Maidin mhaith a Christy, just read a great article about your gig in St Helier in ’69, where you first heard Barney Rushe’s wonderful Nancy Spain and The Crack was ninety. Also, wondering who won the frame of snooker that you played with The Whirlwind in Belfast ‘s Waterfront in 2015? Go well.
Christy's reply
That frame took place in The Noggin Inn, Sallynoggin,Co Dublin over 30 years ago..Jimmy broke off and scattered the reds…I potted 2 balls, a red and a pink. Jimmy got down and scored 134 in about 10 minutes…came over shook my hand and said “Nice pink you got there mate”…..being in Sallynoggin I sang “Nancy Spain” for him..
Just found Mary Ann Carolan youtube – ‘Bonny Light Horseman’ – superb… well worth a listen by anyone with an ear for the likes of John ‘Jacko’ Reilly et al.
Reading the obituary for Drogheda’s Sean Corcoran (singer and collector), there was mention of him writing sleevenotes for a 60’s Topic LP by Mary Ann Carolan, Co Louth.
I hadn’t heard of Mary Ann, but have just listened to some brilliant, lilting, singing via youtube. Always good to find a new singer – albeit, many years on. A nice variation on the tune to ‘Johnny jump up’ in the mix as well.
‘Topic Records’ has done so much to preserve the tradition… not forgetting Leader/Trailer/Fellside too…
Thoughts of Drogheda – much missed… wouldn’t mind a session in Carberry’s tonight…
Have a good day.
Dave
Christy's reply
Very sorry to hear about Sean….we met often way back in The Traditional Club days….was always a pleasure to meet him
Hi Christy, would like to share with you and your guestbook a song I wrote many moons ago, The Great Hunger, in remembrance of those who lost their lives, or were forced to leave the country during the years of the great hunger. National Famine Commemoration Day being the 16th of May. With kindest regards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5HCRAarnbY
Hey, Christy,
I remember sending you the demo to this song of mine, back in the day…
Remixed it recently and thought you might like a listen. https://youtu.be/PIYOu6Teo4I
Christy, thanks for the reply and your memories Eamon and of Ballinrobe. We are sort of (blow-in’s) having arrived here in 1997. it’s a very friendly, welcoming town. My wife Ruth and myself had tickets for your gig in May 2020 in Claremorris but the virus intervened. Hope you will be in these parts again in the not too distant future. Keep well and safe.
Christy's reply
we’re all blow-ins on this planet Michael
I like that venue in Claremorris….hope to return some day…
Ok , hard graft creativity and no people. It would be a special person who could listen to your stuff with an objective ear and mind. It’s a bugger that we only get one mother.
The best I can do is, I know that when I’ve listened to the stuff that was lead by your own instincts and intuition, then it has worked.
Rebecca
Great memories shared with Michael, Christy – always heart warming reading about how/where you started the folk club trail.
Like Michael, I have a daily shufti at Mike Harding’s comments – @HardingMike on Twitter is in the Woody spirit. His social media moniker could easily be ‘ these posts kill fascism’ – bless him, he’s doing his bit.
How’s the recording going? Creativity and people. Lovely.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
recording !!! Monday it sounded promising…Tue it sounded unfinished..Wed it was brilliant..Thu I could find nothing right with it….this is the lonesome time, all I have to bounce it off is the wall, but its always been a bit that way…no one can tell what way its going, no one knows…my Mother Nancy was always a great sounding board..I still miss her words of wisdom
My Mam is turning 70 soon and is a huge fan .. my Dad played the guitar and could sing and everyday we listened to him playing your songs .. unfortunately as he got older he can’t play so much these days.. I am not sure if you do video birthday messages but I am creating a collage for my Mam and getting some great messages with some suprises in between .. it would be AMAZing if a message from you was one of those suprises
The first time that I saw you was at The Stanhill Folk Club in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire (circa 1969) in the company of the late Eamon McBride. I thought today on learning of the sad passing of the legendary Micheal (Mick) Hipkiss who I had the pleasure of meeting at the home of Eamon and Janet around that time., that I would make contact and say hello. You also stayed at Eamon and Janet’s home many times and I remember well the night you pinned the Tricolour to the mantlepiece and the session started!!!
Micheal (Mick) was like yourself truly authentic. Hope you will enjoy many more of good health and wellness. We need our Bard now more than ever. Slan Michael P.s I check Mike Harding’s twitter post everyday. Another legend.
Christy's reply
I did a few gigs with Eamon…he organised a wee tour for me and I had the pleasure of staying in the McBride home…over 50 years on I still remember Eamon and those times spent in his company…
Himself and Mick Hipkiss were kindred spirits….both with a great love for music and for the Folk Clubs….Its many years now since I played the Folk Clubs … part of me still travels from town to town meeting up with that great community…it was a unique experience for which I will remain forever grateful….Lancashire was my starting point..back in 1966 I was discovering a world previously unknown to me…a dream was beginning to unfold and its still rolling on…thanks for your note Michael….
and greetings to Ballinrobe..which invokes another memory…played there once with Planxty..cant remember the venue but as well as being a Ballad Lounge it was also an Undertakers..there were coffins in the dressing room..Donal lay in one and had a wee snooze before the gig..that lad could sleep thru a Force 10 unperturbed
earlier in my life we had a teacher from Ballinrobe…Fr Valkenburg taught me Irish…I remember him well ..good old Valkie
Serial poster status has a tinge of criminal coolness about it…
This place has seemed to develop such a community feel about it, that would have been pretty hard without us daft buggers who don’t know how to shut up. {I hope that sentence mwabs something..}
My vote for best frequency and quality of posts goes to Rory. He’s a star.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I never had you down as a gangster’s moll
I think we may have to consider putting some lead in Rory’s saddle
‘Ramble on’ was a great track from Led Zeppelin II seeing as we’re talking about rambling.
Sandy Denny got one of her by-now regular airplays on that Radio One prog, goes out at 8- 10. Does J Creedon present it? ‘Who knows where the time goes’.
Must look in again in a while.
Christy's reply
Johnny Boy Creedon do play them alright Boy…he fierce eclectic like….
Your ‘rambling’ is top notch and always a great read… also, often leads to interesting detours…
youtube for ‘Ramble away’ – an early favourite by Shirley Collins… a swing by Barbara Dickson’s website, where she lists her differing performances… she’s always very much a folkie at heart – and the name of a singer for whom she’d sung LP backing vocals caught my eye… so, now a welcome reconnection with Michael Marra RIP.
Thanks to you and Barbara for a great start to the day – and,so far,I’ve resisted Gregg’s goodies.. so far…
Hello Christy,
I think Lord Baker must be one of the most romantic songs ever. I listen to Words and Music album a lot. Such a beautiful version of a beautiful song.
It sounds like Yorkshire was pretty kind to you until the hurricane of Barkisland. The mayor of Calderdale’s husband remembers you playing at the Topic. My last gig was in Halifax Town Hall for the mayor’s Christmas do, about 100 years ago. I was on the balcony. The mayor’s husband snuck through the barrier and sat by me to listen while eating a Greggs pasty. I had an audience of one. Then we chatted for a bit. He talked about you playing at the Topic.
Dave, I like your dreams quote better than Dylan’s. His sounds to have rules attached. I guess I’ll be struck by lightening now…
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I loved making that reoording of Lord Baker….I heard it on the wireless once…Barbara Dickson was picking tracks on a BBC Radio programmes….she chose that Planxty version of Lord Baker and it was played in its entirity…..fair play to Barbara Dickson….we met a few times way back in the 60s…hers was an emerging voice in Scotland circa 1967….Edinburgh had a distinctive Folk Scene, very different from Glasgow 40 miles away in the distance…..I recall Paddie Bell and Dolina MacLennan….The Corries were the big time….Aly Bain gathering momentum, The MacCalmans, Dick Gaughan were stalwarts….there was a Folk Club in The Police`Club….I heard Derrol Adams there…I heard Dave Goulder sing January Man in the club he ran in Auld Reekie…..I saw the house where James Connolly was born….I went to Easter Road with Owen Hand and Andy Scappadiccio, we dined in Kushi’s afterwards before heading to the St Vincent bar to round off the day….Owen sang “Donal Óg” in Henderson Row…
I’m rambling this morning…it was Gregg’s pasty that set me off….The Topic was a hard nut to crack…apparently it was the longest running Folk Club in Britain….
Hi All.. I can’t believe it RTE Radio 1 playing Lord Baker after 1 am News ,the duet with Sinead !! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
I was on this gadget when your mail came thru..I caught the closing chords…I’m remembering the position of the wireless in the old homesteads…in Granny Dowlings it stood like a church on its own table in the Kitchen….there was no electricity, running water, draught proofing, TV nor WC ,…..the wireless was the one nod towards the 20th Century…it being battery charged it was used sparingly….there was mo meas on music in that house, news and weather forceast were prioritised…exceptions made for racing and matches..
a different attitude to the wireless prevailed in Granny Power’s….”The Kenneydy’s of Castleross ” was more important then the news itself…Joe Linnane’s Hospitals Requests a firm favoutite whilst evenings were dominated by BBC shows like Jimmy Clitheroe, Doubly Your Money and Whats My Line……all way back in the Good Old World
Maidin mhaith a Christy, just read a great article about your gig in St Helier in ’69, where you first heard Barney Rushe’s wonderful Nancy Spain and The Crack was ninety. Also, wondering who won the frame of snooker that you played with The Whirlwind in Belfast ‘s Waterfront in 2015? Go well.
That frame took place in The Noggin Inn, Sallynoggin,Co Dublin over 30 years ago..Jimmy broke off and scattered the reds…I potted 2 balls, a red and a pink. Jimmy got down and scored 134 in about 10 minutes…came over shook my hand and said “Nice pink you got there mate”…..being in Sallynoggin I sang “Nancy Spain” for him..
where did you read about St Helier ?
https://m.independent.ie/life/nancy-spain-the-popular-song-and-an-english-lesbian-30638813.html
Just found Mary Ann Carolan youtube – ‘Bonny Light Horseman’ – superb… well worth a listen by anyone with an ear for the likes of John ‘Jacko’ Reilly et al.
Wonderful that there are recordings like this. D
Mornin’ Christy
Reading the obituary for Drogheda’s Sean Corcoran (singer and collector), there was mention of him writing sleevenotes for a 60’s Topic LP by Mary Ann Carolan, Co Louth.
I hadn’t heard of Mary Ann, but have just listened to some brilliant, lilting, singing via youtube. Always good to find a new singer – albeit, many years on. A nice variation on the tune to ‘Johnny jump up’ in the mix as well.
‘Topic Records’ has done so much to preserve the tradition… not forgetting Leader/Trailer/Fellside too…
Thoughts of Drogheda – much missed… wouldn’t mind a session in Carberry’s tonight…
Have a good day.
Dave
Very sorry to hear about Sean….we met often way back in The Traditional Club days….was always a pleasure to meet him
Hi Christy, would like to share with you and your guestbook a song I wrote many moons ago, The Great Hunger, in remembrance of those who lost their lives, or were forced to leave the country during the years of the great hunger. National Famine Commemoration Day being the 16th of May. With kindest regards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5HCRAarnbY
thanks for sharing John…let us remember..
Hey, Christy,
I remember sending you the demo to this song of mine, back in the day…
Remixed it recently and thought you might like a listen.
https://youtu.be/PIYOu6Teo4I
thanks for sharing Dave
Christy, thanks for the reply and your memories Eamon and of Ballinrobe. We are sort of (blow-in’s) having arrived here in 1997. it’s a very friendly, welcoming town. My wife Ruth and myself had tickets for your gig in May 2020 in Claremorris but the virus intervened. Hope you will be in these parts again in the not too distant future. Keep well and safe.
we’re all blow-ins on this planet Michael
I like that venue in Claremorris….hope to return some day…
Morra Friday CM..
I was looking up Barney Rush and marvelling at The Craic was 90 and Nancy Spain.. did he ever send you any other songs after meeting in Jersey?
I took a cut at Nancy Spain a few years ago.. here is a link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yxswk9b13ekjfim/04%20Nancy%20Spain.mp3?dl=0
Kev
Thats a fine version Kev….llovely singing,ike the harmonies and banjo too…
Barney sent me a few more songs..one called “Eblana” andother “Fleadh Ceol Tinkers”
Ok , hard graft creativity and no people. It would be a special person who could listen to your stuff with an objective ear and mind. It’s a bugger that we only get one mother.
The best I can do is, I know that when I’ve listened to the stuff that was lead by your own instincts and intuition, then it has worked.
Rebecca
round we go, heel to the toe,
Great memories shared with Michael, Christy – always heart warming reading about how/where you started the folk club trail.
Like Michael, I have a daily shufti at Mike Harding’s comments – @HardingMike on Twitter is in the Woody spirit. His social media moniker could easily be ‘ these posts kill fascism’ – bless him, he’s doing his bit.
Have a good day
Dave
Well it looks like the clothes could be pretty cool
https://www.thewallingtongallery.co.uk/products/gangsters-moll
How’s the recording going? Creativity and people. Lovely.
Rebecca
recording !!! Monday it sounded promising…Tue it sounded unfinished..Wed it was brilliant..Thu I could find nothing right with it….this is the lonesome time, all I have to bounce it off is the wall, but its always been a bit that way…no one can tell what way its going, no one knows…my Mother Nancy was always a great sounding board..I still miss her words of wisdom
Hi Christy
My Mam is turning 70 soon and is a huge fan .. my Dad played the guitar and could sing and everyday we listened to him playing your songs .. unfortunately as he got older he can’t play so much these days.. I am not sure if you do video birthday messages but I am creating a collage for my Mam and getting some great messages with some suprises in between .. it would be AMAZing if a message from you was one of those suprises
Hello Christy,
The first time that I saw you was at The Stanhill Folk Club in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire (circa 1969) in the company of the late Eamon McBride. I thought today on learning of the sad passing of the legendary Micheal (Mick) Hipkiss who I had the pleasure of meeting at the home of Eamon and Janet around that time., that I would make contact and say hello. You also stayed at Eamon and Janet’s home many times and I remember well the night you pinned the Tricolour to the mantlepiece and the session started!!!
Micheal (Mick) was like yourself truly authentic. Hope you will enjoy many more of good health and wellness. We need our Bard now more than ever. Slan Michael P.s I check Mike Harding’s twitter post everyday. Another legend.
I did a few gigs with Eamon…he organised a wee tour for me and I had the pleasure of staying in the McBride home…over 50 years on I still remember Eamon and those times spent in his company…
Himself and Mick Hipkiss were kindred spirits….both with a great love for music and for the Folk Clubs….Its many years now since I played the Folk Clubs … part of me still travels from town to town meeting up with that great community…it was a unique experience for which I will remain forever grateful….Lancashire was my starting point..back in 1966 I was discovering a world previously unknown to me…a dream was beginning to unfold and its still rolling on…thanks for your note Michael….
and greetings to Ballinrobe..which invokes another memory…played there once with Planxty..cant remember the venue but as well as being a Ballad Lounge it was also an Undertakers..there were coffins in the dressing room..Donal lay in one and had a wee snooze before the gig..that lad could sleep thru a Force 10 unperturbed
earlier in my life we had a teacher from Ballinrobe…Fr Valkenburg taught me Irish…I remember him well ..good old Valkie
That’s a new word that mwabs nothing
Serial poster status has a tinge of criminal coolness about it…
This place has seemed to develop such a community feel about it, that would have been pretty hard without us daft buggers who don’t know how to shut up. {I hope that sentence mwabs something..}
My vote for best frequency and quality of posts goes to Rory. He’s a star.
Rebecca
I never had you down as a gangster’s moll
I think we may have to consider putting some lead in Rory’s saddle
“I’m a rambler, I’m a gambler, I’m a long way from home”. Can I count this post towards my serious poster status?
I’d say you’d be more a cereal poster John but I’m not on the Committee
‘Ramble on’ was a great track from Led Zeppelin II seeing as we’re talking about rambling.
Sandy Denny got one of her by-now regular airplays on that Radio One prog, goes out at 8- 10. Does J Creedon present it? ‘Who knows where the time goes’.
Must look in again in a while.
Johnny Boy Creedon do play them alright Boy…he fierce eclectic like….
Hi All. I’m becoming a serial poster myself now ! Previously there has been talk of your songs being used in film, I don’t suppose they used Lisdoon in this romantic comedy ?
https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2021/0512/1221277-lisdoonvarna-matchmaking/?fbclid=IwAR0c3pLRcq5zqbb7YQOOElN9vEC_mUzVogNfioCC-eFduHCBwyrmDOZdjYQ Beir bua agus beannacht. H
there are at least three distinct Lisdoonvarnas (probably more) , I’m familiar with one (so far)
how many posts are required before one achieves serial status on our platform…
any one know ?…any suggestions ?
Hi Christy
Your ‘rambling’ is top notch and always a great read… also, often leads to interesting detours…
youtube for ‘Ramble away’ – an early favourite by Shirley Collins… a swing by Barbara Dickson’s website, where she lists her differing performances… she’s always very much a folkie at heart – and the name of a singer for whom she’d sung LP backing vocals caught my eye… so, now a welcome reconnection with Michael Marra RIP.
Thanks to you and Barbara for a great start to the day – and,so far,I’ve resisted Gregg’s goodies.. so far…
Thanks
Dave
Hello Christy,
I think Lord Baker must be one of the most romantic songs ever. I listen to Words and Music album a lot. Such a beautiful version of a beautiful song.
It sounds like Yorkshire was pretty kind to you until the hurricane of Barkisland. The mayor of Calderdale’s husband remembers you playing at the Topic. My last gig was in Halifax Town Hall for the mayor’s Christmas do, about 100 years ago. I was on the balcony. The mayor’s husband snuck through the barrier and sat by me to listen while eating a Greggs pasty. I had an audience of one. Then we chatted for a bit. He talked about you playing at the Topic.
Dave, I like your dreams quote better than Dylan’s. His sounds to have rules attached. I guess I’ll be struck by lightening now…
Rebecca
I loved making that reoording of Lord Baker….I heard it on the wireless once…Barbara Dickson was picking tracks on a BBC Radio programmes….she chose that Planxty version of Lord Baker and it was played in its entirity…..fair play to Barbara Dickson….we met a few times way back in the 60s…hers was an emerging voice in Scotland circa 1967….Edinburgh had a distinctive Folk Scene, very different from Glasgow 40 miles away in the distance…..I recall Paddie Bell and Dolina MacLennan….The Corries were the big time….Aly Bain gathering momentum, The MacCalmans, Dick Gaughan were stalwarts….there was a Folk Club in The Police`Club….I heard Derrol Adams there…I heard Dave Goulder sing January Man in the club he ran in Auld Reekie…..I saw the house where James Connolly was born….I went to Easter Road with Owen Hand and Andy Scappadiccio, we dined in Kushi’s afterwards before heading to the St Vincent bar to round off the day….Owen sang “Donal Óg” in Henderson Row…
I’m rambling this morning…it was Gregg’s pasty that set me off….The Topic was a hard nut to crack…apparently it was the longest running Folk Club in Britain….
Hi All.. I can’t believe it RTE Radio 1 playing Lord Baker after 1 am News ,the duet with Sinead !! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
I was on this gadget when your mail came thru..I caught the closing chords…I’m remembering the position of the wireless in the old homesteads…in Granny Dowlings it stood like a church on its own table in the Kitchen….there was no electricity, running water, draught proofing, TV nor WC ,…..the wireless was the one nod towards the 20th Century…it being battery charged it was used sparingly….there was mo meas on music in that house, news and weather forceast were prioritised…exceptions made for racing and matches..
a different attitude to the wireless prevailed in Granny Power’s….”The Kenneydy’s of Castleross ” was more important then the news itself…Joe Linnane’s Hospitals Requests a firm favoutite whilst evenings were dominated by BBC shows like Jimmy Clitheroe, Doubly Your Money and Whats My Line……all way back in the Good Old World