi christy
I am very excited for tomorrow’s gig with 3 of the few remaining Blockheads.
It falls exactly 25 years to the day that the Vernacular Dracula Mr Ian Dury died.
Remembered for his lyrics, he was a reason to be cheerful…here are some more….
Reasons to be cheerful, part three
(One, two, three)
Summer, Buddy Holly, the working folly
Good golly Miss Molly and boats
Hammersmith Palais, the Bolshoi Ballet
Jump back in the alley add nanny goats
18-wheeler Scammells, dominica camels
All other mammals plus equal votes
Seeing Piccadilly, Fanny Smith and Willy
Being rather silly, and porridge oats
A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it
You’re welcome, we can spare it, yellow socks
Too short to be haughty, too nutty to be naughty
Going on 40, no electric shocks
The juice of a carrot, the smile of a parrot
A little drop of claret, anything that rocks
Elvis and Scotty, days when I ain’t spotty
Sitting on my potty, curing smallpox
Reasons to be cheerful, part three
Reasons to be cheerful
One, two, three
Health service glasses
Gigolos and brasses
Round or skinny bottoms
Take your mum to Paris
Lighting up the chalice
Wee Willy Harris
Bantu Stephen Biko, listening to Rico
Harpo, Groucho, Chico
Cheddar cheese and pickle, the Vincent motorsickle
Slap and tickle
Woody Allen, Dali, Dimitri and Pasquale
Balabalabala and Volare
Something nice to study, phoning up a buddy
Being in my nuddy
Saying hokey-dokey, singalonga Smokey
Coming out of chokey
John Coltrane’s soprano, Adi Celentano
Bonar Colleano
Reasons to be cheerful, part three
Reasons to be cheerful
One, two, three
Yes, yes
Dear, dear
Perhaps next year
Or maybe even never
In which case…..
City of Chicago
They worked along the Erie and on that Gal in New York Bay
They laid the ties and moved the steel for the Eastern railway
They brought their dreams and calloused handsTo toil ‘neath golden skies
With blood and sweat and bridled fears And fire in their eyes
chorus
. . . To the city of Chicago
Thanks for sharing your new verse ……it reads really well, might need a slight tightening up , do you sing it ? “that Gal”…I dont understand this reference !
Mary of the Gaels, Louth or Kildare? We will sort that Christy!
If youse win yours and we win ours we might meet in the Sam semi, so we better plan our trip.
I’ve got the Hiace, so I’ll motor the Landbridge from over here and will pick
you up at Aldi on the Rock Hill.
I’ll have me bodhrán, you can teach me how to play with the hand instead of the stick, maybe you’ll sing St Brigid’ cloak….
We must motor on out the long Mile Road, nip through Bluebell, maybe have a feed in the Red Cow, have a wee stop at Veronica’s rememberance plate by Newlands Cross, motor on the N7, we won’t be a million miles from the hill of Allen, is it worth stopping?
Now as we motor on to Newbridge, we have to sort out the St Brigid thing. I have an idea. Could you maybe get the Station Road closed just for us? And we can have a proper game of bowls, Ból an Bhóthair, road bowls. I picked it up from the boys of the county Armagh, maybe you had a bit of it along the Curragh.I’ve been practicing over here they call it Bosseln.
We won’t need the whole Station Road, just a couple of miles, then whoever wins with the least number of throws gets to claim Bríghid.
What do you think?
our Station Road is but half a mile….once you cross the Dublin / Cork Railway line you are heading into Morristown and onto the Milltown Road…we might pass the Red Cow and motor on to Tommy Tougher’s for the feed….Tommy, God be good to him, always put up a good feed to weary travellers and theres plenty of room out back to park up for a kip before the onward journey to St Conleth’s Park….once our field of dreams…on one occasion I attempted to lob a high ball into the square in a minor match against Suncroft…the wind caught the ball and it sailed over the bar for a glorious point…..needless to say I later maintained that I was going for the score…after a subsequent fracas myself and the full back were invited to leave the field…..I met him again years later in The Rising Sun in Brownstown and we got outside a right few pints
I’d be quite content to let ye have a 50% claim on Brigid,Bridget, Breed, Breada, Brid, Bridie, Bride, Birgit….there is a enough goodness in our Pagan Goddess to cover the two counties…let her have one foit in both csmps , let us be joined at the hip
Hmm….
Newbridge or Nowhere keeps winking at us.
A new idea for an album?
Rebecca
In answer to Pat , i recall being told (walking home from primary school opposite ‘the spetch’) that God Saves but George Best knocks in the rebound.
Rory
Ps
A lifelong pal sent me a wonderful saying yesterday that evokes so many happy memories….at some point in your childhood you and your friends went outside to play together for the last time,and nobody knew it.
those golden years , childhood innocence, across the fields to the Curragh Plains, down upon the Liffeyside, Newbridge or Nowhere
Well Christy, a grand weekend of sport. Ireland did the business to stay in group B, Louth did the business to stay in div. 2, bet Meath! Kildare did the business and got promotion, we’ll be playing yis next season! Dundalk are flying atop division one.
But for me the great story is Thomas Tuchel as manager if England. He gave a very clever answer when asked if he’d sing God Save. He said he hadn’t yet earned the right to sing it!. Maybe some time in the future the lovely media folks might tell him he had earned the right, he said! Clever!
And can he speak Engelish proper asked some hacks. Well the Guardian says his English is more perfect and sophisticated than that of the hack questioning him!
Fun times.
Well Pat…Thanks for sharing..We’ll welcome The Wee to St Conleth’s Park…maybe sort out who owns the bragging rights to St.Brigid (of Kildare)
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for all the info on Wandeting Aenghus. Much appreciated. I enjoy talking about songs after I’ve sung them, so I’ll be passing it all on to the Panther Club. Not much talking before, I’m normally straight in.
The other one I’m going to do is the Reel in the Flickering Light.
The rats and the worms and the pigeon and the dog.
Mine takes place in a graveyard. Yours is in a pub?
Rebecca