I’ll tell you one thing, not many would have disembarked the vehicle in Bellaghy upon sight of such a specimen of madra…you can tame the best of them 😄 “I’ve got a big alsatian..”
Fantastic programme and insight to the great team you have Christy, the attention to the finest details and how the songs continue to inspire the whole process. Wishing you and the crew the best as ye head for the tribe..
Keep er lit
Kev
Christy's reply
I dont know where Scull got that madra…he swears its a Wolfhoud…looks more like a cross between a Friesian Bull and a Derry Jennet….and he ate all my sandwiches
Great show last night…. nice to see all the faces in the audiences too…. makes us hungry for packed halls , theatres , hotels and big tents….. “….the smell of the crowd….”
Galway is on the radar….. like waiting for Christmas……
Christy's reply
We did’nt know how well off we were…them feckin wuhan rat ‘n bat burgers made shite a the whole feckin lot
I remember that trip to Salford well. Last minute trip and well worth it what a great line up on the night . A great venue as well . Thanks for the link H .. looking forward to getting up to Galway next week . Time to dust down the camera and polish the lenss and charge the batteirs . Hope all is well Christy
Just damn terrific Christy… Covered all shapes and sizes, ups and downs, tragedies and frolics of a life, but more importantly an Irish life and our history.. You are a jewel in an Irish crown.. Keep polishing her Christy and just thank you so much for being around when I was around..
Christy's reply
we’re all in this together
ní neart go cur le chéile
Hi Christy my mother in law is a big fan. You actually mentioned her uncle sonny in your song bogman. She’s a Mackey from Miltown. Her 60th is in November and was wondering if you could leave her or record a message for her. Her favourite song is Nancy Spain. She would be thrilled if you could.
Christy's reply
John…give me a name for Sonny’s niece
Mary from the Bog Meadows
August 18, 2021 at 10:55 pm
Location: Belfast, Bellaghy, Meath and many stops along the way.
Tar isteach…come in… to a hearth in Bellaghy or to Meath or the Barrowlands. A cracking road show Christy, to be enjoyed aris agus aris. ‘You do what you do’ and so too does your wonderful band of friends. We are 42 years married today and enjoyed our front row seats at this gig of gigs. Le grá…ride on.
Christy's reply
hope the 42nd Honeymoon is going well…..precious times
Hi All. Oh my what a fantastic programme, focussing on 3 or 4 main gigs, The Tent, Lisdoonvarna, a house gig in Ballyscullion and Barrowlands.. some great insights from your self, Declan, Mick , Johnny and Davey..as well as an assortment of 4711ers… I spotted familiar faces from Donegal, Moate, Derry ,Cork, Wicklow, Roscommon, Glasgow, California, UK, ( London & Liverpool ) and more… It was a very emotional programme, with a gaggle gathered around TVs around the Island. Well done all, it lived up to its promise of previously unseen footage. Here is the RTE player link which I hope is global.https://www.rte.ie/player/movie/christy-s-life-on-the-road/202978343981 Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
another 5 years flashed past
it was poignant and beautiful to see our old companero Primula….R.I.P.
ps
forgot to mention…the Fairport CD came with a bonus, free, signed tour programme – looks great – I’ll read it tonight to take my mind off what I’m missing on RTE !! D
Hi Christy,
Lovely memories from an Riocht correspondent …thanks Hilary.
A stage full of legends, and a who’s who in the crowd. What a journey we have all travelled, with the common denominator, the Lyrics and the melody.
I often thought if we the collective, were to put it all down on paper, it could make some fine reading………. with some editing of course. What goes on tour stays on tour. .
A new order appearing in the Football……..The Capital had some run of it, with many exceptional players, along the way. Hope next Sunday lives up to expectations too.
Best of luck with the upcoming Gigs, I’m sure its a different view from the stage with the new set up.
Best Regards.
Ride on.
Christy's reply
WH v KE in next Leinster Final….whats the odds on that ?
Always good to see Mike Harding name checked. Brings back favourite memories – I’m hoping to track down his pub sessions in Settle, if normality returns…
Having enjoyed Fairport’s online gig, I showed solidarity and ordered a CD – ‘Off the desk -2020’ – all recorded live, with superb sound -produced by John Gale, remixed at ‘ Galeforce Sound, Ireland’…I’ve just checked it out and what a track record there is…JG is a real master… http://www.galeforcesound.com
The album contains an absorbing song that I only heard for the first time the other night… I can imagine it in your set – hope you/ fellow listeners can track down ‘Moses Waits’ – it packs a punch in quite a subtle way…
Countdown well on for your RTE doc…I’ll be in pursuit of it asap.
Dear Christy…and Rebeccah,
The travel restrictions ,as i understand it, are largely as follows.
British and Irish ministers and aides may travel anywhere they want, at any time, with impunity, as they are clearly better than us and much more worthy of saving than us plebs.
These rules are further relaxed particularly if golf, dinner, kissing, eye tests or hair de-styling is involved, to ensure these vital activities of national importance.
Songsmiths have no right to go anywhere, especially if they wish to breathe.
Hawick people can travel to Manchester for work but may not stop , even on route, necessitating the carrying of an empty bottle.
Manchester people cannot travel to Scotland, just because Nicola tossed the coin and it was heads.
Sheep can travel field to field on a tuesday.
Nobody is allowed to go anywhere in a dinghy apparently.
Mr Biden can leave afghanistan as long as he is allowed to complain about it straight away.
Swallows can travel from the northern hemisphere to the southern .
Farmer michael hayes can travel wherever he likes, and the boy from Tamlaghduff can quietly slip away across any hill and glen.
Inveterate punters can travel via Stranraer to Cashel, Soloheadbeg, Durrow, the Curragh, Eadestown, Longwood and Naas as long as they leave regular donations in satchels along the way.
I hope that helps.
Rory
Christy's reply
“Minister,Minister, pause for reflection
as you fly by helicopter in pursuit of re-election
an obsession with affairs of state and high-flying legislatured
makes it hard for you to share in the Miracles of Nature”
Hi C. That was some night in Salford on 8th Feb 2012. A certain young 4711er from Arklow spotted the release of some last minute tickets, so a mad dash was made across the Irish Sea. It was a veritable Who is Who of Folk Royalty, young and old, on stage and in the audience. Among the nominees along with Kevin Littlewood & Bill Leader were June Tabor, The Oysterband, The Unthanks, and many others. Imagine my delight when Brendan Power appeared with Tim Edey and Tim with the Kerry colours flying off the neck of his guitar in recognition of all the tunes he learned san Riocht le Seamus agus Brendan Begley ? He won Musician of the Year. I have a delightful 3 CD box set including tracks from the Young Folk Award nominees. Here is the link of the award being received by John Sheehan, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00p11n3 As an aside, I had taken a few hours off from work but as it was the BBC RADIO awards I was n’t bothered, imagine my horror when I realised it was being televised and in fact I can be seen in this link , last person on the balcony on the right hand side. There are loads of links online, the audience are as interesting as the performers, there is a great shot of yourself, Declan, Paddy and Mick. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
Declan & I were mystified to find you seated in the VIP seats at a BBC gig that was not advertised in Éire…of course The Kingdom , being its own uniques jurisdiction, may very well have special status within the UK….
my favourite memory of the night was when Barney McKenna stepped forward and made his acceptance speech “as gaeilge”..for me it was a beautiful moment and so typical of our Barney ..he was forever full of surprises, observations, anecdotes and mythical associations…Cathal Hayden attributes the position of Tenor Banjo in Irish trad Music to the playing of Barney Mckenna ….I first heard him back in 1963 when he came to Prosperous one Wednesday night and sat in with the Prosperous Comhaltas session…afterwards we adjourned to Rynne’s basement where music echoed through the night,
“There was lashins a drink, wine for the ladies,
potatoes and cake there was bacon and tae,
Nolans, Dolans all the O’Gradys
courtin the girls and dancin away
songs went round as plenty as water
the harp that once sounded through Tara’s auld hall
Sweet Nellie Gray and the rat-catcher’s daughter
all singing together at Lanigans Ball”…………….
Hello Rory,
I meant to ask, what’s happening with the travel restrictions? I think I’ve finally lost it altogether (never really understood it anyway…)
I find it difficult to listen to myself. But I wasn’t nearly as horrified this time at the noise I made, to how I’ve felt listening to myself before. So I’m either improving or gaining some immunity.
If anyone would like to have a listen (and a look at the inside of my conservatory) here are the timings of the songs.
00.25 Yellow Furze Woman
06.24 Little Musgrave
16.30 Bright Blue Rose
21.10 Lullaby of London
24.00 Spancil Hill
29.25 The Parting Glass
I hope you like them.
If the link doesn’t work I’ll have another go.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
a stirring performance in the early hours..well done..
in my experience it takes years to become accustomed to the sound of ones recorded voice..eventually the ears become tuned to the variance
Sorry Christy,
I pressed send too quickly , premature finger disease.
Meant to say that this Saturday evening , cammy, derek and myself ( frankel, el grand senor and rodrigo de triano) are racing at The Curragh Kildare, such a thrill, to watch as 3 dry old men of cloth and silk at the refurbished grandstand.
Sunday afternoon a friend from Nurney has us a few tickets for Naas races too, before we scramble for the evening boat in the North.
Bursting ready for it. Bring us a fiver and we are sure to invest it wisely for you sir.
Cheers
Rory
Christy's reply
Bookmakers be warned…3 serious punters on their way to The Curragh and Naas…the Tick Tock man will be exhausted waving the odds
Hi Christy,
Back safely in the bunker, tin of campbells soup on the bunsen burner and a mug of tea already steaming into the gullet.
I played On morecambe bay again tonight and i see your performance of it on the lovely Folk Tale album was up for an award for her writer, at the 2012 folk awards.
Just pipped i gather.
Great , powerful, sad song.
Regards
Rory
Christy's reply
Myself and Declan attended the BBC Folk awards that year….last time I met Barney McKenna and Ian Cambell.I forget what song won best song award that year but Kevin Littlewoods “Morecambe Bay” still resounds. I was asked to present an award to Bill Leader which I was very happy to do… without Bill’s willingness to travel to Ireland and record the Prosperous album in 1971 Planxty would not have existed…Bill’s two labels Leader and Trailer were vital cogs in the wheels of the Folk revival….
It was Mike Harding who sent me “Morecambe Bay”…
Glad to hear it Christy. Magnificent is the word – what a game. The West was certainly awake! Mind you some run for the sky blues. On we go indeed! Enjoy your premier…
It gives me a buzz to know that you got ‘the start’ in my part of the world…they were special times, I think – viva folk clubs…there are murmurs that some will reopen – so maybe, Fred and I haven’t yet hung up our plectrums for good!
Thanks for the link, Hilary – it sounds a great programme.
Further to recent riffing here – good to read that there’s a new Plant/Krauss album – I’ve almost worn the first one out ! Back to reading about Planxty now – with an O’Flynn/ Heaney soundtrack – first, the kettle is going on, it’s grim weather today… ‘rainy city’ stereotype to coincide with Rory’s visit!
I’ll tell you one thing, not many would have disembarked the vehicle in Bellaghy upon sight of such a specimen of madra…you can tame the best of them 😄 “I’ve got a big alsatian..”
Fantastic programme and insight to the great team you have Christy, the attention to the finest details and how the songs continue to inspire the whole process. Wishing you and the crew the best as ye head for the tribe..
Keep er lit
Kev
I dont know where Scull got that madra…he swears its a Wolfhoud…looks more like a cross between a Friesian Bull and a Derry Jennet….and he ate all my sandwiches
Great show last night…. nice to see all the faces in the audiences too…. makes us hungry for packed halls , theatres , hotels and big tents….. “….the smell of the crowd….”
Galway is on the radar….. like waiting for Christmas……
We did’nt know how well off we were…them feckin wuhan rat ‘n bat burgers made shite a the whole feckin lot
Mornin’ Christy/ all
Thanks for the RTE link, Hilary… no luck here yet. It might be my hand cranked laptop or a copyright delay etc, but I’ll keep a look out, thanks.
It sounds a brilliant insight. Great that everything came together so well.
Today’s job is contacting An Post again – no stamps yet – presumably ‘lost in the post’! Have a good day all.
Dave
“Hey Mr Postman..whats in your bag…”
I remember that trip to Salford well. Last minute trip and well worth it what a great line up on the night . A great venue as well . Thanks for the link H .. looking forward to getting up to Galway next week . Time to dust down the camera and polish the lenss and charge the batteirs . Hope all is well Christy
centre forward in Barrowland Adam
Just damn terrific Christy… Covered all shapes and sizes, ups and downs, tragedies and frolics of a life, but more importantly an Irish life and our history.. You are a jewel in an Irish crown.. Keep polishing her Christy and just thank you so much for being around when I was around..
we’re all in this together
ní neart go cur le chéile
Hi Christy my mother in law is a big fan. You actually mentioned her uncle sonny in your song bogman. She’s a Mackey from Miltown. Her 60th is in November and was wondering if you could leave her or record a message for her. Her favourite song is Nancy Spain. She would be thrilled if you could.
John…give me a name for Sonny’s niece
Tar isteach…come in… to a hearth in Bellaghy or to Meath or the Barrowlands. A cracking road show Christy, to be enjoyed aris agus aris. ‘You do what you do’ and so too does your wonderful band of friends. We are 42 years married today and enjoyed our front row seats at this gig of gigs. Le grá…ride on.
hope the 42nd Honeymoon is going well…..precious times
Hi All. Oh my what a fantastic programme, focussing on 3 or 4 main gigs, The Tent, Lisdoonvarna, a house gig in Ballyscullion and Barrowlands.. some great insights from your self, Declan, Mick , Johnny and Davey..as well as an assortment of 4711ers… I spotted familiar faces from Donegal, Moate, Derry ,Cork, Wicklow, Roscommon, Glasgow, California, UK, ( London & Liverpool ) and more… It was a very emotional programme, with a gaggle gathered around TVs around the Island. Well done all, it lived up to its promise of previously unseen footage. Here is the RTE player link which I hope is global.https://www.rte.ie/player/movie/christy-s-life-on-the-road/202978343981 Beir bua agus beannacht. H
another 5 years flashed past
it was poignant and beautiful to see our old companero Primula….R.I.P.
ps
forgot to mention…the Fairport CD came with a bonus, free, signed tour programme – looks great – I’ll read it tonight to take my mind off what I’m missing on RTE !! D
nice diversion
Hi Christy,
Lovely memories from an Riocht correspondent …thanks Hilary.
A stage full of legends, and a who’s who in the crowd. What a journey we have all travelled, with the common denominator, the Lyrics and the melody.
I often thought if we the collective, were to put it all down on paper, it could make some fine reading………. with some editing of course. What goes on tour stays on tour. .
A new order appearing in the Football……..The Capital had some run of it, with many exceptional players, along the way. Hope next Sunday lives up to expectations too.
Best of luck with the upcoming Gigs, I’m sure its a different view from the stage with the new set up.
Best Regards.
Ride on.
WH v KE in next Leinster Final….whats the odds on that ?
Hi Christy
Always good to see Mike Harding name checked. Brings back favourite memories – I’m hoping to track down his pub sessions in Settle, if normality returns…
Having enjoyed Fairport’s online gig, I showed solidarity and ordered a CD – ‘Off the desk -2020’ – all recorded live, with superb sound -produced by John Gale, remixed at ‘ Galeforce Sound, Ireland’…I’ve just checked it out and what a track record there is…JG is a real master… http://www.galeforcesound.com
The album contains an absorbing song that I only heard for the first time the other night… I can imagine it in your set – hope you/ fellow listeners can track down ‘Moses Waits’ – it packs a punch in quite a subtle way…
Countdown well on for your RTE doc…I’ll be in pursuit of it asap.
Dave
currently lodged in the mountains of west cork
Dear Christy…and Rebeccah,
The travel restrictions ,as i understand it, are largely as follows.
British and Irish ministers and aides may travel anywhere they want, at any time, with impunity, as they are clearly better than us and much more worthy of saving than us plebs.
These rules are further relaxed particularly if golf, dinner, kissing, eye tests or hair de-styling is involved, to ensure these vital activities of national importance.
Songsmiths have no right to go anywhere, especially if they wish to breathe.
Hawick people can travel to Manchester for work but may not stop , even on route, necessitating the carrying of an empty bottle.
Manchester people cannot travel to Scotland, just because Nicola tossed the coin and it was heads.
Sheep can travel field to field on a tuesday.
Nobody is allowed to go anywhere in a dinghy apparently.
Mr Biden can leave afghanistan as long as he is allowed to complain about it straight away.
Swallows can travel from the northern hemisphere to the southern .
Farmer michael hayes can travel wherever he likes, and the boy from Tamlaghduff can quietly slip away across any hill and glen.
Inveterate punters can travel via Stranraer to Cashel, Soloheadbeg, Durrow, the Curragh, Eadestown, Longwood and Naas as long as they leave regular donations in satchels along the way.
I hope that helps.
Rory
“Minister,Minister, pause for reflection
as you fly by helicopter in pursuit of re-election
an obsession with affairs of state and high-flying legislatured
makes it hard for you to share in the Miracles of Nature”
Hi C. That was some night in Salford on 8th Feb 2012. A certain young 4711er from Arklow spotted the release of some last minute tickets, so a mad dash was made across the Irish Sea. It was a veritable Who is Who of Folk Royalty, young and old, on stage and in the audience. Among the nominees along with Kevin Littlewood & Bill Leader were June Tabor, The Oysterband, The Unthanks, and many others. Imagine my delight when Brendan Power appeared with Tim Edey and Tim with the Kerry colours flying off the neck of his guitar in recognition of all the tunes he learned san Riocht le Seamus agus Brendan Begley ? He won Musician of the Year. I have a delightful 3 CD box set including tracks from the Young Folk Award nominees. Here is the link of the award being received by John Sheehan, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00p11n3 As an aside, I had taken a few hours off from work but as it was the BBC RADIO awards I was n’t bothered, imagine my horror when I realised it was being televised and in fact I can be seen in this link , last person on the balcony on the right hand side. There are loads of links online, the audience are as interesting as the performers, there is a great shot of yourself, Declan, Paddy and Mick. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Declan & I were mystified to find you seated in the VIP seats at a BBC gig that was not advertised in Éire…of course The Kingdom , being its own uniques jurisdiction, may very well have special status within the UK….
my favourite memory of the night was when Barney McKenna stepped forward and made his acceptance speech “as gaeilge”..for me it was a beautiful moment and so typical of our Barney ..he was forever full of surprises, observations, anecdotes and mythical associations…Cathal Hayden attributes the position of Tenor Banjo in Irish trad Music to the playing of Barney Mckenna ….I first heard him back in 1963 when he came to Prosperous one Wednesday night and sat in with the Prosperous Comhaltas session…afterwards we adjourned to Rynne’s basement where music echoed through the night,
“There was lashins a drink, wine for the ladies,
potatoes and cake there was bacon and tae,
Nolans, Dolans all the O’Gradys
courtin the girls and dancin away
songs went round as plenty as water
the harp that once sounded through Tara’s auld hall
Sweet Nellie Gray and the rat-catcher’s daughter
all singing together at Lanigans Ball”…………….
Hello Rory,
I meant to ask, what’s happening with the travel restrictions? I think I’ve finally lost it altogether (never really understood it anyway…)
Hello Christy,
Here’s a link that I hope will go to the video of my gig the other night.
https://vimeo.com/trickdogband/review/587629935/e4cfbdccdd?sort=lastUserActionEventDate&direction=desc
I find it difficult to listen to myself. But I wasn’t nearly as horrified this time at the noise I made, to how I’ve felt listening to myself before. So I’m either improving or gaining some immunity.
If anyone would like to have a listen (and a look at the inside of my conservatory) here are the timings of the songs.
00.25 Yellow Furze Woman
06.24 Little Musgrave
16.30 Bright Blue Rose
21.10 Lullaby of London
24.00 Spancil Hill
29.25 The Parting Glass
I hope you like them.
If the link doesn’t work I’ll have another go.
Rebecca
a stirring performance in the early hours..well done..
in my experience it takes years to become accustomed to the sound of ones recorded voice..eventually the ears become tuned to the variance
Thanks Rebeccah!
Much appreciated.
Sorry Christy,
I pressed send too quickly , premature finger disease.
Meant to say that this Saturday evening , cammy, derek and myself ( frankel, el grand senor and rodrigo de triano) are racing at The Curragh Kildare, such a thrill, to watch as 3 dry old men of cloth and silk at the refurbished grandstand.
Sunday afternoon a friend from Nurney has us a few tickets for Naas races too, before we scramble for the evening boat in the North.
Bursting ready for it. Bring us a fiver and we are sure to invest it wisely for you sir.
Cheers
Rory
Bookmakers be warned…3 serious punters on their way to The Curragh and Naas…the Tick Tock man will be exhausted waving the odds
Hi Christy,
Back safely in the bunker, tin of campbells soup on the bunsen burner and a mug of tea already steaming into the gullet.
I played On morecambe bay again tonight and i see your performance of it on the lovely Folk Tale album was up for an award for her writer, at the 2012 folk awards.
Just pipped i gather.
Great , powerful, sad song.
Regards
Rory
Myself and Declan attended the BBC Folk awards that year….last time I met Barney McKenna and Ian Cambell.I forget what song won best song award that year but Kevin Littlewoods “Morecambe Bay” still resounds. I was asked to present an award to Bill Leader which I was very happy to do… without Bill’s willingness to travel to Ireland and record the Prosperous album in 1971 Planxty would not have existed…Bill’s two labels Leader and Trailer were vital cogs in the wheels of the Folk revival….
It was Mike Harding who sent me “Morecambe Bay”…
Glad to hear it Christy. Magnificent is the word – what a game. The West was certainly awake! Mind you some run for the sky blues. On we go indeed! Enjoy your premier…
Hi Christy
It gives me a buzz to know that you got ‘the start’ in my part of the world…they were special times, I think – viva folk clubs…there are murmurs that some will reopen – so maybe, Fred and I haven’t yet hung up our plectrums for good!
Thanks for the link, Hilary – it sounds a great programme.
Further to recent riffing here – good to read that there’s a new Plant/Krauss album – I’ve almost worn the first one out ! Back to reading about Planxty now – with an O’Flynn/ Heaney soundtrack – first, the kettle is going on, it’s grim weather today… ‘rainy city’ stereotype to coincide with Rory’s visit!
Dave
ey up our kid……nought to report today