Hello Christy and All,
Roll up, Roll up
The Pin the Name on the Harpist competition is in full swing.
Here is the link, ladies and gentlemen https://youtu.be/nz1TLTR8hgo
Peruse it well and then place your bets.
All will be revealed at a time and date come upon by devining the ether, or maybe when Christy decides…
Happy St Patrick’s day to all, and welcome Judy, from a Yorkshire lass to a California hippie. It’s great to have you here.
Rebecca
Hello Christy, Today I stumbled upon a video of one of your performances and I was blown away. I then binge-listened to your music all afternoon via Alexa while doing an internet search for you. This old California hippie is not Irish but has always been drawn to things Irish. I love your beautiful voice, your music, and I support your politics. The truth is I think I’ve fallen in love!!!
Judy Stone
Christy's reply
I fell in love with songs circa 1953..its been an ongoing life long affair ever since…the practice of singing, listening,learning, reshaping, adapting to the ever changing vocal range, the search for new verses, the joy of fresh discovery…and I cherish this ongoing interaction with the many songsters who share their love of songs upon this site…
Browsing in a charity shop today – a book jumped off the shelf. I hope you have a copy of ‘Singing from the floor – a history of British folk clubs’ by JP Bean 2014.
Loads of anecdotes and info…good to read your memories and some very funny anecdotes from Mr Harding plus so much of interest about performers, songs and venues.
Not sure if it’s still available (Faber and Faber publisher) but I’m sure many here would enjoy the book – especially relevant to those of us who got ‘the start’ from ‘floor singing’.
Dave
Christy's reply
have JP’s book here somewhere….
I was double-booked a few times back then
Once in West Hartlepool with Tony Capstick…we were good buddies, we shared the gig and made a good night of it…Capstick had his own club in Rotherham which he ran with his Wife Carol…
on another occasion at a Club on an RAF Base in Nth Yorkshire ( Catterick perhaps) I was double booked with Cliff Aungier…I think we tossed a coin and Cliff won the gig….
Played support to Pentangle in Kircaldy…The Yetties in MSG,….Doc Watson in London….Elton John in Halifax….The Humblebums in Glasgow….Nigel Denver in Lincoln,…The Grehan Sisters in Congleton….
Floor spots were such a big deal back then…as if life itself depended upon them….Drony and Jack Taylor held peoples destiny in their hands every Monday night in the MSG….
Hi Christy,
Really enjoying the new album and thrilled to see you back out on the road! My beloved wife Molly surprised me last night with tickets to see you in Sligo on my birthday. First time back in Ireland since December 2019. I’m over the moon! Also, I’ve got two single tickets (not next to each other but close to each other) for the June 25 show in Cork that I won’t be able to use. I would love to give them to somebody who wants to attend and promises to sing loud enough for me to hear back in Virginia. Just send an email to lowry2120@yahoo.com and they’re all yours. All the best Christy!
Buck
Christy's reply
Hey Buck,
Hawkswell in Sligo is a nice space for a gig…I like playing there…..Hope you & Molly have a good night….I’ll open all the valves and give it full throttle ..all knobs up to eleven
Hi Christy,
Thank you for your music. I’m looking forward to the new album. My husband is from Tipp and a huge fan. He’s said many times how he would love for you to hear this song he wrote about Shane MacGowan. Thank you for your support of Ukraine too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qt9VsQy_kg
Just a quick hint on the harpist competition.
It is possible to find the player by less noble means than using your ears.
I thought I’d better work it our, or it could be a very long competition, so the name is findable. I’m guessing Christy already knows it though.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Daoiri is such a fine singer…..its many years since I first heard him sing in The Góilín Singers club…..as well as a great voice he also has great taste in both repertoire and accompaniment…as well as all these attributes he is also a sound man…when I hear him he reminds me of a young fresh Luke Kelly….
Re harp comp..I dont know who it is yet…but I hope to find out
Hey Christy , looking forward to seeing you in Mullingar on Friday night, we are heading down and staying over in the hotel. I Just hope we don’t out show you , Claire my partner is due April 7th , hope the wee man doesn’t arrive mid gig – lol.
A shout out for Claire would be appreciated.
See you Friday.
Christy's reply
Jason…..Hopefully there will be a midwife in the audience….playing at a Belgian Festival in the 90s, a child was born as I sang Shane McGowan/Jem Finer’s “A pair of Brown Eyes”……cannot guarantee the shout out…I am deluged with requests, yours will go into the hat and I’ll pick out three before the gig…thats the best that I can do….I wish you and Claire the very best
Hi Christy, would like to share the following lines with your guestbook on the 4th anniversary of the passing of Liam Og
A Piper Passing
A Tribute to Liam Og O Flynn.
How lonely the pipes call enchanting
How holy the calling the sound
A star in the sky on its way passing by
Left me empty upon a cold ground
How softly it sailed our encounter
The music the song and the spell
I might just have dreamed for as strange as it seemed
I dont mind I remember it well
The touch of his fingers so lightly
The reeds surely happy to be
The sweet haunting sound wrapped in velvet and bound
Like a wave comng in from the sea
The music start winding and flowing
The piper was tapping along
The ghost and the gown and the deep haunting sound
Filled the room with sweet music and song
The Bridge and the Foxchase The Rambler
The Blackwells and Slieve Guillion Brae
The Gold Ring and Gown and the sweet haunting sound
Flowed like honey so sweetly he played
The flames and the shadows were dancing
A reel up and down on the wall
The last tune came in like a whisper began
To start fading and then it was gone
He laid his pipes out on the Table
And said thank you kindly my friend
The candle light leaving the embers receding
Would be nice to meet up once again
The flames and the shadows were dancing
A reel up and down on the wall
The last tune came in like a whisper began
To start fading and then it was gone
To start fading and then it was gone
To start fading and then it was gone
Christy's reply
Dear John…..this is beautiful…thanks for sharing…are you singing it ?
Dear Christy,
Great news is that i have a fantastic weekend coming up, bragging is never a good spectacle but here is a trip to be reckoned with ….
Saturday early doors ferry to belfast and drive to the aviva, kilt on, to either play for or support scotland. Down to Eadestown for a jar or two with Derek and some of Aisling’s home cooking.
Sunday visit my heavily pregnant mare near cashel, up to fallons of kilcullen for lunch and (fantastic news) up with Jayo into the mournes to see matt mcginn perform in his home patch in the evening.
Monday off to see gordon elliot’s string working and a saunter back home via the ferry.
Seeing Matt play again could be the highlight amongst highlights. His song ‘darkest before the day’ may be nearly a decade old but it resonates with the Ukrainians just now.
Boasting over…i might get a puncture in my rickety car near castle douglas and miss the ferry.
Maybe i could borrow your old blue box van?
Regards
Rory
Christy's reply
Be the honey Rory but you got it well mapped out…I wish and all your butties a great weekend….you might bump into Tadhg Beirne in Eadestown…if you meet Sir Matt McGinn give him my best wishes..a great singer and songwriter…he sings high upon the mountain…that old blue van was a dinger…got it back in 1977, a Peugeot 404 Diesel,Reg 5118 IP…had a prang in Stuttgart in 1978..myself and the late Jimmy Faulkner touring the Rhineland
My bet is phaimie gow, she supported liam and seamus when i saw them live in the poet and the piper show.
She is a l9vely harpist…no doubt like rebecca.
Rb
This time (roughly) , we were in Still Be on our way to Kilkenny to one of your gigs…. that was the evening Leo Varadker walked down the steps in Washington and announced that the country was closing down…. little did we know… we turned tail and headed back to the Hills. Two years on and we will face the Toyota toward Mullingar on Friday morning. The music does indeed keep our spirits high.
We seen Laoise Kelly play with Liam Og and yourself once upon a time too.
Christy's reply
Ok Marty….I’ll assume you are suggesting Laoise to be the Harpist in question
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for taking my question so seriously.
And, talking of unusual undergarments, many moons ago, when I still frequented those parts (I met Steve in the church choir), there was a wild curate at St Martin’s Church in Brighouse. As he said himself, as camp as a row of pink tents, he ran rings round the vicar who was more your pottering round the garden type.
All the older ladies loved him and you’d often see them marching down his street with their home bakes cakes.
Anyway, one day he got more pissed off with the church than usual and turned up at evensong wearing leather boxer shorts under the ecclesiastical vestments. He certainly knew how to brighten up the old psalms.
This was the day after he told the church warden to f%%k off and then cried into her ample bosom.
He left the church a few months later. I thought it was a shame.
I’m off to have a listen to Dave’s recommendation of Copshawholme Fair, not heard much Steeleye Span.
Rory’s travels took him into a fascinating border area yesterday. It’s great when a reference also crosses over into trad song territory,Also, appropriate that the area is home to a folk festival…
So, today’s listening starts with Steeleye’s ‘Hark! the village wait’ – including ‘Copshawholme Fair’… an action packed song with great descriptions of the characters coming together at the April gathering.
I bought a ticket to a dance in san fernando…
Rory
all the proceeds went to purchase ammo
Hi Christy
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit
dined on them in Killaloe in soups and second courses
Here’s a song for St Patrick’s day
https://youtu.be/YX1qwQcE4-c
100,000 Reptiles blue he charmed with sweet discourses
Hello Christy and All,
Roll up, Roll up
The Pin the Name on the Harpist competition is in full swing.
Here is the link, ladies and gentlemen
https://youtu.be/nz1TLTR8hgo
Peruse it well and then place your bets.
All will be revealed at a time and date come upon by devining the ether, or maybe when Christy decides…
Happy St Patrick’s day to all, and welcome Judy, from a Yorkshire lass to a California hippie. It’s great to have you here.
Rebecca
Rachel Blackmore
Hello Christy, Today I stumbled upon a video of one of your performances and I was blown away. I then binge-listened to your music all afternoon via Alexa while doing an internet search for you. This old California hippie is not Irish but has always been drawn to things Irish. I love your beautiful voice, your music, and I support your politics. The truth is I think I’ve fallen in love!!!
Judy Stone
I fell in love with songs circa 1953..its been an ongoing life long affair ever since…the practice of singing, listening,learning, reshaping, adapting to the ever changing vocal range, the search for new verses, the joy of fresh discovery…and I cherish this ongoing interaction with the many songsters who share their love of songs upon this site…
Hi Christy
Browsing in a charity shop today – a book jumped off the shelf. I hope you have a copy of ‘Singing from the floor – a history of British folk clubs’ by JP Bean 2014.
Loads of anecdotes and info…good to read your memories and some very funny anecdotes from Mr Harding plus so much of interest about performers, songs and venues.
Not sure if it’s still available (Faber and Faber publisher) but I’m sure many here would enjoy the book – especially relevant to those of us who got ‘the start’ from ‘floor singing’.
Dave
have JP’s book here somewhere….
I was double-booked a few times back then
Once in West Hartlepool with Tony Capstick…we were good buddies, we shared the gig and made a good night of it…Capstick had his own club in Rotherham which he ran with his Wife Carol…
on another occasion at a Club on an RAF Base in Nth Yorkshire ( Catterick perhaps) I was double booked with Cliff Aungier…I think we tossed a coin and Cliff won the gig….
Played support to Pentangle in Kircaldy…The Yetties in MSG,….Doc Watson in London….Elton John in Halifax….The Humblebums in Glasgow….Nigel Denver in Lincoln,…The Grehan Sisters in Congleton….
Floor spots were such a big deal back then…as if life itself depended upon them….Drony and Jack Taylor held peoples destiny in their hands every Monday night in the MSG….
Hi Christy,
Really enjoying the new album and thrilled to see you back out on the road! My beloved wife Molly surprised me last night with tickets to see you in Sligo on my birthday. First time back in Ireland since December 2019. I’m over the moon! Also, I’ve got two single tickets (not next to each other but close to each other) for the June 25 show in Cork that I won’t be able to use. I would love to give them to somebody who wants to attend and promises to sing loud enough for me to hear back in Virginia. Just send an email to lowry2120@yahoo.com and they’re all yours. All the best Christy!
Buck
Hey Buck,
Hawkswell in Sligo is a nice space for a gig…I like playing there…..Hope you & Molly have a good night….I’ll open all the valves and give it full throttle ..all knobs up to eleven
Hello Christy,
I think there’s a good chance the harpist playing on Éire is Noreen O’Donoghue.
Here’s a clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gHhY39_9Wc
am I to assume that you are an entrant to our questionaire ?
5 suggestions so far
I’m going to The Well of Truth
Hi Christy,
Thank you for your music. I’m looking forward to the new album. My husband is from Tipp and a huge fan. He’s said many times how he would love for you to hear this song he wrote about Shane MacGowan. Thank you for your support of Ukraine too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qt9VsQy_kg
Thanks for sharing..best to you & Tipperary Tony
Hello Christy,
This is for Liam
https://youtu.be/qTxQ_5ms8ww
Just a quick hint on the harpist competition.
It is possible to find the player by less noble means than using your ears.
I thought I’d better work it our, or it could be a very long competition, so the name is findable. I’m guessing Christy already knows it though.
Rebecca
Daoiri is such a fine singer…..its many years since I first heard him sing in The Góilín Singers club…..as well as a great voice he also has great taste in both repertoire and accompaniment…as well as all these attributes he is also a sound man…when I hear him he reminds me of a young fresh Luke Kelly….
Re harp comp..I dont know who it is yet…but I hope to find out
Hey Christy , looking forward to seeing you in Mullingar on Friday night, we are heading down and staying over in the hotel. I Just hope we don’t out show you , Claire my partner is due April 7th , hope the wee man doesn’t arrive mid gig – lol.
A shout out for Claire would be appreciated.
See you Friday.
Jason…..Hopefully there will be a midwife in the audience….playing at a Belgian Festival in the 90s, a child was born as I sang Shane McGowan/Jem Finer’s “A pair of Brown Eyes”……cannot guarantee the shout out…I am deluged with requests, yours will go into the hat and I’ll pick out three before the gig…thats the best that I can do….I wish you and Claire the very best
Hi Christy, would like to share the following lines with your guestbook on the 4th anniversary of the passing of Liam Og
A Piper Passing
A Tribute to Liam Og O Flynn.
How lonely the pipes call enchanting
How holy the calling the sound
A star in the sky on its way passing by
Left me empty upon a cold ground
How softly it sailed our encounter
The music the song and the spell
I might just have dreamed for as strange as it seemed
I dont mind I remember it well
The touch of his fingers so lightly
The reeds surely happy to be
The sweet haunting sound wrapped in velvet and bound
Like a wave comng in from the sea
The music start winding and flowing
The piper was tapping along
The ghost and the gown and the deep haunting sound
Filled the room with sweet music and song
The Bridge and the Foxchase The Rambler
The Blackwells and Slieve Guillion Brae
The Gold Ring and Gown and the sweet haunting sound
Flowed like honey so sweetly he played
The flames and the shadows were dancing
A reel up and down on the wall
The last tune came in like a whisper began
To start fading and then it was gone
He laid his pipes out on the Table
And said thank you kindly my friend
The candle light leaving the embers receding
Would be nice to meet up once again
The flames and the shadows were dancing
A reel up and down on the wall
The last tune came in like a whisper began
To start fading and then it was gone
To start fading and then it was gone
To start fading and then it was gone
Dear John…..this is beautiful…thanks for sharing…are you singing it ?
Dear Christy,
Great news is that i have a fantastic weekend coming up, bragging is never a good spectacle but here is a trip to be reckoned with ….
Saturday early doors ferry to belfast and drive to the aviva, kilt on, to either play for or support scotland. Down to Eadestown for a jar or two with Derek and some of Aisling’s home cooking.
Sunday visit my heavily pregnant mare near cashel, up to fallons of kilcullen for lunch and (fantastic news) up with Jayo into the mournes to see matt mcginn perform in his home patch in the evening.
Monday off to see gordon elliot’s string working and a saunter back home via the ferry.
Seeing Matt play again could be the highlight amongst highlights. His song ‘darkest before the day’ may be nearly a decade old but it resonates with the Ukrainians just now.
Boasting over…i might get a puncture in my rickety car near castle douglas and miss the ferry.
Maybe i could borrow your old blue box van?
Regards
Rory
Be the honey Rory but you got it well mapped out…I wish and all your butties a great weekend….you might bump into Tadhg Beirne in Eadestown…if you meet Sir Matt McGinn give him my best wishes..a great singer and songwriter…he sings high upon the mountain…that old blue van was a dinger…got it back in 1977, a Peugeot 404 Diesel,Reg 5118 IP…had a prang in Stuttgart in 1978..myself and the late Jimmy Faulkner touring the Rhineland
My bet is phaimie gow, she supported liam and seamus when i saw them live in the poet and the piper show.
She is a l9vely harpist…no doubt like rebecca.
Rb
ok Rory….you are on the list of runners &riders
We were in Athlone….that should read…..
This time (roughly) , we were in Still Be on our way to Kilkenny to one of your gigs…. that was the evening Leo Varadker walked down the steps in Washington and announced that the country was closing down…. little did we know… we turned tail and headed back to the Hills. Two years on and we will face the Toyota toward Mullingar on Friday morning. The music does indeed keep our spirits high.
We seen Laoise Kelly play with Liam Og and yourself once upon a time too.
Ok Marty….I’ll assume you are suggesting Laoise to be the Harpist in question
I’ll open the bidding, Christy
I know Helen Davies worked with Liam at times, so that’s my punt…
Dave
I’m taking note of contestants…you are first up Dave
I heard this this morning.
Its Liam on the c sharp set. First time I’ve heard that set.
It’s from an album called The Fire Aflame. It’s called Eire.
https://youtu.be/nz1TLTR8hgo
I’m sorry I don’t know who is playing the harp.
Éire …beautiful..a spot prize for first to correctly I.D. the harpist
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for taking my question so seriously.
And, talking of unusual undergarments, many moons ago, when I still frequented those parts (I met Steve in the church choir), there was a wild curate at St Martin’s Church in Brighouse. As he said himself, as camp as a row of pink tents, he ran rings round the vicar who was more your pottering round the garden type.
All the older ladies loved him and you’d often see them marching down his street with their home bakes cakes.
Anyway, one day he got more pissed off with the church than usual and turned up at evensong wearing leather boxer shorts under the ecclesiastical vestments. He certainly knew how to brighten up the old psalms.
This was the day after he told the church warden to f%%k off and then cried into her ample bosom.
He left the church a few months later. I thought it was a shame.
I’m off to have a listen to Dave’s recommendation of Copshawholme Fair, not heard much Steeleye Span.
Rebecca
Mornin’ Christy/ all
Rory’s travels took him into a fascinating border area yesterday. It’s great when a reference also crosses over into trad song territory,Also, appropriate that the area is home to a folk festival…
So, today’s listening starts with Steeleye’s ‘Hark! the village wait’ – including ‘Copshawholme Fair’… an action packed song with great descriptions of the characters coming together at the April gathering.
Have a good day
Dave