Again reading your book last night. One of your pieces reminded me of this so I thought I’d share it here:
A human being is part of a whole, called by us the ‘Universe’ —a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, and feelings, as something separated from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. ~ Al Einstein
Christy's reply
thanks for posting..I have often heard of Al but never read him before…I think Dylan says it better
Christy, I like your style of solo gigs! Button Factory was great last night. Nice to hear some of the old songs showing their face. Had a quick chat with Conor before the gig and he seemed delighted with the turn out. Hope the rest of the gigs go just as good for him. That Sunday evening céilí he mentioned sounds like it’ll be one to go to! Will catch you at the Picnic and in The Forum and probably somewhere betwixed and between. Let the music keep your spirits high..
Christy's reply
The TULLA CEILI BAND at the button factory…count me in
Thank you for a fantastic evening at the Button Factory yesterday. Coming from Norway it was a fantastic atmosphere at the gig. We said hello to your sister as my daughter was sitting beside her. Your sister gave my daughter a bracelet :). Thank you again.
Coincidentally while going thru Andy Irvine videos I located Andy gigging at what looks a mighty folk festival (‘Dent Folk Festival’) and he suddenly ad libbed and told the audience we dont have these ‘smaller’ folk festivals in Ireland anymore going on to mention Lisdonvarna and then the great Ballisodare got a mention too and he said he loves playing at these festivals. I’ve looked & checked and found the 2013 festival being advertised already online. (Ed might take off in 2013 ‘with the tent and the ground sheet rolled up tight…’)
C, do you recall a great Jim Page gig up in that lovely Sligo festival, another ‘student’ of the Guthrie style. Then you the Hearts took ‘Hiroshima…’ to greater heights.And Dan Crary, a great guitarist……….
You’re correct in your comment below and I was only availing of the term ‘all’ kinda freely and as you correctly say Woody started a ‘particular genre’ of music that we all still listen to.
Bear bua!
Christy's reply
sure Ed..I rem all that and lots more..Jim Page has remained a stalwart and is still out there on the road carrying the news and sharing his views and perspectives on this great world we inhabit….Jim is as close to Woodys genre as it gets
I’ve just spent some lovely time online listening to great Billy Bragg, Andy Irvine and Moving Hearts videos.
Lets remember the centenary of the birth of one great man Woody Guthrie which occurred on Friday last (I think). It was he who spoke up for the ordinary man and I suppose it’s a bit cliched to state definitively it’s where ‘all’ the music began, but right as far back to Woody and then make a line through Bob Dylan, even the Clancys then right up to Andy Irvine, Christy and up to Billy Bragg, they sang the songs and kept a voice of protest and highlighting issues of our time up and out there.
Nice to see Newsnight on BBC2 plus our own Newstalk radio station making reference to Guthrie these past few days.
Keep the songs going C as we remember Woody this weekend. Now I invoke, as I’ve done previously, these lines that you yourself sing:-
‘Only the very safe
Can talk about wrong and right
Of those who were forced to choose
Some will chose to fight…’
(Natives)
Keep singing the songs.
(Hiya Hedgo, if you’re reading this… and I want to hear about the Button Factory concert when I meet you.)
Christy's reply
two in a row from Lough Ree…good post Ed…I first encountered Woody’s work in Finsbury Park when the fine Galway singer Tony Small sang Tribute To Woody…then I became aware of how many singers were influenced by Woody’s work…Owen Hand in Edinburgh, Ralph McTell in London….Josh McCrae in Fife…every where I went I heard different Woody songs…I would not agree that its where it “all” began but it certainly is where a particular genre began…there were different strands that fed into Woodys work but he had his own unique style. That style has gone onto influence the writing of many who came after. None more so then Bob Dylan about whom there are many differing views. Mine being that he has his own field,no one else gets into it…
Hi Christy. The Hegarty (Hedgo’s) Family from Athone will be making the trip to Dublin tomorow the 16th for your gig in the Button Factory. You have been a huge part of all of our lives. Tomorrow will be our first chance to see you live. Not a day goes by without your wounderful music being played in ur home. Dad (Aidan) is turning 65 so tomorrow is his birhday gift from us. Nancy Spain is our number one song and is also the Family Anthem. Really looking forward to what will be a lasting memory for us all.
Thank you Chrsity.
Christy's reply
Morra Hedgo…just getting myself worked up for tomorrow nights frenzy…always good to hear from The Middle of The Island…my fathers father hailed from Athlone
Hi Christy. I’ve just been playing at a session with Brian Mooney (Launceston’s famous white haired busker) and others at the Oak. You were in our thoughts as we played at least 6 of your songs (not as well as you of course!). Brian wanted me to pass on to you that he and Phyllis are planning a trip back home next year. Don’t forget Christy that you are always welcome to step back on our shores again – its been too long. Lisa
Christy's reply
always good to hear from songsters in far flung places…I have good memories of my two visits to Tasmania…the very thought of the songs being sung around the world is uplifting..songs need always need the listener’s air..upon the airwaves is fine but never as good as the real thing…greetings too to Brian and Phyllis..I will be in their old stomping ground next fri when we play in Galway, always a good town for airing the songs
Hows things,
Looking forward to your gig on Friday night in Galway. The bould Miley Kelly is coming all the way from Van Diemans land for it so give my good buddy a mention. He recently got engaged to a lovely New Zealand girl, Catherine Ann. Getting married meself July 28th to a pair of brown eyes, Anne from Achill……I took a wrong turn in Charlestown!!! Anyway looking forward to us all meeting up and listening to yourself and Dec as we are all big fans.
All the best,
Johnny G
Christy's reply
Thanks be you did’nt end up in Knock…The Galway Tint is shaping up to be a good night..theres songbirds flying in from all sides
Hello Christy,
Our son Niels and his girlfriend Ella left yesterday for a backpacking trip through Ireland for 10 days. They changed shedules to attend your concert in Galway on friday the 20th. Can you tell him to behave well, to brush his teeth and not to spend all of his money on Guinness?
Please do not play ‘Joxer goes to Stuttgart’ that evening or you make his dad even more jealous then he is right now.
Kind regards and lots of respect,
Joost
Christy's reply
Hi Joost…you’ll have the young lad freaked out altogether…here he is trying to spread his wings and the auld cock sending him messages !!! Ride On Joost
Hi Christy I just thought I would update your good self and at the same time unburden my dark familiar. I know it’s meant to Betty’s jubilee and Andy Murray’s glory and Anish Kapoor’s Hester skelter paid for by yours truly and I am trying to muster jingoistic fervour but feck it Christy the O-games have rendered me neutered. It’s a sea of mismanagement, lord Coe and blue eyed Boris are livin la Vida loca and I’m sitting in a traffic jam as my mind goes to mush. And there’s missiles on a tower block that no sod can do anything about. They’re also shooting the pigeons in Woolwich to make the place look tidy but leaving the corpses. Are you coming over? I’ve a spare ticket to watch the poor Saudi Arabian female athletes, but I won’t say any more in case they fatwa me. X
Christy's reply
it must be alarming to have all that auld shite and rawmesh going on all round you…cant warm to thon Lord Coe at all…I’d be more of an Ovett supprter mysel….as long as they dont start firing missiles at the pigeons…..back in the day an East German Woman shot-put champion was asked to undergo a sex test….”I will in me bollix” said Olga…Boris for PM….
Visited Dublin earlier this year to see You and Dec at The Grand Canal, it seems to have undergone a re-brand since then, now Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Anyway took a few snaps and created a slide show and without any help from me it all seemed to fall into place with ‘Ordinary Man’ and some irony with the bank in the background of the famine figures. I thought I’d share with you – https://vimeo.com/45726498 – looking forward to Manchester in November. It’s always great. Take care! Bernie.
Hi Christy great to hear the Button Factory is hoppin fair play to ya, we are back ourselves in 0’Connors in Salthill for summer from Mon to Wed and I’m going to miss the big tent also but I’ll have the kettle on the boil if you need a flask of tea or soup come west along the road and keep your head down there’ll be sliotars flying all sides after Sunday
Christy's reply
sound Iggy….my heartstrings would make music….catch you around the gray lake…ye were deadly agin the cats…they’ll be back for sure ….fierce soft summer….have great gigs in Salthill…wear the shinguards
Recently received an email re upcoming Concert Dates, and I discovered that one of those Dates was to be played in Waterford later this year. I looked it up on the “Gigs” section of this site and forumwaterford.com but saw no mention of You and Declan playing here.
Can you please confirm if this Gig is still on, and what date during the year its on?
Kind Regards & Best Wishes,
Ian K.
Christy's reply
Sound Ian….the gig will happen barring a fall…pencil in Oct 26th (approx) and then relax…soon as everything is in place the news will go viral, things happen at a pace that is entirely beyond my control, I’m only the singer here ….you will get as much notice as can give be given, I have lots of pencil in my diary waiting to be inked but all these good things take time…hope you’re having a good Summer, these damp and verdent days…thanks for listening
Christy: Hope all is well, wedding plans are well advanced at this stage, big day is Nov 3rd here in NYC, hoping the folks can make the long haul, Old Fella is 80 this year but doing pretty well, on a recent trip home he gave some of his old booking diaries from the Baymount and SIlver Slipper and I see a phone number (that I will not publish) for yourself and Mattie Fox, I remember one of your first solo gigs shortly after the Hearts, it was a fiver admission and there was war over that price by the punters, what a changed world we live in, one can get feck all for a fiver.
So if I can arrange a Stena Line out of Rosses Point, we can anchor it to the Steel Man himself, you are welcome to NYC for the wedding………………….Ride on
Christy's reply
Chicken in the basket at the Silver Slipper…Eric Clapton (Dancing 9-2) plus relief band and buses from Sligo…Ballads in The Venue from 8 o’clock featuring Lofty Flynn and The Rise and Shine Ceili Band….special deals at The Parks Hilton ( free range eggs and local rashers) drop into Cooleara House for refreshments there and back..Guided tours to Queen Maeve’s Bed a speciality…..Have a wonderful day on Nov 3rd..I will be slaving over a hot guitar in Blighty….weddings were my downfall…my last US wedding gig ended in disaster…the FBI and CIA both became involved through a series of unfortunate coincidences and unhappy circumstance…the brides 3 brothers ended up in Guantanamo Bay and the grooms father suffered a hernia when he went to buy a round of drink…I sang Danny Boy 17 times but Gloccamaura opened the floodgates..there was’nt a dry leg in the house…
Hi Christy, Hope all is good with you… The Monday gigs are getting some rave reviews I see, It looks like I’ve missed a few real crackers. Not to worry though I’m sure next week will be special as well – hope your saving the best to last LOL!! Cya Monday Love & Respect Martin Mac
Christy's reply
its all in the head Martin…its when we’re that matters and ,thankfully, we are now both here most of the time….had a right one with Paul Simon last night..what a wonderful singer… he had two bands and Ladysmiths lads too..
Just want to add to the comments being left about Monday nights gig in the BF. It was like sitting in on a small personal session and it was pure magic, the little touches of fiddle or the accordian just at the right moment in a song was amazing. Duelling bowrans was great and lovely harmonies and guitar from Seamus. I loved every minute and could tell it was as magical for you too. It was a great idea the 3 Mondays, hope it may happen again. Never saw Deportees done before, a few gems along the way the past few weeks, and more next week pg..we love going to the gigs, each one different as the might Mero said earlier, long may they continue..LF43
Christy's reply
do do do do do do do do dududooo dududoo…Lar you were singing like a lark the other night..Pauls got Ladysmith Gits got Lar
Again reading your book last night. One of your pieces reminded me of this so I thought I’d share it here:
A human being is part of a whole, called by us the ‘Universe’ —a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, and feelings, as something separated from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. ~ Al Einstein
thanks for posting..I have often heard of Al but never read him before…I think Dylan says it better
Christy, I like your style of solo gigs! Button Factory was great last night. Nice to hear some of the old songs showing their face. Had a quick chat with Conor before the gig and he seemed delighted with the turn out. Hope the rest of the gigs go just as good for him. That Sunday evening céilí he mentioned sounds like it’ll be one to go to! Will catch you at the Picnic and in The Forum and probably somewhere betwixed and between. Let the music keep your spirits high..
The TULLA CEILI BAND at the button factory…count me in
Thank you for a fantastic evening at the Button Factory yesterday. Coming from Norway it was a fantastic atmosphere at the gig. We said hello to your sister as my daughter was sitting beside her. Your sister gave my daughter a bracelet :). Thank you again.
glad you had a good night…come again
Thank You
as I went out by Dublin City
Coincidentally while going thru Andy Irvine videos I located Andy gigging at what looks a mighty folk festival (‘Dent Folk Festival’) and he suddenly ad libbed and told the audience we dont have these ‘smaller’ folk festivals in Ireland anymore going on to mention Lisdonvarna and then the great Ballisodare got a mention too and he said he loves playing at these festivals. I’ve looked & checked and found the 2013 festival being advertised already online. (Ed might take off in 2013 ‘with the tent and the ground sheet rolled up tight…’)
C, do you recall a great Jim Page gig up in that lovely Sligo festival, another ‘student’ of the Guthrie style. Then you the Hearts took ‘Hiroshima…’ to greater heights.And Dan Crary, a great guitarist……….
You’re correct in your comment below and I was only availing of the term ‘all’ kinda freely and as you correctly say Woody started a ‘particular genre’ of music that we all still listen to.
Bear bua!
sure Ed..I rem all that and lots more..Jim Page has remained a stalwart and is still out there on the road carrying the news and sharing his views and perspectives on this great world we inhabit….Jim is as close to Woodys genre as it gets
I’ve just spent some lovely time online listening to great Billy Bragg, Andy Irvine and Moving Hearts videos.
Lets remember the centenary of the birth of one great man Woody Guthrie which occurred on Friday last (I think). It was he who spoke up for the ordinary man and I suppose it’s a bit cliched to state definitively it’s where ‘all’ the music began, but right as far back to Woody and then make a line through Bob Dylan, even the Clancys then right up to Andy Irvine, Christy and up to Billy Bragg, they sang the songs and kept a voice of protest and highlighting issues of our time up and out there.
Nice to see Newsnight on BBC2 plus our own Newstalk radio station making reference to Guthrie these past few days.
Keep the songs going C as we remember Woody this weekend. Now I invoke, as I’ve done previously, these lines that you yourself sing:-
‘Only the very safe
Can talk about wrong and right
Of those who were forced to choose
Some will chose to fight…’
(Natives)
Keep singing the songs.
(Hiya Hedgo, if you’re reading this… and I want to hear about the Button Factory concert when I meet you.)
two in a row from Lough Ree…good post Ed…I first encountered Woody’s work in Finsbury Park when the fine Galway singer Tony Small sang Tribute To Woody…then I became aware of how many singers were influenced by Woody’s work…Owen Hand in Edinburgh, Ralph McTell in London….Josh McCrae in Fife…every where I went I heard different Woody songs…I would not agree that its where it “all” began but it certainly is where a particular genre began…there were different strands that fed into Woodys work but he had his own unique style. That style has gone onto influence the writing of many who came after. None more so then Bob Dylan about whom there are many differing views. Mine being that he has his own field,no one else gets into it…
Hi Christy. The Hegarty (Hedgo’s) Family from Athone will be making the trip to Dublin tomorow the 16th for your gig in the Button Factory. You have been a huge part of all of our lives. Tomorrow will be our first chance to see you live. Not a day goes by without your wounderful music being played in ur home. Dad (Aidan) is turning 65 so tomorrow is his birhday gift from us. Nancy Spain is our number one song and is also the Family Anthem. Really looking forward to what will be a lasting memory for us all.
Thank you Chrsity.
Morra Hedgo…just getting myself worked up for tomorrow nights frenzy…always good to hear from The Middle of The Island…my fathers father hailed from Athlone
Hi Christy. I’ve just been playing at a session with Brian Mooney (Launceston’s famous white haired busker) and others at the Oak. You were in our thoughts as we played at least 6 of your songs (not as well as you of course!). Brian wanted me to pass on to you that he and Phyllis are planning a trip back home next year. Don’t forget Christy that you are always welcome to step back on our shores again – its been too long. Lisa
always good to hear from songsters in far flung places…I have good memories of my two visits to Tasmania…the very thought of the songs being sung around the world is uplifting..songs need always need the listener’s air..upon the airwaves is fine but never as good as the real thing…greetings too to Brian and Phyllis..I will be in their old stomping ground next fri when we play in Galway, always a good town for airing the songs
Hows things,
Looking forward to your gig on Friday night in Galway. The bould Miley Kelly is coming all the way from Van Diemans land for it so give my good buddy a mention. He recently got engaged to a lovely New Zealand girl, Catherine Ann. Getting married meself July 28th to a pair of brown eyes, Anne from Achill……I took a wrong turn in Charlestown!!! Anyway looking forward to us all meeting up and listening to yourself and Dec as we are all big fans.
All the best,
Johnny G
Thanks be you did’nt end up in Knock…The Galway Tint is shaping up to be a good night..theres songbirds flying in from all sides
Hello Christy,
Our son Niels and his girlfriend Ella left yesterday for a backpacking trip through Ireland for 10 days. They changed shedules to attend your concert in Galway on friday the 20th. Can you tell him to behave well, to brush his teeth and not to spend all of his money on Guinness?
Please do not play ‘Joxer goes to Stuttgart’ that evening or you make his dad even more jealous then he is right now.
Kind regards and lots of respect,
Joost
Hi Joost…you’ll have the young lad freaked out altogether…here he is trying to spread his wings and the auld cock sending him messages !!! Ride On Joost
Hi Christy I just thought I would update your good self and at the same time unburden my dark familiar. I know it’s meant to Betty’s jubilee and Andy Murray’s glory and Anish Kapoor’s Hester skelter paid for by yours truly and I am trying to muster jingoistic fervour but feck it Christy the O-games have rendered me neutered. It’s a sea of mismanagement, lord Coe and blue eyed Boris are livin la Vida loca and I’m sitting in a traffic jam as my mind goes to mush. And there’s missiles on a tower block that no sod can do anything about. They’re also shooting the pigeons in Woolwich to make the place look tidy but leaving the corpses. Are you coming over? I’ve a spare ticket to watch the poor Saudi Arabian female athletes, but I won’t say any more in case they fatwa me. X
it must be alarming to have all that auld shite and rawmesh going on all round you…cant warm to thon Lord Coe at all…I’d be more of an Ovett supprter mysel….as long as they dont start firing missiles at the pigeons…..back in the day an East German Woman shot-put champion was asked to undergo a sex test….”I will in me bollix” said Olga…Boris for PM….
It’s coming! Saturday night, and this great song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7UHd7NVegE Hope you’re all having a beautiful weekend. xo
Visited Dublin earlier this year to see You and Dec at The Grand Canal, it seems to have undergone a re-brand since then, now Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Anyway took a few snaps and created a slide show and without any help from me it all seemed to fall into place with ‘Ordinary Man’ and some irony with the bank in the background of the famine figures. I thought I’d share with you – https://vimeo.com/45726498 – looking forward to Manchester in November. It’s always great. Take care! Bernie.
Hi Christy great to hear the Button Factory is hoppin fair play to ya, we are back ourselves in 0’Connors in Salthill for summer from Mon to Wed and I’m going to miss the big tent also but I’ll have the kettle on the boil if you need a flask of tea or soup come west along the road and keep your head down there’ll be sliotars flying all sides after Sunday
sound Iggy….my heartstrings would make music….catch you around the gray lake…ye were deadly agin the cats…they’ll be back for sure ….fierce soft summer….have great gigs in Salthill…wear the shinguards
Hi Christy,
Recently received an email re upcoming Concert Dates, and I discovered that one of those Dates was to be played in Waterford later this year. I looked it up on the “Gigs” section of this site and forumwaterford.com but saw no mention of You and Declan playing here.
Can you please confirm if this Gig is still on, and what date during the year its on?
Kind Regards & Best Wishes,
Ian K.
Sound Ian….the gig will happen barring a fall…pencil in Oct 26th (approx) and then relax…soon as everything is in place the news will go viral, things happen at a pace that is entirely beyond my control, I’m only the singer here ….you will get as much notice as can give be given, I have lots of pencil in my diary waiting to be inked but all these good things take time…hope you’re having a good Summer, these damp and verdent days…thanks for listening
Roll on Monday night .. one more to go … it could not get any better ..
fair play to you Adam..some sharp snaps there
Christy: Hope all is well, wedding plans are well advanced at this stage, big day is Nov 3rd here in NYC, hoping the folks can make the long haul, Old Fella is 80 this year but doing pretty well, on a recent trip home he gave some of his old booking diaries from the Baymount and SIlver Slipper and I see a phone number (that I will not publish) for yourself and Mattie Fox, I remember one of your first solo gigs shortly after the Hearts, it was a fiver admission and there was war over that price by the punters, what a changed world we live in, one can get feck all for a fiver.
So if I can arrange a Stena Line out of Rosses Point, we can anchor it to the Steel Man himself, you are welcome to NYC for the wedding………………….Ride on
Chicken in the basket at the Silver Slipper…Eric Clapton (Dancing 9-2) plus relief band and buses from Sligo…Ballads in The Venue from 8 o’clock featuring Lofty Flynn and The Rise and Shine Ceili Band….special deals at The Parks Hilton ( free range eggs and local rashers) drop into Cooleara House for refreshments there and back..Guided tours to Queen Maeve’s Bed a speciality…..Have a wonderful day on Nov 3rd..I will be slaving over a hot guitar in Blighty….weddings were my downfall…my last US wedding gig ended in disaster…the FBI and CIA both became involved through a series of unfortunate coincidences and unhappy circumstance…the brides 3 brothers ended up in Guantanamo Bay and the grooms father suffered a hernia when he went to buy a round of drink…I sang Danny Boy 17 times but Gloccamaura opened the floodgates..there was’nt a dry leg in the house…
Hi Christy, Hope all is good with you… The Monday gigs are getting some rave reviews I see, It looks like I’ve missed a few real crackers. Not to worry though I’m sure next week will be special as well – hope your saving the best to last LOL!! Cya Monday Love & Respect Martin Mac
its all in the head Martin…its when we’re that matters and ,thankfully, we are now both here most of the time….had a right one with Paul Simon last night..what a wonderful singer… he had two bands and Ladysmiths lads too..
You’re playing in my County on my birthday …… how brilliant is that ! Hope all good with you …. delighted !! xx
ring a ling a ding dong
Just want to add to the comments being left about Monday nights gig in the BF. It was like sitting in on a small personal session and it was pure magic, the little touches of fiddle or the accordian just at the right moment in a song was amazing. Duelling bowrans was great and lovely harmonies and guitar from Seamus. I loved every minute and could tell it was as magical for you too. It was a great idea the 3 Mondays, hope it may happen again. Never saw Deportees done before, a few gems along the way the past few weeks, and more next week pg..we love going to the gigs, each one different as the might Mero said earlier, long may they continue..LF43
do do do do do do do do dududooo dududoo…Lar you were singing like a lark the other night..Pauls got Ladysmith Gits got Lar