Hello Christy,
All the talk of folk customs and the link that Dave shared took me back to when I was 6 at St Andrew’s infant school. We saw the Pace Egg Play. I looked for it on Dave’s Tradfolk link but it’s not there. A little more searching and it looks like it’s a Spring custom, revived here in the Calder Valley, maybe even from here.
The version they do in Heptonstall is a bit different from what I remember as a 6 year old.
Here’s a short video. https://youtu.be/lW5WNfRslR0
It finishes with the Pace Egg Song. I’ll put a link up, there’s a few recordings about.
Wondering if anyone here has this custom near them too?
Rebecca
Christy's reply
never experienced the custom but often heard the song in my early travels
Morning Christy,
on the ‘ride on’ video on youtube you wisely intro it with the words ‘any day you get home in one piece is a good day’.
I was sadly at the kilbeggan track the night that kieran kelly died, and the horror was brought back yesterday as news of an air ambulance arriving was announced after young connor mccann fell at my local track at kelso.
Connor is in hospital with very bad injuries but we hope will fully recover in time. This 2 days after he returned to the jumps saddle after 2 months off injured.
The sport of kings it may be but it’s the valour of young, often working class ,lads and lasses that are on the line daily.
Indeed Jayo’s cousin from cashel lost his life to a thoroughbred’s racetrack kick a few years back in england.
‘Ride on’ to all those who risk life and limb to please us and the ‘kings’.
Beautiful song.
Rory
Christy's reply
I hope Conner McCann makes a full recovery after Kelso..
I have the utmost respect for most of those who strive and labour with horses…they mainly show great love for the animals in their care…its such an enormous industry,most of the work goes unseen…the stable hands, those who “ride-out”, the jockeys, the farriers, the trainers and all of the many associated with “racing”….the owners are a mixed bunch…hard to have respect for many of that breed, the “shake-me-shammies”, the millionaires & billionaires who use racing to display their obscene wealth, who cluster to grab the bridle in winners enclosures,
but there are genuine owners too..those who have passion to be associated with these glorious animals …..and its apparent too that most jockeys and trainers must “doff the cap” for those wealthy owners…its their largesse that keeps the industry afloat…(no matter how that largesse might have been achieved)
Despite no direct connection, I grew with racing connections all around me…still have a basic fascination with the world of horses….with The Curragh, Punchestown,Naas and numerous training facilities on our doorstep I knew many associated families, from stable hands to trainers…all part of the fabric of my young life..always fondly remembered (Prendergasts, Bells, Halfords, Edderys,Burns, Featherstonaughs, Welds,Rogers,most of them gone but a few of them still “saddling the pony” )
Great call, Agnes – just watched a few minutes and am hooked on terrific musicians! Brilliant that you saw an amazing gig as well…I’ve got a few things to do now, but will be hitting youtube later – thanks – enjoy the day D
Do you remember me telling you about huun huur tu.?.
Well they came all the way from Tuva (other side of the world) to saint Nicholas’s cathedral Galway and I got to see them last night.
They are on their European tour.
Hung out with them for a bit after .I am in awe of their talent.We figured out one thing we had in common ,english is not our first language!! But sure dont we have ancient music in common aswell.
They’re in the sugar club amaràch.
Pure dynamite absolutely unbelievable.
CS 17
Hello Christy,
The Ryburn3Step folk club has moved down the valley to Sowerby Bridge. Pretty near to here. I’m thinking of paying them a visit.
That end of the valley has a lot of folk culture. They do the rushbearing every September. https://fb.watch/b_ylAA70lD/
It’s wall to wall Morris dancing and mummers.
Thankyou for the info about Thomas Mccarthy, I’ll have a watch. I watched his thing at the National Concert Hall. His Lady Margaret is some song.
Declan Quinn did some beautiful work on this project…..I love the horses galloping in the mists of dawn across the Curragh Plains…..the way he filmed “Johnny Conners” in The Factory….and “Dark End of The Street” with Keith Donald in The Baggott….apart from these few moments,its not an easy watch for me…fair play to Philip King for making it all happen…he has captured endless hours of archive for posterity
Hello Christy,
I’m still thinking about the way you described the cottage your Father’s maternal family lived in.
Round here we’d call it a “proper set up”. Meaning that it had everything you could need.
The only reference I have to this is memories and feelings from a couple of visits to Bunratty, where I stood in a couple of the larger cottages that sound the most like what you described, and felt so at home. I guess I’m being stupidly romantic here, but the covid thing has grounded us for so long that we’ve been able to experience living in a small area again. For me, I’ve learnt a lot. It’s a good thing coming from the bad.
Anyway, back to the cottage. 300 years is a long time. I wonder what happened. Electricity? It changed everything didn’t it.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
The “electric” was late coming to Barronstown….it came towards the end of their lives…they never really took to it preferring the old ways
Watching TV news from Ukraine and being so impressed by the bravery and determination of people under the most harrowing circumstances.
Several interviews have been with creative people, illustrating the depth of Ukrainian arts. Let’s hope the saying that ‘art is resistance’ can apply to the country as a whole. There’s a great history of quality films from Ukraine and http://www.filmoffice.org.ua is now a poignant site, well worth a perusal.
As ever, all good wishes
Dave
Christy's reply
charlie windsor is here for 3 days…I’ll glad to see the back of him
My mind is so full, maybe it’s best to stare at the fire and watch it connect eternity with each little now.
Your description of the homestead in Kildare set me off, that and John Reilly.
And thinking of you setting off to find the life of the travelling singer, and finding it in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Manchester. Who’d have thought it was here.
And my childhood of soulless electric barred fires and kitchens where all the bits were stuck to the wall.
My kitchen now is made of wood and all the bits are separate and move.
And learning to build fires in the wood behind the old vicarage in the girl guides.
A circles of stones, then a gentle heap of punk, the a pyramid of twigs, then bigger pieces as it got going.
We cooked potatoes in the embers and watched the sparks lick their way up to the sky.
It still works, I built it last night. She taught me well.
300 years is a wonderful long time to tend a flame.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
a lovely Film of Thomas McCarthy aired on RTE 2 TV 2 nights ago. I love his Singing..the love and pride he carries and displays for his Travelling Culture
watch Songs of the Open Road here, via RTÉ Player.
Nico came from the City by the ocean,
three days ago Mama put him on the train.
She hugged him in that crowded railway station,
and she prayed that she would see him soon again.
Surrounded by real frightened anxious people,
as they started on their journey to the west.
Mostly women, old men and young children,
tired and frightened people dispossessed.
Their tanks and planes have killed their so called brothers,
they rue the day they knocked the Berlin wall.
As history repeats itself, a terror is unleashed.
And in its wake, the town of Mariupol
Yana used to work in the port market,
she set up every day, her little stall.
Dolls and souvenirs and keepsake trinkets,
for special price she used to sell them all.
But now her heart is filled with fear and anguish,
as she searches through the rubble with the crew’s.
And every now and then the tears start rolling down her face,
when she finds another pair of bloodstained shoes
Their tanks and planes have killed their so called brothers,
they rue the day they knocked the Berlin wall.
As history repeats itself, a terror is unleashed.
And in its wake, the town of Mariupol
Sergiy was a postman and a dancer,
he was so graceful on his daily route.
But now he is a soldier in the army,
trained to use a bayonet and to shoot.
He man’s the barricades with trepidation,
as he waits for the oppressors to arrive.
And he thinks about his family as they lie low underground.
His only wish and prayer is getting back to them alive.
He who gives these orders can’t be human,
he who sends these troops must be insane.
He who’d kill the innocent and terrorise the weak,
will wish he had not targeted the heroes of Ukraine.
PS ‘About Knight William’ is a good start on the Munnelly youtube trail…I just saw a ‘show more’ link after the name ‘reynard the fox’ – this leads to RTE radio programmes. From a quick shufti, it looks like a lot of available info about Tom and his work. D
It’s a good point about Tom Munnelly being crucial to the preservation of John Reilly’s legacy.
Sadly, Tom died a few years ago (there’s an excellent obituary via ‘The Guardian’) Wikipedia entries about Munnelly, ‘Jacko’ and some songs.
I’d hoped to find a youtube documentary,but couldn’t see anything – however, there are some intriguing items via a search such as ‘Tom Munnelly youtube’. eg extracts from radio and some songs that he collected. Well worth a few minutes’ trawling…
Enjoy the day.
Dave
Christy's reply
Over the years had some good talking time with Tom (usually in Maisie Friel’s) …..he was totally commited to his life’s work….had a droll humorous view of “professional” folkies like myself …..but Tom never displayed the cruel rancour sometimes shown by other doctors and professor’s of folk song….he shared some songs with me….
Hi Christy,
Matt McGinn has today released on you tube a 30 min documentary Lessons of War. It is really about the making of his album and tje inspirations for it.
The man is class. Worth watching.
Rory
Good call, John…Lisa’s sounds and the funeral scene was a spine tingling mix. I’ve re watched it several times, but have been hooked on ‘Peaky Blinders’ for quite awhile now – the music being a significant reason.
Viva ‘dark side’ music. It’s always had a pull… No surprise that many a trad song has survived via some powerful versions. I always come back to ‘Green grows the laurel’ as a wonderful example. Terrific that John ‘Jacko’ Reilly’s repertoire is remembered here – not least via your interpretations.
Dave
Christy's reply
John Reilly’s versions of the old classic ballads still retain a mysterious, engaging,undefinable beauty…they still silence the night, carry us to places hitherto unknown….I believe that John was deeply moved himself by these songs, that they became a vital part of his existence…the first to recognise the beauty and uniqueness of his songs were The Grehan Sisters followed shortly by the Folklorist Tom Munnelly…Tom, more then anyone , saved John’s repertoire from extinction…..but it was The Grehan Sisters that led me to John’s singing…Thankfully,I got to meet him and to hear him before he died
Hi Christy, I know your a great man for the films and TV, just wondered if you ever get the chance to dip into Peaky Blinders? Its worth watching for the sound track alone especially if your into music on the ‘darker side” (Jack White, Tom Waits, Nick Cave etc) highlight of last weeks episode was Lisa O’Neills Blackbird, stunning.
Christy's reply
Watched a few episodes on season one but drifted away….great to see Lisa being included on a soundtrack that features such world renowned artists….
perhaps I’ll come back to it again some time…..
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for the link to the Krumlin Festival. Its a good website, full to the ginnels with stuff. It looks like it’s been going for years and years. And the page you sent is brilliant, with the original advertising for the festival and loads of other stuff.
For those who’ve never heard of it, Krumlin Festival happened in August 1970. Krumlin is near here, and such a tiny place I’ve struggled to find anything on it at all, apart from one or two pictures.
But the festival should have been amazing, with Elton John and an array of other fantastic acts, including Christy, over a weekend.
There’s a book about it called Pink Floyd are Fogbound in Paris by Ben Graham.
It may not sound like much to many people here but the whole idea of someone like Elton John playing in a local village is like science fiction. But it’s true!
So thankyou again for that link, Christy.
It was a big day in our house yesterday. We lit the woodburner for the first time. They need breaking in gently, so kindling only. I chose Lord Baker as the music for it. I’ve wanted a fire made from fire since the gas fires of my childhood. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10165771760320136&id=847680135
Rebecca
Christy's reply
My Father’s maternal family came from Barronstown, nr Mitown,nr Newbridge in the County of Kildare….and old traditional four room cottage with a loft…everything revolved around open hearth turf fire….our Grand-Aunt Nan often telling us that the flame had not quenched in 300 years….she was the last to leave us …back in 1968 the fire finally went out….nothing remains of that homestead….everything bulldozed to oblivion,the Well of springwater, the cottage, yard, milking parlour, haggart, dairy, hayshed, turf ramp, potato pit, gardens, hedgerows, lane, boreen, only exist now in my memory………
now I’m back there again, sitting on the bench by the fire, gazing up the chimney at the stars, in the oil lamp’s gentle light…. the world outside distant and silent…at peace between the wars ….
Krumlin Festival was the brainchild of two eccentric entrepenaurs…..Derek McEwen and Brian Highley…..Derek and I moved to Halifax in 1967….he worked in The Courier and we shared accomodations at both Causeway Foot and Mixenden….Brian Highley was Landlord of The Anchor in Brighouse (I think) which also briefly hosted a Folk Club circa 1969..I gigged there once….together they dreamt up the Krumlin Festival..but their dreams were shattered by a freak Summer Storm that washed the Festival away…
Derek (RIP) subsequently got into antiquarian books….Brian became involved with Trivial Pursuits
The pace egg song
https://youtu.be/-9NmEjqvKmI
There’s also versions by the Watersons, one from Midgley, they have the play there, plus lots of others.
great to hear The McCalmans again….had the pleasure of knowing them in the late 60s….
Hello Christy,
All the talk of folk customs and the link that Dave shared took me back to when I was 6 at St Andrew’s infant school. We saw the Pace Egg Play. I looked for it on Dave’s Tradfolk link but it’s not there. A little more searching and it looks like it’s a Spring custom, revived here in the Calder Valley, maybe even from here.
The version they do in Heptonstall is a bit different from what I remember as a 6 year old.
Here’s a short video.
https://youtu.be/lW5WNfRslR0
It finishes with the Pace Egg Song. I’ll put a link up, there’s a few recordings about.
Wondering if anyone here has this custom near them too?
Rebecca
never experienced the custom but often heard the song in my early travels
Morning Christy,
on the ‘ride on’ video on youtube you wisely intro it with the words ‘any day you get home in one piece is a good day’.
I was sadly at the kilbeggan track the night that kieran kelly died, and the horror was brought back yesterday as news of an air ambulance arriving was announced after young connor mccann fell at my local track at kelso.
Connor is in hospital with very bad injuries but we hope will fully recover in time. This 2 days after he returned to the jumps saddle after 2 months off injured.
The sport of kings it may be but it’s the valour of young, often working class ,lads and lasses that are on the line daily.
Indeed Jayo’s cousin from cashel lost his life to a thoroughbred’s racetrack kick a few years back in england.
‘Ride on’ to all those who risk life and limb to please us and the ‘kings’.
Beautiful song.
Rory
I hope Conner McCann makes a full recovery after Kelso..
I have the utmost respect for most of those who strive and labour with horses…they mainly show great love for the animals in their care…its such an enormous industry,most of the work goes unseen…the stable hands, those who “ride-out”, the jockeys, the farriers, the trainers and all of the many associated with “racing”….the owners are a mixed bunch…hard to have respect for many of that breed, the “shake-me-shammies”, the millionaires & billionaires who use racing to display their obscene wealth, who cluster to grab the bridle in winners enclosures,
but there are genuine owners too..those who have passion to be associated with these glorious animals …..and its apparent too that most jockeys and trainers must “doff the cap” for those wealthy owners…its their largesse that keeps the industry afloat…(no matter how that largesse might have been achieved)
Despite no direct connection, I grew with racing connections all around me…still have a basic fascination with the world of horses….with The Curragh, Punchestown,Naas and numerous training facilities on our doorstep I knew many associated families, from stable hands to trainers…all part of the fabric of my young life..always fondly remembered (Prendergasts, Bells, Halfords, Edderys,Burns, Featherstonaughs, Welds,Rogers,most of them gone but a few of them still “saddling the pony” )
Great call, Agnes – just watched a few minutes and am hooked on terrific musicians! Brilliant that you saw an amazing gig as well…I’ve got a few things to do now, but will be hitting youtube later – thanks – enjoy the day D
Do you remember me telling you about huun huur tu.?.
Well they came all the way from Tuva (other side of the world) to saint Nicholas’s cathedral Galway and I got to see them last night.
They are on their European tour.
Hung out with them for a bit after .I am in awe of their talent.We figured out one thing we had in common ,english is not our first language!! But sure dont we have ancient music in common aswell.
They’re in the sugar club amaràch.
Pure dynamite absolutely unbelievable.
CS 17
Mornin’ Christy/ all
If you get chance, there are numerous items of interest at http://www.tradfolk.co inc morris dancing and dwile flonking…
The ‘101’ section is particularly good…one of those sites to revisit and dip into, in between jobs and taking the air…
Have a good day
Dave
If I were a bird upon the wing
The sweetest song you’d hear me sing
I’d fill the air with secret words
In a language no one’s ever heard
Hello Christy,
The Ryburn3Step folk club has moved down the valley to Sowerby Bridge. Pretty near to here. I’m thinking of paying them a visit.
That end of the valley has a lot of folk culture. They do the rushbearing every September.
https://fb.watch/b_ylAA70lD/
It’s wall to wall Morris dancing and mummers.
Thankyou for the info about Thomas Mccarthy, I’ll have a watch. I watched his thing at the National Concert Hall. His Lady Margaret is some song.
Thankyou to Hilary for the link.
Rebecca
Hi All. I think this link was shared here before, but with all the talk of previous generations and fires etc this documentary shows Christy walking the land of the homeplace in Kildare https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=christy+moore+documentary&view=detail&mid=107EB03B894B6A659B64107EB03B894B6A659B64&FORM=VIRE Beidh failte is fiche romhat ar ais go Cill Airne an seachtain seo chugainn, ta An Riocht ag fanacht . Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Declan Quinn did some beautiful work on this project…..I love the horses galloping in the mists of dawn across the Curragh Plains…..the way he filmed “Johnny Conners” in The Factory….and “Dark End of The Street” with Keith Donald in The Baggott….apart from these few moments,its not an easy watch for me…fair play to Philip King for making it all happen…he has captured endless hours of archive for posterity
Hello Christy,
I’m still thinking about the way you described the cottage your Father’s maternal family lived in.
Round here we’d call it a “proper set up”. Meaning that it had everything you could need.
The only reference I have to this is memories and feelings from a couple of visits to Bunratty, where I stood in a couple of the larger cottages that sound the most like what you described, and felt so at home. I guess I’m being stupidly romantic here, but the covid thing has grounded us for so long that we’ve been able to experience living in a small area again. For me, I’ve learnt a lot. It’s a good thing coming from the bad.
Anyway, back to the cottage. 300 years is a long time. I wonder what happened. Electricity? It changed everything didn’t it.
Rebecca
The “electric” was late coming to Barronstown….it came towards the end of their lives…they never really took to it preferring the old ways
Mornin’ Christy
Watching TV news from Ukraine and being so impressed by the bravery and determination of people under the most harrowing circumstances.
Several interviews have been with creative people, illustrating the depth of Ukrainian arts. Let’s hope the saying that ‘art is resistance’ can apply to the country as a whole. There’s a great history of quality films from Ukraine and http://www.filmoffice.org.ua is now a poignant site, well worth a perusal.
As ever, all good wishes
Dave
charlie windsor is here for 3 days…I’ll glad to see the back of him
Hello Christy,
That’s a beauty of a song.
My mind is so full, maybe it’s best to stare at the fire and watch it connect eternity with each little now.
Your description of the homestead in Kildare set me off, that and John Reilly.
And thinking of you setting off to find the life of the travelling singer, and finding it in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Manchester. Who’d have thought it was here.
And my childhood of soulless electric barred fires and kitchens where all the bits were stuck to the wall.
My kitchen now is made of wood and all the bits are separate and move.
And learning to build fires in the wood behind the old vicarage in the girl guides.
A circles of stones, then a gentle heap of punk, the a pyramid of twigs, then bigger pieces as it got going.
We cooked potatoes in the embers and watched the sparks lick their way up to the sky.
It still works, I built it last night. She taught me well.
300 years is a wonderful long time to tend a flame.
Rebecca
a lovely Film of Thomas McCarthy aired on RTE 2 TV 2 nights ago. I love his Singing..the love and pride he carries and displays for his Travelling Culture
watch Songs of the Open Road here, via RTÉ Player.
Nico came from the City by the ocean,
three days ago Mama put him on the train.
She hugged him in that crowded railway station,
and she prayed that she would see him soon again.
Surrounded by real frightened anxious people,
as they started on their journey to the west.
Mostly women, old men and young children,
tired and frightened people dispossessed.
Their tanks and planes have killed their so called brothers,
they rue the day they knocked the Berlin wall.
As history repeats itself, a terror is unleashed.
And in its wake, the town of Mariupol
Yana used to work in the port market,
she set up every day, her little stall.
Dolls and souvenirs and keepsake trinkets,
for special price she used to sell them all.
But now her heart is filled with fear and anguish,
as she searches through the rubble with the crew’s.
And every now and then the tears start rolling down her face,
when she finds another pair of bloodstained shoes
Their tanks and planes have killed their so called brothers,
they rue the day they knocked the Berlin wall.
As history repeats itself, a terror is unleashed.
And in its wake, the town of Mariupol
Sergiy was a postman and a dancer,
he was so graceful on his daily route.
But now he is a soldier in the army,
trained to use a bayonet and to shoot.
He man’s the barricades with trepidation,
as he waits for the oppressors to arrive.
And he thinks about his family as they lie low underground.
His only wish and prayer is getting back to them alive.
He who gives these orders can’t be human,
he who sends these troops must be insane.
He who’d kill the innocent and terrorise the weak,
will wish he had not targeted the heroes of Ukraine.
Thank you Tiler
PS ‘About Knight William’ is a good start on the Munnelly youtube trail…I just saw a ‘show more’ link after the name ‘reynard the fox’ – this leads to RTE radio programmes. From a quick shufti, it looks like a lot of available info about Tom and his work. D
Tom’s legacy is enormous
Mornin’ Christy/ all
It’s a good point about Tom Munnelly being crucial to the preservation of John Reilly’s legacy.
Sadly, Tom died a few years ago (there’s an excellent obituary via ‘The Guardian’) Wikipedia entries about Munnelly, ‘Jacko’ and some songs.
I’d hoped to find a youtube documentary,but couldn’t see anything – however, there are some intriguing items via a search such as ‘Tom Munnelly youtube’. eg extracts from radio and some songs that he collected. Well worth a few minutes’ trawling…
Enjoy the day.
Dave
Over the years had some good talking time with Tom (usually in Maisie Friel’s) …..he was totally commited to his life’s work….had a droll humorous view of “professional” folkies like myself …..but Tom never displayed the cruel rancour sometimes shown by other doctors and professor’s of folk song….he shared some songs with me….
Christy you are spot on about john reilly, great words. Giant of a small man
Rory
sound
Hi Christy,
Matt McGinn has today released on you tube a 30 min documentary Lessons of War. It is really about the making of his album and tje inspirations for it.
The man is class. Worth watching.
Rory
thanks for this post…a lovely bit of work
Mornin’ Christy/ all
Good call, John…Lisa’s sounds and the funeral scene was a spine tingling mix. I’ve re watched it several times, but have been hooked on ‘Peaky Blinders’ for quite awhile now – the music being a significant reason.
Viva ‘dark side’ music. It’s always had a pull… No surprise that many a trad song has survived via some powerful versions. I always come back to ‘Green grows the laurel’ as a wonderful example. Terrific that John ‘Jacko’ Reilly’s repertoire is remembered here – not least via your interpretations.
Dave
John Reilly’s versions of the old classic ballads still retain a mysterious, engaging,undefinable beauty…they still silence the night, carry us to places hitherto unknown….I believe that John was deeply moved himself by these songs, that they became a vital part of his existence…the first to recognise the beauty and uniqueness of his songs were The Grehan Sisters followed shortly by the Folklorist Tom Munnelly…Tom, more then anyone , saved John’s repertoire from extinction…..but it was The Grehan Sisters that led me to John’s singing…Thankfully,I got to meet him and to hear him before he died
Hi Christy, I know your a great man for the films and TV, just wondered if you ever get the chance to dip into Peaky Blinders? Its worth watching for the sound track alone especially if your into music on the ‘darker side” (Jack White, Tom Waits, Nick Cave etc) highlight of last weeks episode was Lisa O’Neills Blackbird, stunning.
Watched a few episodes on season one but drifted away….great to see Lisa being included on a soundtrack that features such world renowned artists….
perhaps I’ll come back to it again some time…..
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for the link to the Krumlin Festival. Its a good website, full to the ginnels with stuff. It looks like it’s been going for years and years. And the page you sent is brilliant, with the original advertising for the festival and loads of other stuff.
For those who’ve never heard of it, Krumlin Festival happened in August 1970. Krumlin is near here, and such a tiny place I’ve struggled to find anything on it at all, apart from one or two pictures.
But the festival should have been amazing, with Elton John and an array of other fantastic acts, including Christy, over a weekend.
There’s a book about it called Pink Floyd are Fogbound in Paris by Ben Graham.
It may not sound like much to many people here but the whole idea of someone like Elton John playing in a local village is like science fiction. But it’s true!
So thankyou again for that link, Christy.
It was a big day in our house yesterday. We lit the woodburner for the first time. They need breaking in gently, so kindling only. I chose Lord Baker as the music for it. I’ve wanted a fire made from fire since the gas fires of my childhood.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10165771760320136&id=847680135
Rebecca
My Father’s maternal family came from Barronstown, nr Mitown,nr Newbridge in the County of Kildare….and old traditional four room cottage with a loft…everything revolved around open hearth turf fire….our Grand-Aunt Nan often telling us that the flame had not quenched in 300 years….she was the last to leave us …back in 1968 the fire finally went out….nothing remains of that homestead….everything bulldozed to oblivion,the Well of springwater, the cottage, yard, milking parlour, haggart, dairy, hayshed, turf ramp, potato pit, gardens, hedgerows, lane, boreen, only exist now in my memory………
now I’m back there again, sitting on the bench by the fire, gazing up the chimney at the stars, in the oil lamp’s gentle light…. the world outside distant and silent…at peace between the wars ….
Krumlin Festival was the brainchild of two eccentric entrepenaurs…..Derek McEwen and Brian Highley…..Derek and I moved to Halifax in 1967….he worked in The Courier and we shared accomodations at both Causeway Foot and Mixenden….Brian Highley was Landlord of The Anchor in Brighouse (I think) which also briefly hosted a Folk Club circa 1969..I gigged there once….together they dreamt up the Krumlin Festival..but their dreams were shattered by a freak Summer Storm that washed the Festival away…
Derek (RIP) subsequently got into antiquarian books….Brian became involved with Trivial Pursuits