Rebeccah, Doddy was famousley charged with tax evasion in 1989 after he was found to have £330,000 in cash hidden in his attic. He managed to get off with it and the rumour around Liverpool was he spent the proceeds employing two new Diddy men, (Income Tax) Diddy Pay, Diddy F#*$. .
Thanks John and Christy,
My pal confirms it was in Friel’s and that Christy you played in the back lounge….a place he says was raided many times.
Cheers
Rory
I hadn’t seen Imagine with Carlos Acosta or Labi Siffi, I had recently watched the episodes with Marian Keyes and Wayne McGregor. Yesterday Andrew went to visit a friend in hospital and stumbled in the car park and ebbed up in A&E with a fractured jaw! Hospitals are so busy at the moment so he was there till 2.30 this morning. Thankfully they can fix it was brackets and dental work and he is not in a lot of pain. Due to covid I was not able to wait with him so I sat outside in the car and watched Imagine with Labi Siffri and Tom Stoppard. I found the episode with Labi Siffri very moving. What an incredible soul. So this message comes from the hospital waiting area where Andrew is having brackets on his teeth fitted to retrain his bite. It’ll be a lot of TLC and soft food for the next few weeks.
Or a full stop.
Those north Wales and Blackpool gigs must be, separate. I did a little reading about Ken Dodd and mammoth shows were pretty common with him.
“You think you can get away, but you can’t. I’ll follow you home and I’ll shout jokes through your letterbox” – uttered when he was still going strong at a show as it approached midnight.
He sounds like a genuinely sweet guy. He kept suitcases of money in the attic because he was so nervous of having or not having it.
Hello Christy,
Please don’t mention asteroids. You’ll only encourage them.
My news app thing on my phone has worked out that I only read stories about music and rugby the Royal family and the tories are banned. It also furnishes me with the odd article on interior design.
I’m ok with this. I’d rather be sane than well informed. There’s far too much news about these days. I also get news from the guestbook. The speed is better here and so is the company.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
there was one passed here last night…it was gone in a flash…I wished that Putin, Boris and Trump were on it
Of course I’m not sure if this gig somehow got into the mind of Rory’s pal. It was according to the diary in 2004.
Think Schism records at the time was located in Maghera. Soon afterwards they had their own schism and broke up. Don’t know if it was some reputation thing. Think they were booking agent for Dolly Parton as well. Or so they said.
During the same small tour we went to play with Wally in Dublin, did a gig in Cavan, had a chat with Mick O at Anna Livia radio and went to see you live in Dundalk.
Nowadays O’Dreams is with the three of us. Danny Guinan (originally from Ferbane), Ed and myself. Over in Dublin the last weekend of April to “prepare” for next season.
Last weekend we played in the old hometown and ended the gig with John O’Dreams. “Sleep is a river, flow on forever….”
Take care Christy and enjoy your 56th year of the ongoing tour…..
John
Christy's reply
I called Dolly after reading your post…she never heard of Schism….I did play Maghera about 40 years ago…it was uneasy..
Hello Christy and Rory, a bit off topic but I saw the post of Rory mentioning a presumed gig in Swatragh. The name Swatragh caught my attention. @rory Was the pub called Friel’s?
You see, many years ago Ed and myself played there (aka duo John O’Dreams)
Booked by a company called Schism Records. The owner of the venue (bar, restaurant, funeral services and more) had the gig advertised with huge posters of Christy Moore on every telephone pole along the way to Friel’s. And down on the bottom, small printed: John O’Dreams. We had a great night, place was packed, sang our hearts out (as we still do) and ended up doing a raffle on stage…..
It shows where Christy’s music can take you ….😄
All the best from Amsterdam
John
Christy's reply
that solves the mystery of “my gig” in Swatragh ( pronounced “Swat-tra”….or sometimes “swat-the-ra”)
Glad to hear that John O’ Dreams are still rockin The Dam..
I’ll have to keep my eye out for Schism Records….they sound like a thoroughly reputable operation…I hope you got paid
That’s a great song, thanks for menytioning it Kevin. It sent me scurrying off to YouTube. https://youtu.be/_LeOXsDdx38
I’m sorry I didn’t bump into a live version. This is from Lily.
I’d fill the air with secret words
In a language no-one’s ever heard.
Its like the air when your standing on top of a cliff.
Hi Christy.. Thanks for posting the setlist from Tuesdays gig.. 1hr 40min is some going.. your energy “burns so bright, t’would illuminate the darkest night” .. Spent a couple of days out of the country and had Declan O Rourke’s song swirling around me head from last weeks gig.. love how a song can find it’s way into your psyche..some stay a while, others come and go, some arrive unexpected.. the wonder of it all.. Hope it’s an enjoyable one tonight..
Kev
Christy's reply
45 minutes to kick off
I’m remembering the 60s and 70s….45 mins before the gig I’d be skullin pints…no PA’s or sound checks back in the 60s…..for a lot of the 70s I had my own wee PA in the back of the van…. I’d lash it up in 5 minutes and then into the Bar for a rake of large bottles..after the gig I’d be very thirsty..some nights my guitar and PA would be left ’til the next morning….a lucky man to have survived all that mayhem and madness..but that said , I had some mighty crack along the way….great nights in Rakish Paddys Lanesboro, Merriman Tavern Scariff, The Baggott and Meeting Place in Dublin, Pedigree Corner in Athy, Pat Dowlings in Prosperous,back in the day there was a venue called the Embankment in Tallaght run by a renegade Kerryman called Mick McCarthy…. there was always a late night lock in…you’d get paid after the gig but could not leave until you had your fee spent…back then there were Ballad Lounges everywhere…I recall one night in 1969 when I did 4 gigs one night in Dublin…20 minute set, get the £3 and off to the next spot….
now its 20 minutes to kick off….gotta get my make up on, tighten the corset, take the correct tablets, three hail marys and a gloria and away we go..
Good man Kevin
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for the set list from Tuesday. I agree, it was massive. I hope tonight is equally gargantuan (and you enjoy it).
I had to ask my Mum about Ken Dodd. I’d got a town in my head but I couldn’t remember. She said she thought it was at the winter Gardens in Blackpool. That’s what was in my head, so I think it was blackpool. I remember we were on holiday there, it could have been 1980 or 1981 but that’s a guess.
In the words of Doddy
“Five-thirds of people have trouble understanding fractions”.
“My teeth are all my own. I just finished paying for them”.
“What a beautiful day for sticking a cucumber through someone’s letter box and shouting: “Help, help, the Martian’s have landed”.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
No..it was definitely North Wales..a Sunday night..the wind was hopping..the sea was boiling after the gig we made a quick run for the Holyhead Boat
Hi Christy and all,
Going backwards, with a mention on Ewan Macoll, think ‘First Time’ is one of the most beautiful songs ever written every line is perfect.
Off to ‘Owd Betts pub’ on Ashworth Moor on Saturday to meet some owd school friends, never eaten there before, will give your best to the area.
Thanks for mention CS, love your posts they always read like a good book, still missing those Saturday night vids. Pam
Hello Christy,
I’m with you, I bet it was massive.
I went to see Ken Dodd once. It was a marine and he was on again in the evening. He didn’t finish till 6pm. He said, if the late show audience think they’re getting out before midnight they’ll be lucky. He was brilliant. Knotty Ash… I’m remembering a feather duster, but who knows.
I’m out teaching ipad to the Councillor this morning. The Ipad skills are going nowhere but he tells good ghost stories. I’ve a couple to tell him back.
With me too rye ah
Fol de diddle dah
Diary fol de diddle dairy oh!
I think I remembered it right this time?
Rebecca
Christy's reply
you asked about the last gig…
the set list:
How Long
City of Chicago
McIlhatton
They Never came Home
Welcome to Cabaret
Magdalen Laundry
Go Move Shift
Farmer Michael Hayes
Cliffs of Dooneen
Lingo Politico / Shovel
Nancy Spain
St Brendan’s Voyage
Beeswing
Delerium Tremens
Well Below Valley
Raggle Taggle Gypsy
Ride On
Joxer
Johnny Jump Up
Spancilhill
Lisdoonvarna
Voyage
Johnny Boy…1 hour 40 mins
Watching news and feeling bad for Ukraine – just read the words (and your comments)of Tim Dennehy’s ‘ Farewell to Pripyat’… a wonderful song – let’s hope the music keeps spirits high.
Dave
Christy's reply
I cant think of anything to say
we move from one globalcrisis to the next
trump-boris-brexit-covid-ukraine
much daily fear driven my media
I’m reminded of boyhood
reading in the Irish Independent
” there are reports of an Earthquake in China 6 weeks ago”
now we get live pictures before the tremors cease
Hi Christy i have seen you in plenty venues but my pal near Claudy says he saw you play in a club in Swatragh, do you recall the venue or gig?
Cheers
Rory
Christy's reply
I’ve played in Bellaghy, Portglenone and Maghera…to the best of my recall I aint hit Swatragh yet…that said….way back, along time ago,I drank Poitín a few times in them parts …some things may have slipped my mind
I’ve been bombarding my senses today with “Beeswing”, “Nancy Spain”, “Don’t Forget Your Shovel” & the Dylan songs “Immigrant” & “Hattie Carroll”.
These new noise reduction headphones will deafen me eventually but then again, if I don’t get shot by a jealous husband in my 90’s, dying from music overdose seems not so bad. (Starvation won’t take me).
Hope all are well & enjoying life as you can.
Regards,
Danny Harris
Christy's reply
Danny Boy….hard to beat a good set of noise reducers…as the world grows harsher louder crueller dearer colder warmer wetter, its nice to bathe in the healing waters of some fave sound….shhhh
Rebeccah, Doddy was famousley charged with tax evasion in 1989 after he was found to have £330,000 in cash hidden in his attic. He managed to get off with it and the rumour around Liverpool was he spent the proceeds employing two new Diddy men, (Income Tax) Diddy Pay, Diddy F#*$. .
Thanks John and Christy,
My pal confirms it was in Friel’s and that Christy you played in the back lounge….a place he says was raided many times.
Cheers
Rory
I think I’ll take the Fifth Amendment
Hi Christy
I hadn’t seen Imagine with Carlos Acosta or Labi Siffi, I had recently watched the episodes with Marian Keyes and Wayne McGregor. Yesterday Andrew went to visit a friend in hospital and stumbled in the car park and ebbed up in A&E with a fractured jaw! Hospitals are so busy at the moment so he was there till 2.30 this morning. Thankfully they can fix it was brackets and dental work and he is not in a lot of pain. Due to covid I was not able to wait with him so I sat outside in the car and watched Imagine with Labi Siffri and Tom Stoppard. I found the episode with Labi Siffri very moving. What an incredible soul. So this message comes from the hospital waiting area where Andrew is having brackets on his teeth fitted to retrain his bite. It’ll be a lot of TLC and soft food for the next few weeks.
Best wishes
Jojo
best wishes to patient and carer
Or a full stop.
Those north Wales and Blackpool gigs must be, separate. I did a little reading about Ken Dodd and mammoth shows were pretty common with him.
“You think you can get away, but you can’t. I’ll follow you home and I’ll shout jokes through your letterbox” – uttered when he was still going strong at a show as it approached midnight.
He sounds like a genuinely sweet guy. He kept suitcases of money in the attic because he was so nervous of having or not having it.
I’d like to add a big comma after rugby but it won’t le me.
Pretty please…
Rugby today! Yes!
Hello Christy,
Please don’t mention asteroids. You’ll only encourage them.
My news app thing on my phone has worked out that I only read stories about music and rugby the Royal family and the tories are banned. It also furnishes me with the odd article on interior design.
I’m ok with this. I’d rather be sane than well informed. There’s far too much news about these days. I also get news from the guestbook. The speed is better here and so is the company.
Rebecca
there was one passed here last night…it was gone in a flash…I wished that Putin, Boris and Trump were on it
Hi Christy,
Of course I’m not sure if this gig somehow got into the mind of Rory’s pal. It was according to the diary in 2004.
Think Schism records at the time was located in Maghera. Soon afterwards they had their own schism and broke up. Don’t know if it was some reputation thing. Think they were booking agent for Dolly Parton as well. Or so they said.
During the same small tour we went to play with Wally in Dublin, did a gig in Cavan, had a chat with Mick O at Anna Livia radio and went to see you live in Dundalk.
Nowadays O’Dreams is with the three of us. Danny Guinan (originally from Ferbane), Ed and myself. Over in Dublin the last weekend of April to “prepare” for next season.
Last weekend we played in the old hometown and ended the gig with John O’Dreams. “Sleep is a river, flow on forever….”
Take care Christy and enjoy your 56th year of the ongoing tour…..
John
I called Dolly after reading your post…she never heard of Schism….I did play Maghera about 40 years ago…it was uneasy..
Hello Christy and Rory, a bit off topic but I saw the post of Rory mentioning a presumed gig in Swatragh. The name Swatragh caught my attention. @rory Was the pub called Friel’s?
You see, many years ago Ed and myself played there (aka duo John O’Dreams)
Booked by a company called Schism Records. The owner of the venue (bar, restaurant, funeral services and more) had the gig advertised with huge posters of Christy Moore on every telephone pole along the way to Friel’s. And down on the bottom, small printed: John O’Dreams. We had a great night, place was packed, sang our hearts out (as we still do) and ended up doing a raffle on stage…..
It shows where Christy’s music can take you ….😄
All the best from Amsterdam
John
that solves the mystery of “my gig” in Swatragh ( pronounced “Swat-tra”….or sometimes “swat-the-ra”)
Glad to hear that John O’ Dreams are still rockin The Dam..
I’ll have to keep my eye out for Schism Records….they sound like a thoroughly reputable operation…I hope you got paid
That’s a great song, thanks for menytioning it Kevin. It sent me scurrying off to YouTube.
https://youtu.be/_LeOXsDdx38
I’m sorry I didn’t bump into a live version. This is from Lily.
I’d fill the air with secret words
In a language no-one’s ever heard.
Its like the air when your standing on top of a cliff.
” rush the rapids down below”…I love that line
Hi Christy.. Thanks for posting the setlist from Tuesdays gig.. 1hr 40min is some going.. your energy “burns so bright, t’would illuminate the darkest night” .. Spent a couple of days out of the country and had Declan O Rourke’s song swirling around me head from last weeks gig.. love how a song can find it’s way into your psyche..some stay a while, others come and go, some arrive unexpected.. the wonder of it all.. Hope it’s an enjoyable one tonight..
Kev
45 minutes to kick off
I’m remembering the 60s and 70s….45 mins before the gig I’d be skullin pints…no PA’s or sound checks back in the 60s…..for a lot of the 70s I had my own wee PA in the back of the van…. I’d lash it up in 5 minutes and then into the Bar for a rake of large bottles..after the gig I’d be very thirsty..some nights my guitar and PA would be left ’til the next morning….a lucky man to have survived all that mayhem and madness..but that said , I had some mighty crack along the way….great nights in Rakish Paddys Lanesboro, Merriman Tavern Scariff, The Baggott and Meeting Place in Dublin, Pedigree Corner in Athy, Pat Dowlings in Prosperous,back in the day there was a venue called the Embankment in Tallaght run by a renegade Kerryman called Mick McCarthy…. there was always a late night lock in…you’d get paid after the gig but could not leave until you had your fee spent…back then there were Ballad Lounges everywhere…I recall one night in 1969 when I did 4 gigs one night in Dublin…20 minute set, get the £3 and off to the next spot….
now its 20 minutes to kick off….gotta get my make up on, tighten the corset, take the correct tablets, three hail marys and a gloria and away we go..
Good man Kevin
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for the set list from Tuesday. I agree, it was massive. I hope tonight is equally gargantuan (and you enjoy it).
I had to ask my Mum about Ken Dodd. I’d got a town in my head but I couldn’t remember. She said she thought it was at the winter Gardens in Blackpool. That’s what was in my head, so I think it was blackpool. I remember we were on holiday there, it could have been 1980 or 1981 but that’s a guess.
In the words of Doddy
“Five-thirds of people have trouble understanding fractions”.
“My teeth are all my own. I just finished paying for them”.
“What a beautiful day for sticking a cucumber through someone’s letter box and shouting: “Help, help, the Martian’s have landed”.
Rebecca
No..it was definitely North Wales..a Sunday night..the wind was hopping..the sea was boiling after the gig we made a quick run for the Holyhead Boat
Thinking of the people of Pripchat today Christy.
Regards
Rory
when will it ever end……
maybe an asteroid will do the trick
Hello Christy which are your favourite venues to play in around the country
Knocknagoshel,Lanesboro,Brownstown, Kealkil,Barrnacuige,Muckalee and Craigavon
Hi Christy and all,
Going backwards, with a mention on Ewan Macoll, think ‘First Time’ is one of the most beautiful songs ever written every line is perfect.
Off to ‘Owd Betts pub’ on Ashworth Moor on Saturday to meet some owd school friends, never eaten there before, will give your best to the area.
Thanks for mention CS, love your posts they always read like a good book, still missing those Saturday night vids. Pam
beware of mad dogs and John Willie Lees
Matinee…
sounds like the same venue I recall…what town ?
Hello Christy,
I’m with you, I bet it was massive.
I went to see Ken Dodd once. It was a marine and he was on again in the evening. He didn’t finish till 6pm. He said, if the late show audience think they’re getting out before midnight they’ll be lucky. He was brilliant. Knotty Ash… I’m remembering a feather duster, but who knows.
I’m out teaching ipad to the Councillor this morning. The Ipad skills are going nowhere but he tells good ghost stories. I’ve a couple to tell him back.
With me too rye ah
Fol de diddle dah
Diary fol de diddle dairy oh!
I think I remembered it right this time?
Rebecca
you asked about the last gig…
the set list:
How Long
City of Chicago
McIlhatton
They Never came Home
Welcome to Cabaret
Magdalen Laundry
Go Move Shift
Farmer Michael Hayes
Cliffs of Dooneen
Lingo Politico / Shovel
Nancy Spain
St Brendan’s Voyage
Beeswing
Delerium Tremens
Well Below Valley
Raggle Taggle Gypsy
Ride On
Joxer
Johnny Jump Up
Spancilhill
Lisdoonvarna
Voyage
Johnny Boy…1 hour 40 mins
Mornin’ Christy
Watching news and feeling bad for Ukraine – just read the words (and your comments)of Tim Dennehy’s ‘ Farewell to Pripyat’… a wonderful song – let’s hope the music keeps spirits high.
Dave
I cant think of anything to say
we move from one globalcrisis to the next
trump-boris-brexit-covid-ukraine
much daily fear driven my media
I’m reminded of boyhood
reading in the Irish Independent
” there are reports of an Earthquake in China 6 weeks ago”
now we get live pictures before the tremors cease
Hi Christy i have seen you in plenty venues but my pal near Claudy says he saw you play in a club in Swatragh, do you recall the venue or gig?
Cheers
Rory
I’ve played in Bellaghy, Portglenone and Maghera…to the best of my recall I aint hit Swatragh yet…that said….way back, along time ago,I drank Poitín a few times in them parts …some things may have slipped my mind
Hi Christy, i hear that the patron saint of teeth is ken dodd and the patron saint of gums is father rowntree.
Now gargle and spit .
Rory
I recall a beautiful venue in North Wales that was favourite of Ken Dodd..played there once and loved it….I think it was a timber building
I’ve been bombarding my senses today with “Beeswing”, “Nancy Spain”, “Don’t Forget Your Shovel” & the Dylan songs “Immigrant” & “Hattie Carroll”.
These new noise reduction headphones will deafen me eventually but then again, if I don’t get shot by a jealous husband in my 90’s, dying from music overdose seems not so bad. (Starvation won’t take me).
Hope all are well & enjoying life as you can.
Regards,
Danny Harris
Danny Boy….hard to beat a good set of noise reducers…as the world grows harsher louder crueller dearer colder warmer wetter, its nice to bathe in the healing waters of some fave sound….shhhh