Thank you for another special night in the Waterfront. Great listening audience tonight I thought and a real good feel for the songs. Nice to read Paul’s piece about his grandfather’s song. Barry Kerr does a mean version of it – believe he got it from the ex Tyrone footballer Mickey Coleman so that tradition of song sharing that you mention with John Reilly is still around. Great to see the ITMA interview too – and mention of that special night in Boyle. I remember well the piece that John Reilly had made and you starting the set with it. Had a nice chat with Marie Grehan that night too. Hopefully we’ll cross paths again before too long. Thank you again for all that you do and to all of the crew. Stay safe.
Christy's reply
Marie passed since that great John”Jacko”Reilly night in Boyle….the Grehan Sisters lit up our lives when we first heard them in 1965….the raw passion of their music lit a flame that still burns bright…Frances stiil plays….Helen recently had a book of her writings published….
I met Mickey Coleman a few years back..is he still gigging?
they were two great nights in Béal Feirste…simply brilliant audiences both nights..the songs just flowed..there were many other songs I’d love to have played in the company of such great listeners…
I think back to times when there were so many distractions in the old gig rooms…ructions coming from hyperactive bars ( I would have been an enthusiastic, thirsty customer myself) sometimes a TV blaring in an adjoining room, lads and lassies engrossed in deeply emotional chatting up rituals oblivious to the struggling singer before them, hash deals being negotiated under tables, cigs, pipes and roll-up being puffed gaily, god knows what being coughed up with abandon,plain clothes branch men looking for chuckies, chuckies lookin for an poblacht, priests looking for sinners, sinners looking for priests, me up there wondering would there be any action after, would there be any wages,
I traveled solo back then, mé féin agus guitar amháin, no accoutrements or compeneros ….it was hard travelling as the apprenticeship was served, but better then any 3rd level eduacation..I’d not swap it for any of the H.Dips., B.A’s, M.A.’s, PHDs, high degrees being scattered around these days..fair play to all who achieve them, may they prosper, thrive and achieve fullsome ……I had the good fortune to travel the lanes and boreens meeting the greatest of players and singers, I heard the pure drop, the raw bar, allover this tiny tip of Western Europe which became my world….hearing John “Jacko”,Felix Doran, Maggie Barry, Jeannie Robertson, Mick Hipkiss, Ewan & Peggy, Carthy & Swarbrick, Tommy Dempsey, Tom Gilfellon, John Doonan,Archie Fisher, at least two Davy Stewarts, Ian & Lorna Cambell, The Watersons,Willie Clancy, Seamus Ennis, Fred Jordan, Cyril Tawney …all these and many more in the late 1960s, …
“I never met Bob Dylan
but I sang with Pecker Dunne
and when we drank Lough Éireann dry
we went lookin for Lough Dann
O that night in London
how my heart leapt for joy
when Maggie Barry called me up
to sing the Wild Colonial Boy”
Well John, a longer reply then required or anticipated, I’m back home now, still buzzing from last nights fun…this is how we talk these days…always good to hear from you
Hello Christy,
Myself and other family members are really looking forward to your gig in Armagh on 13th October. My father would have attended the majority of your previous gigs in Armagh and was really looking forward to going again post C19. Unfortunately, he passed away in late April this year with ill health. My father was a Lough Neagh fisherman just like his own father, who was also a local historian and musician too. My grandfather actually composed the song “The Tern and the Swallow” back in 1986, which Cara Dillon has made famous. Can’t wait for next week Christy and hoping the likes of his favourites may be on your set (Ordinary man, Spanchil hill)
Best wishes Christy and take care.
Christy's reply
Thanks Paul, great to hear the history of your Grandfather’s beautiful song….by any chance , is there any recording of your grandfather singing the song..I’d love to hear that…sorry to read of the loss of your father…hopefully I’ll get to sing one or two of his favourites in Armagh next week
Hi Christy just a few words to tell you we are looking forward to your concert tonight. We haven’t been able to see you since the Clanree hotel in letterkenny when you were kind enough to give my wife Yvonne and I a mention on our 40th wedding anniversary. The last time we watched you in the waterfront I don’t know if you remembered we all had to leave in a bomb scare. Hope not this time. Have a good concert and looking forward to hearing you again
Regards
Brian Coey
Christy's reply
I remember it well Brian….but it was a Fire alarm that caused the temporary suspension..a cooker in the kitchen malfunctioned..I was singing the song “Michael Hayes” and had to abandon verse 3…but we managed to continue the verse one hour later when we got the “all clear”
Just prepping here for departure..we had a great night on Monday in thon Waterfront….it reminded me of the Green Briar and Barrowland
Hello Christy,
Playtex, spondex, lycra. Reminds me of my grandma who determinedly called my brother’s clarinet a clarionet until the day she died.
She also had a fine contralto voice that she liked to get out during Songs of Praise on a Sunday teatime.
It’s all making me think of dwile flonking, as introduced here by Pam of down Bury way.
Have you heard of Knur and Spell? It used to be really big round these parts. The idea was to whack a small ball as far as you damn well could. The world championship was covered by the bbc. We also had Nipsy. They were marvellous after a few drinks, as they say in Puckaun. https://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/knur-spell.htm
Christy's reply
we flonked the dwile in Beverly and Hull…Mike Waterson, Jock Manuel, Jill Pidd and fine gaggle of Hull Flonkers…..we were sustained by a Barrell of Cameron’s Strongarm
Thank you for the concert tonight. You were in great form. Loved the banter. It has been too long. Great to be able to see you again. Stay safe and happy x
Christy's reply
what a room. what a crowd, what a city….great to be back
Thank you for another special night in the Waterfront. Great to be back and delighted that you are as brilliant as ever. Can’t believe it’s been so long but all being well I’ve only a couple of days to wait for the next one. Lovely sound tonight and great to run into some 4711ers again. It’s a special community that you have gathered around you. Roll on Wednesday night. Stay safe.
Christy's reply
OK John..if you comin tomorrow tonight I gotta do a different set..thats the way we does it…..
“There ‘s one fair county in Ireland
Longford Westmeath and Roscommon” ( cop con E. O’Neill)
Hello Christy.
I had previously wrote the following message and your reply was “leave it with me”
Upon receiving that I realized my profile had an old email address that I can no longer access. I have since updated the profile with my current email address in case there was an update sent to me. Thank you so much
Morgan Adams
“Hello, I’m sorry to use this platform for this but was wondering if by chance anyone has 2 tickets but unable to attend to the Mountmellick show on October 19th. My wife to be and I will be on our Honeymoon in Ireland from Canada that week and we had been watching for tickets but it sold out in the blink of an eye. If I could surprise her with tickets would be amazing, as Christy is our favorite and “The Voyage” is going to be our wedding song, so would be very special to us to be able to attend. I know it’s a long shot but thought I would throw it out there to the fans. Thank you.
Morgan Adams
Gipp – am with you on two of those. The 70s, Planxty and The Bothy Band. What music! Havnt really followed GAA, not intently anyway. (“You’re not a ‘gaelic man'” would come a retort. “No” would be my reply)
But now I’m reminded Micko managed Kildare. I attended one of his very first outings as the new Laois manager and did it for a local paper. No mean feat. Three countys. He won Leinster for Laois didnt he? I now recall the men from the Lillywhites chased after him to Kerry and successfully persuaded him back up into Leinster. Following on my earlier remarks, a GAA manager can only draw on the player resources in the one county. Unlike soccer; no ‘transfers’.
Pat, has that radio station a link? We’d be keen to hear it.
And we’ll go back to talking about harps, woodworm and rapscallions among other things, all that comes up here for discussion.
Hahahahahaah thanks for getting back to me about the podcast, your reply has had me in stitches laughing. Enjoy your dander up black mountain and your soup down the road. I played at a wedding in the Culloden once and had a chance meeting with Van the Man, although I never let on that I knew who he was. I made some comment about the crappy weather and he grunted that it was a day for ducks. Hope your crack is okay btw hahahahaha. Here’s a wee link to the podcast. My mum has become something of a local celebrity on the fact she is my comedian brother’s mother. Take it easy Kevin
Jim McLoughlin. Holy God. He won a myriad of LoI Championships. Shamrock Rovers, then Dundalk. I think he won about four with Shamrock Rovers.
Mick O’Dwyer. Another doyen of managers. I’m sure the tea and sandwichs were got after a game!
“Strange job”, the lot of a footie manager. A motivator yes, but commanding respect is another vital trait I reckon.
God help the current batch of English premiership gaffers. Trying to earn respect from young lads on £100,000 a week.
Two good ones there. McLoughlin and Micko.
Christy's reply
the Bishop a Cashel throws in the Ball..the game is on
I know that for many of us, yourself and myself included, the learning never ends. It’s one of the best things about music, it grows with you. I’ve never found an edge or end to it.
So it was good to read all this advice from the heart of someone who’s really centred it.
Hope it’s enjoyed here.
Hi Christy, hope you are well.
My radio station decided to celebrate today, German Unification day, with an Open Door show. They would give us a look behind closed doors of places where we would never get. And they asked us to share our experiences. I thought of the four hours insight into how to manage a Gaelic team Mick O’Dwyer gave me in his wee pup in Waterville over a pot of tea and a huge plate of sandwiches. I also thought of the endless hours my best friend Jim McLaughlin gave me insights into how he managed his soccer teams.
And then I settled on the greatest wonder of all, your Guestbook, where no music comment, question or experience is considered too banal, but rather answered with great insights, sometimes great humour, but always with supreme sensitivity to both the questioner and the song. Thank you for opening a door into the wonderful world ‘offstage’ of the musical life of one of the truely world stars of the music world.
Christy's reply
Micko gave us a great run in ’98 before Galway quenched our candle of hope..
Like you I enjoyed his hospitality in Waterville when I visited his place with my late Mother….a few years later I did a gig in his venue…twas a Sunday night gig in the late 80s ..despite him having a match up the country he made it back in time to welcome me to his place….
I enjoy my time here on this platform….not a moment wasted
Hope you are well.
Have you seen any films lately .
Yellowstone is starting season 5 soon amd they have a new spin off 1923 starting in December with a very good cast but hard to beat KC in yellowstone
It’s great to have gigs in Belfast again looking forward . Just leaving Liverpool on the night ferry . A nice way to travel .
Il bring the toblerone
See you soon
Christy's reply
Adam,The Wicklow Boy is on the move
hope your ship landed safe in the Liffey basin…that your Tobelrone did’nt melt
Mullins gone Christy! Me heart is broken! 3 things i grew with in the 70s! Planxty, the Bothy Band and the Dubs! I know we broke your lillywhite hearts but Brian was the man! When he plucked one from the skys was there anything more beautiful! Also capped be Leinster Rugby U19 before he tore Galway apart in ’74 as an unknown, the rest became history! RIP Brian!
Christy's reply
a Fionn McCumhall and a Brian Ború all rolled into one
Hello Christy,
Over the last few days I wondered why you hung out here, while the presale demands were flying, and it was lovely when you came back. As you said, we may never meet but somehow, this place is a lifeline I think.
It is for me, anyway.
Rebecca
Barry’s version for those who might be interested https://youtu.be/SfMZx7ISBW0
thanks John…
fair play to Barry & Co…
I’d still love to hear any auld style version, accapella from the man who wrote it
..if such a recording exists
Thank you for another special night in the Waterfront. Great listening audience tonight I thought and a real good feel for the songs. Nice to read Paul’s piece about his grandfather’s song. Barry Kerr does a mean version of it – believe he got it from the ex Tyrone footballer Mickey Coleman so that tradition of song sharing that you mention with John Reilly is still around. Great to see the ITMA interview too – and mention of that special night in Boyle. I remember well the piece that John Reilly had made and you starting the set with it. Had a nice chat with Marie Grehan that night too. Hopefully we’ll cross paths again before too long. Thank you again for all that you do and to all of the crew. Stay safe.
Marie passed since that great John”Jacko”Reilly night in Boyle….the Grehan Sisters lit up our lives when we first heard them in 1965….the raw passion of their music lit a flame that still burns bright…Frances stiil plays….Helen recently had a book of her writings published….
I met Mickey Coleman a few years back..is he still gigging?
they were two great nights in Béal Feirste…simply brilliant audiences both nights..the songs just flowed..there were many other songs I’d love to have played in the company of such great listeners…
I think back to times when there were so many distractions in the old gig rooms…ructions coming from hyperactive bars ( I would have been an enthusiastic, thirsty customer myself) sometimes a TV blaring in an adjoining room, lads and lassies engrossed in deeply emotional chatting up rituals oblivious to the struggling singer before them, hash deals being negotiated under tables, cigs, pipes and roll-up being puffed gaily, god knows what being coughed up with abandon,plain clothes branch men looking for chuckies, chuckies lookin for an poblacht, priests looking for sinners, sinners looking for priests, me up there wondering would there be any action after, would there be any wages,
I traveled solo back then, mé féin agus guitar amháin, no accoutrements or compeneros ….it was hard travelling as the apprenticeship was served, but better then any 3rd level eduacation..I’d not swap it for any of the H.Dips., B.A’s, M.A.’s, PHDs, high degrees being scattered around these days..fair play to all who achieve them, may they prosper, thrive and achieve fullsome ……I had the good fortune to travel the lanes and boreens meeting the greatest of players and singers, I heard the pure drop, the raw bar, allover this tiny tip of Western Europe which became my world….hearing John “Jacko”,Felix Doran, Maggie Barry, Jeannie Robertson, Mick Hipkiss, Ewan & Peggy, Carthy & Swarbrick, Tommy Dempsey, Tom Gilfellon, John Doonan,Archie Fisher, at least two Davy Stewarts, Ian & Lorna Cambell, The Watersons,Willie Clancy, Seamus Ennis, Fred Jordan, Cyril Tawney …all these and many more in the late 1960s, …
“I never met Bob Dylan
but I sang with Pecker Dunne
and when we drank Lough Éireann dry
we went lookin for Lough Dann
O that night in London
how my heart leapt for joy
when Maggie Barry called me up
to sing the Wild Colonial Boy”
Well John, a longer reply then required or anticipated, I’m back home now, still buzzing from last nights fun…this is how we talk these days…always good to hear from you
Hello Christy,
Myself and other family members are really looking forward to your gig in Armagh on 13th October. My father would have attended the majority of your previous gigs in Armagh and was really looking forward to going again post C19. Unfortunately, he passed away in late April this year with ill health. My father was a Lough Neagh fisherman just like his own father, who was also a local historian and musician too. My grandfather actually composed the song “The Tern and the Swallow” back in 1986, which Cara Dillon has made famous. Can’t wait for next week Christy and hoping the likes of his favourites may be on your set (Ordinary man, Spanchil hill)
Best wishes Christy and take care.
Thanks Paul, great to hear the history of your Grandfather’s beautiful song….by any chance , is there any recording of your grandfather singing the song..I’d love to hear that…sorry to read of the loss of your father…hopefully I’ll get to sing one or two of his favourites in Armagh next week
Hi Christy just a few words to tell you we are looking forward to your concert tonight. We haven’t been able to see you since the Clanree hotel in letterkenny when you were kind enough to give my wife Yvonne and I a mention on our 40th wedding anniversary. The last time we watched you in the waterfront I don’t know if you remembered we all had to leave in a bomb scare. Hope not this time. Have a good concert and looking forward to hearing you again
Regards
Brian Coey
I remember it well Brian….but it was a Fire alarm that caused the temporary suspension..a cooker in the kitchen malfunctioned..I was singing the song “Michael Hayes” and had to abandon verse 3…but we managed to continue the verse one hour later when we got the “all clear”
Just prepping here for departure..we had a great night on Monday in thon Waterfront….it reminded me of the Green Briar and Barrowland
While talking about Planxty and DeDannan, I can report that Frankie Gavin is active and gigging again.
Great to hear that Frankie is back out and gigging..a true master of his instrument with many other strings to his bow…I love his playing
Hello Christy,
Playtex, spondex, lycra. Reminds me of my grandma who determinedly called my brother’s clarinet a clarionet until the day she died.
She also had a fine contralto voice that she liked to get out during Songs of Praise on a Sunday teatime.
It’s all making me think of dwile flonking, as introduced here by Pam of down Bury way.
Have you heard of Knur and Spell? It used to be really big round these parts. The idea was to whack a small ball as far as you damn well could. The world championship was covered by the bbc. We also had Nipsy. They were marvellous after a few drinks, as they say in Puckaun.
https://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/knur-spell.htm
we flonked the dwile in Beverly and Hull…Mike Waterson, Jock Manuel, Jill Pidd and fine gaggle of Hull Flonkers…..we were sustained by a Barrell of Cameron’s Strongarm
Thanks for the magnificent night last night Christy.. A true wonder. Hope tonight goes well, all the best.
Charlie. let me know the next time you are coming..I owe you one ..greetings to himself
Hello Christy and All,
A snippet from ITMA this morning.
John Finnan has donated a scrapbook full of stuff from gigs between 1960 and 2020.
Have a look here for a pic of something Planxtyish.
https://www.itma.ie/latest/rpa/recent-publications-acquisitions-sept-2022
Rebecca
Planxty..in the early days also called..Plantex, Plangcity, Playtex,Planataxi…after a while the name settled and all misnomers evaporated….
Thank you for the concert tonight. You were in great form. Loved the banter. It has been too long. Great to be able to see you again. Stay safe and happy x
what a room. what a crowd, what a city….great to be back
Thank you for another special night in the Waterfront. Great to be back and delighted that you are as brilliant as ever. Can’t believe it’s been so long but all being well I’ve only a couple of days to wait for the next one. Lovely sound tonight and great to run into some 4711ers again. It’s a special community that you have gathered around you. Roll on Wednesday night. Stay safe.
OK John..if you comin tomorrow tonight I gotta do a different set..thats the way we does it…..
“There ‘s one fair county in Ireland
Longford Westmeath and Roscommon” ( cop con E. O’Neill)
Hello Christy.
I had previously wrote the following message and your reply was “leave it with me”
Upon receiving that I realized my profile had an old email address that I can no longer access. I have since updated the profile with my current email address in case there was an update sent to me. Thank you so much
Morgan Adams
“Hello, I’m sorry to use this platform for this but was wondering if by chance anyone has 2 tickets but unable to attend to the Mountmellick show on October 19th. My wife to be and I will be on our Honeymoon in Ireland from Canada that week and we had been watching for tickets but it sold out in the blink of an eye. If I could surprise her with tickets would be amazing, as Christy is our favorite and “The Voyage” is going to be our wedding song, so would be very special to us to be able to attend. I know it’s a long shot but thought I would throw it out there to the fans. Thank you.
Morgan Adams
done and dusted
Gipp – am with you on two of those. The 70s, Planxty and The Bothy Band. What music! Havnt really followed GAA, not intently anyway. (“You’re not a ‘gaelic man'” would come a retort. “No” would be my reply)
But now I’m reminded Micko managed Kildare. I attended one of his very first outings as the new Laois manager and did it for a local paper. No mean feat. Three countys. He won Leinster for Laois didnt he? I now recall the men from the Lillywhites chased after him to Kerry and successfully persuaded him back up into Leinster. Following on my earlier remarks, a GAA manager can only draw on the player resources in the one county. Unlike soccer; no ‘transfers’.
Pat, has that radio station a link? We’d be keen to hear it.
And we’ll go back to talking about harps, woodworm and rapscallions among other things, all that comes up here for discussion.
dont forget De Danaan
Hahahahahaah thanks for getting back to me about the podcast, your reply has had me in stitches laughing. Enjoy your dander up black mountain and your soup down the road. I played at a wedding in the Culloden once and had a chance meeting with Van the Man, although I never let on that I knew who he was. I made some comment about the crappy weather and he grunted that it was a day for ducks. Hope your crack is okay btw hahahahaha. Here’s a wee link to the podcast. My mum has become something of a local celebrity on the fact she is my comedian brother’s mother. Take it easy Kevin
https://youtu.be/XpITpy2_UCE
let the dog see the rabbit
Likeable words. Fine words, Pat Darcy.
Günter
Good stuff Guenter
Jim McLoughlin. Holy God. He won a myriad of LoI Championships. Shamrock Rovers, then Dundalk. I think he won about four with Shamrock Rovers.
Mick O’Dwyer. Another doyen of managers. I’m sure the tea and sandwichs were got after a game!
“Strange job”, the lot of a footie manager. A motivator yes, but commanding respect is another vital trait I reckon.
God help the current batch of English premiership gaffers. Trying to earn respect from young lads on £100,000 a week.
Two good ones there. McLoughlin and Micko.
the Bishop a Cashel throws in the Ball..the game is on
Hello Christy,
I enjoyed reading this article this morning
https://blog.mcneelamusic.com/general-tips-on-how-best-to-learn-traditional-irish-music/
I know that for many of us, yourself and myself included, the learning never ends. It’s one of the best things about music, it grows with you. I’ve never found an edge or end to it.
So it was good to read all this advice from the heart of someone who’s really centred it.
Hope it’s enjoyed here.
Rebecca
I enjoyed visiting Caitlín’s site
Hi Christy, hope you are well.
My radio station decided to celebrate today, German Unification day, with an Open Door show. They would give us a look behind closed doors of places where we would never get. And they asked us to share our experiences. I thought of the four hours insight into how to manage a Gaelic team Mick O’Dwyer gave me in his wee pup in Waterville over a pot of tea and a huge plate of sandwiches. I also thought of the endless hours my best friend Jim McLaughlin gave me insights into how he managed his soccer teams.
And then I settled on the greatest wonder of all, your Guestbook, where no music comment, question or experience is considered too banal, but rather answered with great insights, sometimes great humour, but always with supreme sensitivity to both the questioner and the song. Thank you for opening a door into the wonderful world ‘offstage’ of the musical life of one of the truely world stars of the music world.
Micko gave us a great run in ’98 before Galway quenched our candle of hope..
Like you I enjoyed his hospitality in Waterville when I visited his place with my late Mother….a few years later I did a gig in his venue…twas a Sunday night gig in the late 80s ..despite him having a match up the country he made it back in time to welcome me to his place….
I enjoy my time here on this platform….not a moment wasted
Hi christy
Hope you are well.
Have you seen any films lately .
Yellowstone is starting season 5 soon amd they have a new spin off 1923 starting in December with a very good cast but hard to beat KC in yellowstone
It’s great to have gigs in Belfast again looking forward . Just leaving Liverpool on the night ferry . A nice way to travel .
Il bring the toblerone
See you soon
Adam,The Wicklow Boy is on the move
hope your ship landed safe in the Liffey basin…that your Tobelrone did’nt melt
Mullins gone Christy! Me heart is broken! 3 things i grew with in the 70s! Planxty, the Bothy Band and the Dubs! I know we broke your lillywhite hearts but Brian was the man! When he plucked one from the skys was there anything more beautiful! Also capped be Leinster Rugby U19 before he tore Galway apart in ’74 as an unknown, the rest became history! RIP Brian!
a Fionn McCumhall and a Brian Ború all rolled into one
Hello Christy,
Over the last few days I wondered why you hung out here, while the presale demands were flying, and it was lovely when you came back. As you said, we may never meet but somehow, this place is a lifeline I think.
It is for me, anyway.
Rebecca