I suggest listening to The Tuam Beat as a first class second course. It should be available intravenously every day around 5pm.
How’s everybody doing with the vaccine?
The year is flying by, but MOJO magazine is ahead of the game… May edition already, so Dylan’s 80th features… focusing on young Bob, there’s an extract from Robert Shelton’s contemporary take of Dylan’s emergence on the NYC scene. Great photos too – a cracking good read…
Bonus is the cover CD that has a canny mix of mainly jazz and folk tracks – so,The Watersons and Jean Ritchie hit the bunker walls,c/o MOJO…what a treat. Watersons’ power and Ritchie’s voice/dulcimer sounding as bright as ever.
Good morning Christy,
Cheltenham, the covid capital of 2020, begins today.
They’re under starters orders, Jerry Hannon is now the commentator supreme ( assuming the O’Hehir mantle), Jack Kennedy is the new Ruby and Sneezy Foster is the old new training kid on the block.
Punchestown will always be gold medal in the festival stakes, Galway the silver ( there’s agony and ecstacy below in the Galway races) and Cheltenham in St Patrick’s week the bronze.
So here we go, will Honeysuckle jump like a ballet dancer, will old men in cloth and silk be watching from their couches instead of from the last ditch, will Ireland’s finest rout the english horses and will the Scottish Borders’ fine Aye Right triumph in the 3rd today…let us hope so and sing along.
Regards rory
Looks very interesting Dagrab. Back in those days of precious few entertainment outlets. The film poster alone, am told would be the talk of the town, especially if some silver screen diva’s face loomed large. It was said that in one urban town, one local man would be seen to come and sing up the lady in the poster on a daily basis.
D.
I see Richard Thompson marking all those rock’n roll years (well, folk actually) with a new book. I have the Observer here with an interview with him to read at my leisure.
Came across some fascinating info,likely to be of interest to film geeks… centred on ‘Film Company of Ireland’ and activities c 100 years ago…A ‘Rynne’ family very involved (relations?)and ,no surprise that films that toured extensively in early 1920 included showings at the Free Trade Hall,Manchester.
Great info and photos available at http://www.earlyirishcinema.com – good to dip into, but best saved for ‘clocking off’ time, if you’re in for the long haul…
Cranned is a good word.
Steve says piper’s get cran envy.
I can imagine tham saying, “have you seen the cran on that”
Christy's reply
some of them never talk a word about it….Liam liked to let his fingers wrists and elbows do the talking…
forced to talk he’d answer politely but once the tune started, sleeves would be rolled up
I never heard Liam O’Flynn live. I didn’t know about him until he was gone. The first time I saw him play was on the Planxty 2004 dvd. He blew me away.
There he was, open and spacious as the air. Still and clear, as the wind and the waves crashed through him. Mountains rose and sun and clouds painted the land. He blew me away.
I’ve been working on Limerick’s Lamentation, trying to make it work for a voice. The pipes don’t compromise like the voice has to.
Here I am trying to get my harpist’s claws round it on the piano. This is a tune that I really love. It came from Liam. https://youtu.be/oo7pLvTEwGQ
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I give thanks for all those nights, a priviledge to stand at his side as he gathered air to his bellows, dispersed it to his well tuned reeds…..his notes still reverberate ‘tho he be gone to rest
Hilary – thanks for the Liam Og link. I hadn’t picked up on the date -RIP. His music is played a lot here and will be today… spot on about master craftsmen, Ed – the people who always seem to make their trade appear much easier than it is!
Fair play to them and we’re better off for their skills.
So,have a good Atkin day,Christy. I’m kicking off with with a cuppa and ‘Easter Snow’.
Dave
Christy's reply
I cant always keep up with you Dave, but your sweet threads are appreciated….I sometimes get lost down your burrows !!
Hilary, I have it on; just lovely, and the great legacy he left of the music.
Rory: that’s lovely to read all that about the great Bill. His knowledge, professionalism, love for his job, his expertise all shone through during his match commentaries. And if a ref stopped a game or a move, Bill would be able to supply the reason and why the ref stopped the play. And am reliably informed that at a one to one basis, if you met him as rookie reporter Bill gave you his time and chat, a great man. Where are his likes going to be found again?
Two great people, Liam and Bill, the tops in their fields. RIP
Hi All. With an hour to go I think it’s important to remember Liam Og who passed on this day in 2018 , this is one of my all time favourites, although it is hard to choose ! https://youtu.be/7mpX4BfP_S0 beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
Thank You Hilary….
his drones in tune, his regulators ready to enhance, his chanter will hop today, his countenance transfixed, his eyes staring into the deep well of music, right arm the source of energy,left arm controlling the airflow, on and on the notes appear, cranned,bent,open, closed, hopped, heartstopping cascading cadence…come the end….that smile of acceptance….glancing around, job done…next dance please
Hi Christy,
Hope your keeping well during these tough times!
I recently purchased a vinyl record of the early years album and I was wondering if you could sign it.
If you reply back with a PO Box I can post the record out to you along with a return stamp.
Best wishes,
Kev.
Christy's reply
Hi Kev,
lets do all that at a gig sometime …..
mad busy here at the ballads..
preparing a new batch to press into some fresh vinyl…
I’ve got a lot of Lucan memories
swimming in the sarsfield estate, ball alley house, dick symes bettin shop, giltrap hardware store, the old cinema by the Liffey `bridge….all from 65 years ago
Great stuff, Rory – Bill McLaren often comes to mind and I’m in for your tour asap! Class commentators are a rare breed and I’m also thinking of Murray Walker today – RIP.
Always great when a talent is linked to underlying modesty in any genre -and, when media voices are a part of one’s life… JFK’s death can’t be separated from Walter Kronkite for me – ditto,space exploits and Patrick Moore.
Time for a cuppa now, and exploring Gerry Diver’s works on youtube.
Hi Rebecca and Christy,
Commentators these days have everything on computers and people whispering facts into their ears to make them sound clever.
My gym and rugby teacher was The Man Oo Ca’ Bill.
Bill Mclaren was a neighbour of me and my parents for nearly 50 years, i remember doing their garden for ‘bob a job’ week and decades later taking his widow Bette home from some Hawick games. He had a word with everyone and treated us sll as friends.
His preparation for every game was a marvel to behold. He relied on no technology, just his thorough work. Always travelling straight home after games to his beloved Bette, and to our quiet street in Hawick.
I am now hugely privileged to be one of the trustees on the Bill McLaren foundation.
Check out our website to see the Bill’s Big Sheets. They are a work of art and encapsulate the huge work Bill went to for evrey game big or small. You can even buy replicas of the colour coded, info packed crib sheets.
The greatest commentator ever and a man i knew well and am so very proud i did.
His absolute humanity and professionalism summed up by him commentating on his son in law Alan Lawson scoring v England ,with no more bias than if a frenchman had scored against Wales.
Bill commentated in many’s a windy hut, and if any of you are up in the scottish borders come and i will give you a tour of Bill’s trail, his Bronze bust and the rugby club’s McLaren room.
The man that oo ca’ Bill
Rory
Christy's reply
a beautiful tribute to Bill..Thank You Rory..
I concur with your summation of current commentating..
sometimes so busy reciting their bombast that they miss entirely whats happening before them
I’ve taken to muting the sound and watching with a guitar on my lap
prog directors often guilty too…action replays causing us to miss vital line outs..
I think too of Eddie Waring, Michael Ó Hehir and our beloved Míchéal Ó Muiracheartaigh still to the good Thanks be
two good games over the weekend..its a joy to see Scotland back in contention for honours…long may ye thrive…
Hello Christy and All,
I’m trying to remember which ground it is where they put the commentators in a little wooden hut on the roof. It always looks like it will get blown off any minute.
Good luck to all, and no walloping each other round the head. They notice every mortal thing these days.
Rebecca
Well Christy,
As you are unofficial songsmith to the men in green, i am looking forward to my fellow Teris ( pronounced teerees ,Hawick born person) messrs hogg, sutherland and graham taking the field for the men in blue.
Big game, will it be Farrell’s last, will it be our springboard to the 6 nations championship, will we each end with 15 men a side???
This morning i am playing the blue disc and the green disc before putting the kettle on and settling down in front of the tv pretending i am in Murrayfield ,row 15, section 14, with two inebriated highlanders behind me, four merry munstermen in front, a pickled lady in a scotch bonnet on one side and a wee lad at his first game on the other side all in grand fettle before and after.
Scotland to edge it.
Sing a long
Rory
Hope all going well with you and yours – and in the workroom.
I’ve been trawling radio programmes and podcasts recently – loving the mix – As well as frequent visits to our mutually admired ‘Theme time radio hour’ – there’s a brilliant selection available via one of your oldest muckers and the man without whom… for your floorspot that I witnessed nigh on 50 years ago…Mike Harding.
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for reading my song and for your response. I am overwhelmed.
I’ve written your words on it alongside mine. I’m going to see what happens as we go along. The song will decide which to use. I’m thinking that your words give it a clearer shape. Maybe that’s the answer.
Thanks again,
Rebecca
Hello Christy and All,
Here is a pointless post to increase your happiness.
https://youtu.be/cbEKAwCoCKw
I suggest listening to The Tuam Beat as a first class second course. It should be available intravenously every day around 5pm.
How’s everybody doing with the vaccine?
Rebecca
Hi Christy/all
The year is flying by, but MOJO magazine is ahead of the game… May edition already, so Dylan’s 80th features… focusing on young Bob, there’s an extract from Robert Shelton’s contemporary take of Dylan’s emergence on the NYC scene. Great photos too – a cracking good read…
Bonus is the cover CD that has a canny mix of mainly jazz and folk tracks – so,The Watersons and Jean Ritchie hit the bunker walls,c/o MOJO…what a treat. Watersons’ power and Ritchie’s voice/dulcimer sounding as bright as ever.
All the best
Dave
Good morning Christy,
Cheltenham, the covid capital of 2020, begins today.
They’re under starters orders, Jerry Hannon is now the commentator supreme ( assuming the O’Hehir mantle), Jack Kennedy is the new Ruby and Sneezy Foster is the old new training kid on the block.
Punchestown will always be gold medal in the festival stakes, Galway the silver ( there’s agony and ecstacy below in the Galway races) and Cheltenham in St Patrick’s week the bronze.
So here we go, will Honeysuckle jump like a ballet dancer, will old men in cloth and silk be watching from their couches instead of from the last ditch, will Ireland’s finest rout the english horses and will the Scottish Borders’ fine Aye Right triumph in the 3rd today…let us hope so and sing along.
Regards rory
Looks very interesting Dagrab. Back in those days of precious few entertainment outlets. The film poster alone, am told would be the talk of the town, especially if some silver screen diva’s face loomed large. It was said that in one urban town, one local man would be seen to come and sing up the lady in the poster on a daily basis.
D.
I see Richard Thompson marking all those rock’n roll years (well, folk actually) with a new book. I have the Observer here with an interview with him to read at my leisure.
Hi Christy/all
Came across some fascinating info,likely to be of interest to film geeks… centred on ‘Film Company of Ireland’ and activities c 100 years ago…A ‘Rynne’ family very involved (relations?)and ,no surprise that films that toured extensively in early 1920 included showings at the Free Trade Hall,Manchester.
Great info and photos available at http://www.earlyirishcinema.com – good to dip into, but best saved for ‘clocking off’ time, if you’re in for the long haul…
Dave
Or a properly spelt and punctuated version…
sounds good…feelings and emotion always trump grammatical etiquette….
Cranned is a good word.
Steve says piper’s get cran envy.
I can imagine tham saying, “have you seen the cran on that”
some of them never talk a word about it….Liam liked to let his fingers wrists and elbows do the talking…
forced to talk he’d answer politely but once the tune started, sleeves would be rolled up
Hello Christy and All,
I never heard Liam O’Flynn live. I didn’t know about him until he was gone. The first time I saw him play was on the Planxty 2004 dvd. He blew me away.
There he was, open and spacious as the air. Still and clear, as the wind and the waves crashed through him. Mountains rose and sun and clouds painted the land. He blew me away.
I’ve been working on Limerick’s Lamentation, trying to make it work for a voice. The pipes don’t compromise like the voice has to.
Here I am trying to get my harpist’s claws round it on the piano. This is a tune that I really love. It came from Liam.
https://youtu.be/oo7pLvTEwGQ
Rebecca
I give thanks for all those nights, a priviledge to stand at his side as he gathered air to his bellows, dispersed it to his well tuned reeds…..his notes still reverberate ‘tho he be gone to rest
Mornin’ Christy/all
Hilary – thanks for the Liam Og link. I hadn’t picked up on the date -RIP. His music is played a lot here and will be today… spot on about master craftsmen, Ed – the people who always seem to make their trade appear much easier than it is!
Fair play to them and we’re better off for their skills.
So,have a good Atkin day,Christy. I’m kicking off with with a cuppa and ‘Easter Snow’.
Dave
I cant always keep up with you Dave, but your sweet threads are appreciated….I sometimes get lost down your burrows !!
Hilary, I have it on; just lovely, and the great legacy he left of the music.
Rory: that’s lovely to read all that about the great Bill. His knowledge, professionalism, love for his job, his expertise all shone through during his match commentaries. And if a ref stopped a game or a move, Bill would be able to supply the reason and why the ref stopped the play. And am reliably informed that at a one to one basis, if you met him as rookie reporter Bill gave you his time and chat, a great man. Where are his likes going to be found again?
Two great people, Liam and Bill, the tops in their fields. RIP
Hear Hear Ed….or should that read Here Here ?
Hi All. With an hour to go I think it’s important to remember Liam Og who passed on this day in 2018 , this is one of my all time favourites, although it is hard to choose ! https://youtu.be/7mpX4BfP_S0 beir bua agus beannacht. H
Thank You Hilary….
his drones in tune, his regulators ready to enhance, his chanter will hop today, his countenance transfixed, his eyes staring into the deep well of music, right arm the source of energy,left arm controlling the airflow, on and on the notes appear, cranned,bent,open, closed, hopped, heartstopping cascading cadence…come the end….that smile of acceptance….glancing around, job done…next dance please
Hi Christy,
Hope your keeping well during these tough times!
I recently purchased a vinyl record of the early years album and I was wondering if you could sign it.
If you reply back with a PO Box I can post the record out to you along with a return stamp.
Best wishes,
Kev.
Hi Kev,
lets do all that at a gig sometime …..
mad busy here at the ballads..
preparing a new batch to press into some fresh vinyl…
I’ve got a lot of Lucan memories
swimming in the sarsfield estate, ball alley house, dick symes bettin shop, giltrap hardware store, the old cinema by the Liffey `bridge….all from 65 years ago
Hi Christy
Great stuff, Rory – Bill McLaren often comes to mind and I’m in for your tour asap! Class commentators are a rare breed and I’m also thinking of Murray Walker today – RIP.
Always great when a talent is linked to underlying modesty in any genre -and, when media voices are a part of one’s life… JFK’s death can’t be separated from Walter Kronkite for me – ditto,space exploits and Patrick Moore.
Time for a cuppa now, and exploring Gerry Diver’s works on youtube.
Have a good day all
Dave
does Fíona Bruce ever go home ?
Hi Rebecca and Christy,
Commentators these days have everything on computers and people whispering facts into their ears to make them sound clever.
My gym and rugby teacher was The Man Oo Ca’ Bill.
Bill Mclaren was a neighbour of me and my parents for nearly 50 years, i remember doing their garden for ‘bob a job’ week and decades later taking his widow Bette home from some Hawick games. He had a word with everyone and treated us sll as friends.
His preparation for every game was a marvel to behold. He relied on no technology, just his thorough work. Always travelling straight home after games to his beloved Bette, and to our quiet street in Hawick.
I am now hugely privileged to be one of the trustees on the Bill McLaren foundation.
Check out our website to see the Bill’s Big Sheets. They are a work of art and encapsulate the huge work Bill went to for evrey game big or small. You can even buy replicas of the colour coded, info packed crib sheets.
The greatest commentator ever and a man i knew well and am so very proud i did.
His absolute humanity and professionalism summed up by him commentating on his son in law Alan Lawson scoring v England ,with no more bias than if a frenchman had scored against Wales.
Bill commentated in many’s a windy hut, and if any of you are up in the scottish borders come and i will give you a tour of Bill’s trail, his Bronze bust and the rugby club’s McLaren room.
The man that oo ca’ Bill
Rory
a beautiful tribute to Bill..Thank You Rory..
I concur with your summation of current commentating..
sometimes so busy reciting their bombast that they miss entirely whats happening before them
I’ve taken to muting the sound and watching with a guitar on my lap
prog directors often guilty too…action replays causing us to miss vital line outs..
I think too of Eddie Waring, Michael Ó Hehir and our beloved Míchéal Ó Muiracheartaigh still to the good Thanks be
two good games over the weekend..its a joy to see Scotland back in contention for honours…long may ye thrive…
now we wait for the Sassenachs to arrive …..
Hello Christy and All,
I’m trying to remember which ground it is where they put the commentators in a little wooden hut on the roof. It always looks like it will get blown off any minute.
Good luck to all, and no walloping each other round the head. They notice every mortal thing these days.
Rebecca
Well Christy,
As you are unofficial songsmith to the men in green, i am looking forward to my fellow Teris ( pronounced teerees ,Hawick born person) messrs hogg, sutherland and graham taking the field for the men in blue.
Big game, will it be Farrell’s last, will it be our springboard to the 6 nations championship, will we each end with 15 men a side???
This morning i am playing the blue disc and the green disc before putting the kettle on and settling down in front of the tv pretending i am in Murrayfield ,row 15, section 14, with two inebriated highlanders behind me, four merry munstermen in front, a pickled lady in a scotch bonnet on one side and a wee lad at his first game on the other side all in grand fettle before and after.
Scotland to edge it.
Sing a long
Rory
ps Mike Harding show 290
just found..
song 9 – Fiona Tyndall
song10 – John O’Dreams from your ‘Early Years’
what a great start to the day! D
Hi Christy
Hope all going well with you and yours – and in the workroom.
I’ve been trawling radio programmes and podcasts recently – loving the mix – As well as frequent visits to our mutually admired ‘Theme time radio hour’ – there’s a brilliant selection available via one of your oldest muckers and the man without whom… for your floorspot that I witnessed nigh on 50 years ago…Mike Harding.
Well worth a trawl of http://www.mikehardingfolkshow.com where, to quote Sergeant Pepper, ‘a splendid time is guaranteed for all’…
Have a good day all
Dave
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for reading my song and for your response. I am overwhelmed.
I’ve written your words on it alongside mine. I’m going to see what happens as we go along. The song will decide which to use. I’m thinking that your words give it a clearer shape. Maybe that’s the answer.
Thanks again,
Rebecca