Hi,
I am trying to identify the original composer for the tune and lyrics for the song P is for Paddy. My friend has written some words to the tune in relation to Covid…she wants to upload it but i said she needs to seek out permissions…we can not establish if the tune is in the public domain or not…i was told Planxty wrote the song, did they write the lyrics and the music ?…your help would really be appreciated. Angela
Christy's reply
Planxty recorded a song called “P Stands for Paddy” on the 1974 album “Cold Blow, Rainy Night”……a traditional song,it was sung by Johnny Moynihan…..IF that is the tune to which you refer….to the best of my knowledge, no permission is required…..
I’ve just taken delivery of a great bargain – ‘The Johnstons’ 3 LPs + bonus tracks – BGO Records BGOCD 1297 – wonderful playing/harmonies – zooming me back 50 years…RIP Adrienne – greatly missed 40 years on.
A fine mix of trad/contemp songs – just playing ‘The Old Man’s Tale’, which neatly takes me back to me seeing your early 70s gigs – as ever, music raising the spirits…
Hi Christy and all, it’s been a long time! I was locked out of here until Turlough rescued me!
Some memories flooding back, reading the recent posts about 2010 in Lisdoonvarna. One of the best weekends ever.
I really miss the live music and 4th Friday traditional and ballad session in Headen’s in Spink.
At least we have the set lists, pictures and videos to look back over. Here is a clip of Tom Tuohy and Bunoscionn doing the Honda 50 from outside the Royal Spa on 10th April 2010 – the phone I had was not great but it is great to have this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgfBmniSAGI
Ah …
The trek to the old ringfort at the top of the Burren….. where we sang Irish Ways and Irish Laws….. and young Scally gave us The Cliffs of Dooneen…. a Kerry song as it turns out !!!
What memories…. what friendships the journey has given us….. what a privilege to have been part of it all…..
Hi All. I noticed Adam’s post with the wonderful setlist from the Gaggle in 2010, it brought back some great memories, one of the major highlights of my life for sure. I remember the preparation that went into the weekend, and the great anticipation. I picked Angela & Jim (RIP) up in Shannon and on we rolled. I clearly remember seeing my first swallow on the back road from Corofin and felt it was a great omen. Then to meet and greet people as they gathered from all corners of the globe, Germany was well represented as well as UK & Scotland and all points on the island. Maryline was due to travel from Chile but the earthquake in Feb of that year put paid to her plans ! Christy kindly put up a very valuable prize and we raffled tickets for a fund to help the victims, as I recall Care Packages were sent to schools there etc. The Fri night saw Christy in white T shirt do the solo gig as mentioned by Adam. I know that I did not sleep a wink that night nor eat a bite before the Question and Answer session the Sat Afternoon !! Phew it went well enough even though my opening question about a photo of a knitted hat could have been the end of it !! Then onto the other gigs, in Royal Spa itself the Pavillion, and the sessions in the bar and function room afterwards, not to mention the hike up the Burren, who knew there were mountains in Clare ?? Marty has already mentioned Bunoscionn there sure was some fun and long sessions of music and friendships formed. Of course being Lisdoonvarna there was a match and a wedding followed some time later between a woman working in the Royal Spa and a listener from the Midlands. The sun shone and the craic was mighty, it was followed the year afterwards by the 6 gig EU tour, which further built on the friendships and fun of the 4711ers !! Happy days which I hope will return. Forgive this long post Christy, I ‘m sure you have far better things to be doing than to read all this, let alone to reply to it, but maybe some fellow travellers will enjoy the ramble down the road. Beir bua agus beannacht go deo. H
Christy's reply
in troubled times, ’tis always a relief to take a walk down the old boreen…..it was a joyful gathering….I’m thinking too of Jim, Primula and Christie
Hello Christy and All,
Me and Steve were listening to Planxty 2004 last night. It feels like the perfect mixture of heart and head. There’s a little whistle thing right at the end, after a gap on track 13. Steve said he’d never heard it before. I was struggling with the buttons on the CD player, and then, there it was.
Songs that play themselves. I guess it’s when they’re right under your skin? Bright blue rose is like that sometimes.
What about songs writing themselves. I’ve written 3. One wrote itself, one was not too hard, one made me struggle a lot. I was stupid enough to try to fit the words to a tune and not the other way round.
The muse seems quiet for now.
Rebecca
Hi Christy, Hi Adam, Hi Marty,
Hope you all are well. In these tough days it’s lovely to be reminded of the legendary weekend in Lisdoon April 2010. What an incredible Gig it was that Friday night in the Royal Spa!!!
Still have Christy’s hand-written set list but it’s not as long as the one really evolved during the concert, it seemed he would never end singing that night! And there’s a framed photo with the date 9/4/10 on the wall just in front of me: Christy on stage playing the bodhran …
May we be given such a glorious experience once more again – somewhere sometime,
Traudel
Greetings to Lennox, Ma. I’ve met some of those Four Roads Coyles. We’re not connected however.
Christy's reply
Brightens the day to read your Planxty recall…we had many memorable times across the different Planxty gatherings but ,for me, the 2004 topped all…like you mention, when the Pipes swirled thru The Starting Gate the Planxty revival galloped away and carried us once again….Liam’s “Dark Slender Boy” was simply spell-binding…other tracks almost played themselves…for me that re-union tour was a celebration of everything the band achieved….I listen to Liam’s playing most days now…just a few minutes, maybe a set of Reels,a Slow Air, the odd Polka , a Jig or two….I love his piece with Mark Knobfler and Sean Keane…his mastery on Sean Davey’s “Brendan Voyage”….his total focus upon the job at hand….the music he played, the spirit of his playing, the heart of the man,the indelible mark so clear in his wake
on the Coyle front…we had great neighbours Tommy and Bee Coyle…they lived in Artillery Place, Newbridge and were regular visitors to the singing sessions in our house …great friends to our family
My apologies then, Ed, Mr. Moore et al. I must remember to stick to communicating what I know. I heard the story many years ago from someone who is usually reliable. It was distorted then by him, or me, or both.I
Incidentally, my maternal granny was born Helen Coyle in Athlone in 1897, rest her sole. I knew her briefly. She lived her life in Four Roads.
Some interesting posts going into here, I spotted a mention to the great Hearts gigs downstairs in the Baggot Inn all those years ago, I was at one; memorable. Adam from Wicklow, where does he get the energy(?!) What a set list.
Dagrab, I’ve just listened to Liam Og, what music. And we observe Donal and Christy just and sitting and taking in the master’s music. Is that the Planxty reunion gig? 2003 in Vicar Street. An earlier video of ‘The Starting Gate’ has me visible in the front row, great reaction as Liam began winding up the pipes and the great Planxty sound began.
Like RTE’s great Gaelic commentator Micheal, greetings to our pal in Ma. I dont recall ever talking about ‘centenerys’ on this site, an old census maybe and Christy’s Athlone origins. But a civil war massacre and a priest slain. I dont have a clue about this and that never took place in Athlone. Take it up in some history page, not here.
Hi Christy, Been trying to get in touch with you to see if you would be able to do me a big favour. My da is a big fan of yours goes to all your gigs and virtual gigs and has tickets for your up coming gig. He is 60 in 2 weeks and with lockdown it will be a different kind of birthday so we are making him a video with all well wishes for his birthday. I am wondering if there is anyway I could get a video/clip of you wishing him a happy birthday in anyway.. His favourite is Joxer goes to Stuttgard along with many others. Look forward to hopefully hearing back from you. Ride on Christy x
Hey Adam . Great to hear from you.
What a set list….. what a gig….. 2hrs a d 20 mins SOLO…..
It was some weekend in the Banner…a gathering of the 4711ers from near and far…… singing , talking , walking….. some even hillwalking…..
Christy , Declan , Wally…… Small Town Talk….. Bunoscionn….. and even Tom Touhy….. Glory Days.
hi Christy hope all is well ,, been going back over some old hard drives and found an set list from the Solo gig in the royal spa hotel in 2010, what a set list it was, and what a gig
setlist 9. 4. 2010 Solo Gig Royal Spa.
1. Dark Eyed Sailor
2. Spanish Lady
3. Rosin the Bow
4. Kevin Barry
5. Raggle Taggle Gypsy
6. Lord Baker
7. Good Ship Kangaroo
8. Yellow Triangle ( for Adrian who flew into Knock )
9. I Once Loved a Lass ( for Anne )
10. Rocky Road To Dublin
11. Continental Ceili
12. Beeswing
13. Tyrone Boys
14. Away Ye Broken Hearted ( for Maryline )
15. Miracles of Nature ( for Donnacha )
16. Haiti Song
17. St. Brendan
18. Companeros ( for Scally )
19. Only her Rivers
20. Me and the Rose
21. All for Roses
22. Shovel( for Anuk )
23. Black is Colour
24. Minds Locked Shut
25. Bright Blue Rose ( for Petra )
26. Messenger Boy ( for Christie Hennessy )
27. The Voyage
28. Back Home in Derry
29. Lawless
30. John O Dreams
31. Quinta Brigada ( for Primula )
32. Magdalene Laundries
33. Missing You.
34. Cliffs of Doneen
Blinking into the daylight, emerging from youtube rabbit holes in the company of Messrs Ennis and O’Flynn – pipers of this parish.
Finished off with ‘Dark Slender Boy’ by Liam O’Flynn – when the camera cuts to fellow Planxtyites, your facial expressions speak volumes. Watch and admire,folks.
Great call by Rebecca… also, always good info from the Seamus Ennis centre… http://www.tseac.ie
Sad to read that Seamus’s daughter, Catherine, died in London at Christmas last year. Many superb online tributes to her – a highly regarded church organist.
Hi,
I am trying to identify the original composer for the tune and lyrics for the song P is for Paddy. My friend has written some words to the tune in relation to Covid…she wants to upload it but i said she needs to seek out permissions…we can not establish if the tune is in the public domain or not…i was told Planxty wrote the song, did they write the lyrics and the music ?…your help would really be appreciated. Angela
Planxty recorded a song called “P Stands for Paddy” on the 1974 album “Cold Blow, Rainy Night”……a traditional song,it was sung by Johnny Moynihan…..IF that is the tune to which you refer….to the best of my knowledge, no permission is required…..
ps Just read the excellent sleeve notes with The Johnston’s CDs – great context of a fine band’s career. D
Hi Christy/all
I’ve just taken delivery of a great bargain – ‘The Johnstons’ 3 LPs + bonus tracks – BGO Records BGOCD 1297 – wonderful playing/harmonies – zooming me back 50 years…RIP Adrienne – greatly missed 40 years on.
A fine mix of trad/contemp songs – just playing ‘The Old Man’s Tale’, which neatly takes me back to me seeing your early 70s gigs – as ever, music raising the spirits…
Dave
Hi Christy and all, it’s been a long time! I was locked out of here until Turlough rescued me!
Some memories flooding back, reading the recent posts about 2010 in Lisdoonvarna. One of the best weekends ever.
I really miss the live music and 4th Friday traditional and ballad session in Headen’s in Spink.
At least we have the set lists, pictures and videos to look back over. Here is a clip of Tom Tuohy and Bunoscionn doing the Honda 50 from outside the Royal Spa on 10th April 2010 – the phone I had was not great but it is great to have this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgfBmniSAGI
Ah …
The trek to the old ringfort at the top of the Burren….. where we sang Irish Ways and Irish Laws….. and young Scally gave us The Cliffs of Dooneen…. a Kerry song as it turns out !!!
What memories…. what friendships the journey has given us….. what a privilege to have been part of it all…..
Hi Hilary,
it was great to hear you recollections of the ‘gathering of the gaggle’ in 2010, in the words of Led Zeppelin ‘Ramble On’..
Hi All. I noticed Adam’s post with the wonderful setlist from the Gaggle in 2010, it brought back some great memories, one of the major highlights of my life for sure. I remember the preparation that went into the weekend, and the great anticipation. I picked Angela & Jim (RIP) up in Shannon and on we rolled. I clearly remember seeing my first swallow on the back road from Corofin and felt it was a great omen. Then to meet and greet people as they gathered from all corners of the globe, Germany was well represented as well as UK & Scotland and all points on the island. Maryline was due to travel from Chile but the earthquake in Feb of that year put paid to her plans ! Christy kindly put up a very valuable prize and we raffled tickets for a fund to help the victims, as I recall Care Packages were sent to schools there etc. The Fri night saw Christy in white T shirt do the solo gig as mentioned by Adam. I know that I did not sleep a wink that night nor eat a bite before the Question and Answer session the Sat Afternoon !! Phew it went well enough even though my opening question about a photo of a knitted hat could have been the end of it !! Then onto the other gigs, in Royal Spa itself the Pavillion, and the sessions in the bar and function room afterwards, not to mention the hike up the Burren, who knew there were mountains in Clare ?? Marty has already mentioned Bunoscionn there sure was some fun and long sessions of music and friendships formed. Of course being Lisdoonvarna there was a match and a wedding followed some time later between a woman working in the Royal Spa and a listener from the Midlands. The sun shone and the craic was mighty, it was followed the year afterwards by the 6 gig EU tour, which further built on the friendships and fun of the 4711ers !! Happy days which I hope will return. Forgive this long post Christy, I ‘m sure you have far better things to be doing than to read all this, let alone to reply to it, but maybe some fellow travellers will enjoy the ramble down the road. Beir bua agus beannacht go deo. H
in troubled times, ’tis always a relief to take a walk down the old boreen…..it was a joyful gathering….I’m thinking too of Jim, Primula and Christie
Hello Christy and All,
Me and Steve were listening to Planxty 2004 last night. It feels like the perfect mixture of heart and head. There’s a little whistle thing right at the end, after a gap on track 13. Steve said he’d never heard it before. I was struggling with the buttons on the CD player, and then, there it was.
Songs that play themselves. I guess it’s when they’re right under your skin? Bright blue rose is like that sometimes.
What about songs writing themselves. I’ve written 3. One wrote itself, one was not too hard, one made me struggle a lot. I was stupid enough to try to fit the words to a tune and not the other way round.
The muse seems quiet for now.
Rebecca
Hi Christy, Hi Adam, Hi Marty,
Hope you all are well. In these tough days it’s lovely to be reminded of the legendary weekend in Lisdoon April 2010. What an incredible Gig it was that Friday night in the Royal Spa!!!
Still have Christy’s hand-written set list but it’s not as long as the one really evolved during the concert, it seemed he would never end singing that night! And there’s a framed photo with the date 9/4/10 on the wall just in front of me: Christy on stage playing the bodhran …
May we be given such a glorious experience once more again – somewhere sometime,
Traudel
James Connolly
https://youtu.be/TtZtR6MeaR4
Hello Christy and All here,
I’m listening to Liam Weldon this morning.
Dark horse on the wind is the CD.
Rebecca
Greetings to Lennox, Ma. I’ve met some of those Four Roads Coyles. We’re not connected however.
Brightens the day to read your Planxty recall…we had many memorable times across the different Planxty gatherings but ,for me, the 2004 topped all…like you mention, when the Pipes swirled thru The Starting Gate the Planxty revival galloped away and carried us once again….Liam’s “Dark Slender Boy” was simply spell-binding…other tracks almost played themselves…for me that re-union tour was a celebration of everything the band achieved….I listen to Liam’s playing most days now…just a few minutes, maybe a set of Reels,a Slow Air, the odd Polka , a Jig or two….I love his piece with Mark Knobfler and Sean Keane…his mastery on Sean Davey’s “Brendan Voyage”….his total focus upon the job at hand….the music he played, the spirit of his playing, the heart of the man,the indelible mark so clear in his wake
on the Coyle front…we had great neighbours Tommy and Bee Coyle…they lived in Artillery Place, Newbridge and were regular visitors to the singing sessions in our house …great friends to our family
My apologies then, Ed, Mr. Moore et al. I must remember to stick to communicating what I know. I heard the story many years ago from someone who is usually reliable. It was distorted then by him, or me, or both.I
Incidentally, my maternal granny was born Helen Coyle in Athlone in 1897, rest her sole. I knew her briefly. She lived her life in Four Roads.
Some interesting posts going into here, I spotted a mention to the great Hearts gigs downstairs in the Baggot Inn all those years ago, I was at one; memorable. Adam from Wicklow, where does he get the energy(?!) What a set list.
Dagrab, I’ve just listened to Liam Og, what music. And we observe Donal and Christy just and sitting and taking in the master’s music. Is that the Planxty reunion gig? 2003 in Vicar Street. An earlier video of ‘The Starting Gate’ has me visible in the front row, great reaction as Liam began winding up the pipes and the great Planxty sound began.
Like RTE’s great Gaelic commentator Micheal, greetings to our pal in Ma. I dont recall ever talking about ‘centenerys’ on this site, an old census maybe and Christy’s Athlone origins. But a civil war massacre and a priest slain. I dont have a clue about this and that never took place in Athlone. Take it up in some history page, not here.
Hi Christy, Been trying to get in touch with you to see if you would be able to do me a big favour. My da is a big fan of yours goes to all your gigs and virtual gigs and has tickets for your up coming gig. He is 60 in 2 weeks and with lockdown it will be a different kind of birthday so we are making him a video with all well wishes for his birthday. I am wondering if there is anyway I could get a video/clip of you wishing him a happy birthday in anyway.. His favourite is Joxer goes to Stuttgard along with many others. Look forward to hopefully hearing back from you. Ride on Christy x
Hey Adam . Great to hear from you.
What a set list….. what a gig….. 2hrs a d 20 mins SOLO…..
It was some weekend in the Banner…a gathering of the 4711ers from near and far…… singing , talking , walking….. some even hillwalking…..
Christy , Declan , Wally…… Small Town Talk….. Bunoscionn….. and even Tom Touhy….. Glory Days.
hi Christy hope all is well ,, been going back over some old hard drives and found an set list from the Solo gig in the royal spa hotel in 2010, what a set list it was, and what a gig
setlist 9. 4. 2010 Solo Gig Royal Spa.
1. Dark Eyed Sailor
2. Spanish Lady
3. Rosin the Bow
4. Kevin Barry
5. Raggle Taggle Gypsy
6. Lord Baker
7. Good Ship Kangaroo
8. Yellow Triangle ( for Adrian who flew into Knock )
9. I Once Loved a Lass ( for Anne )
10. Rocky Road To Dublin
11. Continental Ceili
12. Beeswing
13. Tyrone Boys
14. Away Ye Broken Hearted ( for Maryline )
15. Miracles of Nature ( for Donnacha )
16. Haiti Song
17. St. Brendan
18. Companeros ( for Scally )
19. Only her Rivers
20. Me and the Rose
21. All for Roses
22. Shovel( for Anuk )
23. Black is Colour
24. Minds Locked Shut
25. Bright Blue Rose ( for Petra )
26. Messenger Boy ( for Christie Hennessy )
27. The Voyage
28. Back Home in Derry
29. Lawless
30. John O Dreams
31. Quinta Brigada ( for Primula )
32. Magdalene Laundries
33. Missing You.
34. Cliffs of Doneen
Encore
35. Duffy’s Cut
36. Boys of Mullaghbawn
2 hours 2O mins
Hi Christy/all
Blinking into the daylight, emerging from youtube rabbit holes in the company of Messrs Ennis and O’Flynn – pipers of this parish.
Finished off with ‘Dark Slender Boy’ by Liam O’Flynn – when the camera cuts to fellow Planxtyites, your facial expressions speak volumes. Watch and admire,folks.
Dave
A bit of fun for musicians with time on their hands
https://artsandculture.google.com/experiment/blob-opera/AAHWrq360NcGbw
Oh gosh Dave, RIP Catherine Ennis. I love Easter Snow with her and Liam O’Flynn.
Hi Christy
Great call by Rebecca… also, always good info from the Seamus Ennis centre… http://www.tseac.ie
Sad to read that Seamus’s daughter, Catherine, died in London at Christmas last year. Many superb online tributes to her – a highly regarded church organist.
All the best to all
Dave