Christy!! Long time no chat. Been up to the walls gigging, rearing children and living life. We also started a podcast during lockdown. Going great guns altogether. Were going over a year now and were approaching people that we respect and want to have a chat to.
As such, would you do us the honour of being a guest?
We record in person and for those geographically far from our studio in Wexford, we also have the ability to record over Zoom. We would love to have you in the studio!!! But we have many options available if you agree to be a guest!!
Heres our website and past episodes!!!
Hope you and yours are keeping well and have a great Christmas!!!
well holy god if it aint the Panch…fair play to you and your team for the invite down to the model…I’m out the door at the minute,,by right I should have been retired since 2010 but the opportunity has not arise so we’re still batin around the ballad lounges like blue arsed flys,,,thats some line up you have assmbled on your podcast..feckin Ian Bally no less…I’d say the switch board lit up after that one…but anyways but..back to the question..as soon as I get the backlog sorted we can have a chat….I did a few free online gigs mysel during the fallow time..they are still there on line somewhere..Just mysel and my Son and his phone and my guitar ..over the 7 spots we had over a million visitors and I never even had to go out the hall door…then I got the jabs and the boosters and out the door into the van and away we went like hoors on hondas…is the Unyoke still runnin down there in the Sunny SE…any sign of the Billy Roche Band..they was hot at Carnsore..we loved the Billy Roach Trilogy too… and that Pierce Turner is another gem of a yella belly…we loves it down there with the strawberrys and new spuds and the Rackards…Ride On Pancho
You must have a listen to this haunting new song reflecting on our history and a nod to the current refugee crisis. No better person to write this song than Joby Fox who spent so much time in the Mediterranean picking lost sould out of the sea. https://youtu.be/jVxK6Ob8oWA
Lots of love from Denmark
Christy's reply
Thank you for sharing this….will be listening again..and again
My Dad came round yesterday and I made lunch. We counted the donations made at my Mum’s funeral. We’ve raised £257.00 for Medical Aid for Palestinian’s. I sang a song for him. He said, “you sang that just for me?”. And yes I did.
Hi Rory
Father Christmas by The Kinks never seems to feature on Christmas compilations or the radio this time of year.
Or Merry Christmas (I don’t want to fight tonight) by The Ramones. Shipbuilding by Robert Wyatt or Elvis Costello…
Enjoy the countdown
Bourkey
….on re listening to mr barclay’s song i am disqualifying it for 3 obvious reasons
Christy's reply
Bill Barclay…..mention of Bill brings me back to early days in Edinburgh….Bill was among the many singers/players/alt comedians and good friends encountered in Auld Reekie….my first gig there (in 1967) was run by Dave Goulder who wrote “The January Man”….I always stayed with Owen and Ruth Hand on Henderson Row…Owen had two fine albums on the Trans Atlantic Label in the sixties but opted out of the gigging life early on….watering holes included Sandy Bells and the St Vincent Bar….gigs were plentiful with lots of music and song to hear….Aly Bain and Mick Whellans, Dick Gaughan, Barbara Dickson,Paddie Bell, Dolina McClennan,Ian MacCalman Trio,Hamish Henderson,The Corries and many others created a rich soundscape that made Edinburgh such an exciting and intoxicating City to visit……and there were visits to Easter Road with Owen Hand and Andy Scappadiccio
Dear Christy,
Spurred on by Dave posting here goes.
Every year i do a Christmas count down, one song a day, for my kids.
I am starting today and unlike ‘normal’ years ( where roy wood, noddy holder , greg lake etc play a predictable centre stage) i am going a bit alternative.
Not sure yet what will be number 1 as i count down, any suggestions?
Today number 12 will be ‘the 12 drinks of christmas’ by Bill Barclay, whilst Ricky Lynch will feature as will Shane but with the Popes (rather than the Pogues) , and Arthur McBride should get a look in.
I am unsure of the other new entrants over the next few days, or did you ever cover ‘away in a manger’?
Wait …i have it…January Man might sneek in.
Cheers and mistletoe
Rory
As I type, I hope another mighty ballad session is rocking Vicar Street…
I m just home and thawing out from a few splendid days in Cumbria…and a heartwarming gig… Saturday night was freezing and dodgy roads. My friend had agreed to drive us to a rural village hall to see Maire ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman. She was unfamiliar with their music and looking at the driving conditions, I wondered if she d prefer not to take chances on the road. The reply was there s no way a road challenge was getting in the way of live music! So, we set off and landed in a welcoming venue to hear a gem of a gig…
A diverse repertoire, witty intros to tunes, masterful musicians and a bonus of a post gig chat, reminiscing about 1980s venues and the time Nightshift supported M and C .
The drive back was even more treacherous , but sped by as we enthused about the venue and the skills of Maire and Chris… Safely reaching a warm house, Jen said the superb music was worth every mile of the drives. A good summary…and a relief.
Hello Christy and All,
Reading the posts about Christie Hennessy here and I wandered across this interview with him as I meandered around the Internet.
He sings at the end of it too. https://youtu.be/kBM4nvtAmnk
Rebecca
Christy's reply
the beauty of our late companero warms the heart this cold and frosty morning
Mise aris ! this clip is a bit shakey of the unveiling of the Christie Hennessy statue. It ‘s interesting to hear all the townie accents !! which is what drew me into his singing when I first heard him. I also wondered if he was ever a Messenger Boy in our small grocers shop ?? https://youtu.be/9mN8LLt6NiY Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
Two Big Dogs and a man shouts “Who Goes There”?…
Its a frosty one out there this morning…
That was a grand flashback to Christie’s unveiling ..and to the great crowd of Rockeys that turned up to honour their Bard ..
Is there any chance you will be playing barrowlands again ? COVID ruined last one and sure there is a sell out wishing to see you again 🙏🏻🇮🇪💚
Christy's reply
We dream of it often……
No audience sings along like the songsters who gather in Mags McIvor’s…..
Its a room full of love, challenges, emotion,sweat, rollicking, remembering, celebrating, feedback, quality heckilng, history, echoes,
“there’s an easy place down Gallowgate to the East End of Glasgow
its a Ballroom of rememberance,its a Disco,
where the lost ones and the Lovers go
To Carry On”……………………………………..( Wally Page )
The harp is starting to settle down. A new harp’s string are pretty haywire. The wire strings at the bottom go flat, the middle ones are starting to behave and the top half octave is doing a Lanigan’s Ball when it comes to tuning.
The middle of the soundboard is called the belly and it rises in the first few weeks as the harp gets used to the tension of the strings pulling it upwards.
It’s a fun time to watch it and listen to it doing its thing.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Dolores…a voice like no other…such passion in her singing…I wish her a Happy and Peaceful Christmas
Beeswing played on my music & touched my day…to me it has a Nancy Spain feel to it, same gentle wistful dedication. Beautiful.
Glad you’re enjoying & sharing the feel at your concerts..
Re Bob Lind: I’m a huge fan, David Griffin – you may also like his “I Just Let It Take Me” & “We’ve Never Spoken” …
Here, the flood waters spread like molasses & the peak not due for a few weeks
And of course, say some locals, it’s not to do with climate change – I suppose they think it’s heavenly payback for marriage equality, women’s rights & allowing non white non Christian migrants into this big empty country
If they had another brain it would be lonely
Keep up the keeping up CM et al
Fondest regards
Danny Harris – Land of Oz
Christy's reply
in the past few years it has become a big song in Ireland..many listeners join in at gigs and it always feels good….Richard Thompson nailed it with this song and it is a privilige to sing it
A quick message Christy,
I’m having a day off retirement,that is the 80 hours a week, zero hours contract, and no pay anyway, part of it.
Always loved your music and poetry. It’s done a lot for me spiriitually and socially but that’s another story.
Just revisiting pop ballads of the 50’s and 60′ and had a surprise with this one that you may like to share –
The Butterfly of Love. WAIT WAIT !!!
The original Bob Lind long version, Pure WB Yates ish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbuC9hX2XAk
Hope I haven’t wasted your time
Very Best Wishes
David Griffin
Christy's reply
thanks for sharing David….greetings to all Cymru songsters
Hello Christy,
Thank you, the new harp is safely here in my workroom, it was great to meet its maker and have a good chat. He’s a Planxty fan. The harp feels lighter and neater than my student model. The strings are heavier and closer together, so it needs more accuracy to avoid buzzes but you can get a lot more expression out of it very easily. The noise it makes seems to follow your feelings and thoughts.
Best of all, it’s got a glass fibre case with wheels. I’m mobile!
Rebecca
Christy's reply
get a wee electric motor attached and a pillion seat..there would be no stopping you
Hi C, 3 posts in a row from me ! The statue is still in place, I saw flowers there the other week. H
Christy's reply
must pay a visit to Christie’s memorial….maybe sit and sing a song or two, just remember him quietly…we only met half a dozen times or so but we used to chat on the phone occasionally…just chew the fat…idle banter…without doubt one of the finest people I ever encountered along the road….we first met at a Folk Club in Chatham,Kent circa 1969…when Kevin Burke came to Ireland circa 1974 he stayed with us in Inchicore and played in my Band…he had a copy of Christie’s First album..it was (and is) a pure gem of a Record..thats where I first heard “Shovel” and “Messenger Boy”
Christie Hennessy…a proud Son of Tralee..always remembered
Hi C. Good to hear Shovel at gigs recently and mention of Christie Hennessy here on the guestbook. I first saw him in the late 1980s at a Folk Festival in Killarney and last saw him and shook hands with him at your gig in the Apollo in Hammersmith Oct 2007. His illness was so swift it was good that he had time to make that duets album and also this documentary https://youtu.be/QVo2LaBSuiM
His funeral was in town just after Christmas that year, on a wet miserable day but he got a great send off. It was a big day here in the square just two years later when, along with his family, you unveiled his statue. It will actually be his anniversary on Mon 11th. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
is Christie’s statue still in position ?? or did I hear otherwise
Patsy.
I think Ronan is credited with giving “Dont Forget Your Shovel” airplays on Radio One and getting that track greater prominence. Maybe Christy can inform us. I always liked Ronan.
Christy's reply
spot on there Ed,
after leaving Moving Hearts in 1983 I recorded an album which featured Christie Hennessy’s song “Dont Forget Your Shovel” …it was released as a single and Ronan Collins took a shine to it…at the time Ronan had an early morning show and he played the song every morning for weeks on end..it became very popular and gave my solo gigs a great boost..it proved to be a turning point in my work…I’ve always maintained that Ronan’s repeated playing of the “Shovel” changed the course of my life…
He has always championed Irish performers and will be sadly missed from the airwaves…hopefully he will continue to gig himself and keep his own show on the road
Christy!! Long time no chat. Been up to the walls gigging, rearing children and living life. We also started a podcast during lockdown. Going great guns altogether. Were going over a year now and were approaching people that we respect and want to have a chat to.
As such, would you do us the honour of being a guest?
We record in person and for those geographically far from our studio in Wexford, we also have the ability to record over Zoom. We would love to have you in the studio!!! But we have many options available if you agree to be a guest!!
Heres our website and past episodes!!!
Hope you and yours are keeping well and have a great Christmas!!!
https://opinionyoudidntaskforpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
See ye down the road!!
Pancho
well holy god if it aint the Panch…fair play to you and your team for the invite down to the model…I’m out the door at the minute,,by right I should have been retired since 2010 but the opportunity has not arise so we’re still batin around the ballad lounges like blue arsed flys,,,thats some line up you have assmbled on your podcast..feckin Ian Bally no less…I’d say the switch board lit up after that one…but anyways but..back to the question..as soon as I get the backlog sorted we can have a chat….I did a few free online gigs mysel during the fallow time..they are still there on line somewhere..Just mysel and my Son and his phone and my guitar ..over the 7 spots we had over a million visitors and I never even had to go out the hall door…then I got the jabs and the boosters and out the door into the van and away we went like hoors on hondas…is the Unyoke still runnin down there in the Sunny SE…any sign of the Billy Roche Band..they was hot at Carnsore..we loved the Billy Roach Trilogy too… and that Pierce Turner is another gem of a yella belly…we loves it down there with the strawberrys and new spuds and the Rackards…Ride On Pancho
Dear Christy,
You must have a listen to this haunting new song reflecting on our history and a nod to the current refugee crisis. No better person to write this song than Joby Fox who spent so much time in the Mediterranean picking lost sould out of the sea.
https://youtu.be/jVxK6Ob8oWA
Lots of love from Denmark
Thank you for sharing this….will be listening again..and again
Hello Christy and All,
What about this one? A good song for the solstice.
https://youtu.be/mc1ta1UMGeo
My Dad came round yesterday and I made lunch. We counted the donations made at my Mum’s funeral. We’ve raised £257.00 for Medical Aid for Palestinian’s. I sang a song for him. He said, “you sang that just for me?”. And yes I did.
Rebecca
thanks for sharing
Hi Rory
Father Christmas by The Kinks never seems to feature on Christmas compilations or the radio this time of year.
Or Merry Christmas (I don’t want to fight tonight) by The Ramones. Shipbuilding by Robert Wyatt or Elvis Costello…
Enjoy the countdown
Bourkey
….on re listening to mr barclay’s song i am disqualifying it for 3 obvious reasons
Bill Barclay…..mention of Bill brings me back to early days in Edinburgh….Bill was among the many singers/players/alt comedians and good friends encountered in Auld Reekie….my first gig there (in 1967) was run by Dave Goulder who wrote “The January Man”….I always stayed with Owen and Ruth Hand on Henderson Row…Owen had two fine albums on the Trans Atlantic Label in the sixties but opted out of the gigging life early on….watering holes included Sandy Bells and the St Vincent Bar….gigs were plentiful with lots of music and song to hear….Aly Bain and Mick Whellans, Dick Gaughan, Barbara Dickson,Paddie Bell, Dolina McClennan,Ian MacCalman Trio,Hamish Henderson,The Corries and many others created a rich soundscape that made Edinburgh such an exciting and intoxicating City to visit……and there were visits to Easter Road with Owen Hand and Andy Scappadiccio
Dear Christy,
Spurred on by Dave posting here goes.
Every year i do a Christmas count down, one song a day, for my kids.
I am starting today and unlike ‘normal’ years ( where roy wood, noddy holder , greg lake etc play a predictable centre stage) i am going a bit alternative.
Not sure yet what will be number 1 as i count down, any suggestions?
Today number 12 will be ‘the 12 drinks of christmas’ by Bill Barclay, whilst Ricky Lynch will feature as will Shane but with the Popes (rather than the Pogues) , and Arthur McBride should get a look in.
I am unsure of the other new entrants over the next few days, or did you ever cover ‘away in a manger’?
Wait …i have it…January Man might sneek in.
Cheers and mistletoe
Rory
Hi Christy/all
As I type, I hope another mighty ballad session is rocking Vicar Street…
I m just home and thawing out from a few splendid days in Cumbria…and a heartwarming gig… Saturday night was freezing and dodgy roads. My friend had agreed to drive us to a rural village hall to see Maire ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman. She was unfamiliar with their music and looking at the driving conditions, I wondered if she d prefer not to take chances on the road. The reply was there s no way a road challenge was getting in the way of live music! So, we set off and landed in a welcoming venue to hear a gem of a gig…
A diverse repertoire, witty intros to tunes, masterful musicians and a bonus of a post gig chat, reminiscing about 1980s venues and the time Nightshift supported M and C .
The drive back was even more treacherous , but sped by as we enthused about the venue and the skills of Maire and Chris… Safely reaching a warm house, Jen said the superb music was worth every mile of the drives. A good summary…and a relief.
More info about the mighty duo via http://www.maireandchris.com
Keep warm all
Dave
Hello Christy and All,
Reading the posts about Christie Hennessy here and I wandered across this interview with him as I meandered around the Internet.
He sings at the end of it too.
https://youtu.be/kBM4nvtAmnk
Rebecca
the beauty of our late companero warms the heart this cold and frosty morning
Mise aris ! this clip is a bit shakey of the unveiling of the Christie Hennessy statue. It ‘s interesting to hear all the townie accents !! which is what drew me into his singing when I first heard him. I also wondered if he was ever a Messenger Boy in our small grocers shop ?? https://youtu.be/9mN8LLt6NiY Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Two Big Dogs and a man shouts “Who Goes There”?…
Its a frosty one out there this morning…
That was a grand flashback to Christie’s unveiling ..and to the great crowd of Rockeys that turned up to honour their Bard ..
Is there any chance you will be playing barrowlands again ? COVID ruined last one and sure there is a sell out wishing to see you again 🙏🏻🇮🇪💚
We dream of it often……
No audience sings along like the songsters who gather in Mags McIvor’s…..
Its a room full of love, challenges, emotion,sweat, rollicking, remembering, celebrating, feedback, quality heckilng, history, echoes,
“there’s an easy place down Gallowgate to the East End of Glasgow
its a Ballroom of rememberance,its a Disco,
where the lost ones and the Lovers go
To Carry On”……………………………………..( Wally Page )
Hello again Christy…
Here is something very beautiful this morning
https://youtu.be/qPUv_nRIaRw
The harp is starting to settle down. A new harp’s string are pretty haywire. The wire strings at the bottom go flat, the middle ones are starting to behave and the top half octave is doing a Lanigan’s Ball when it comes to tuning.
The middle of the soundboard is called the belly and it rises in the first few weeks as the harp gets used to the tension of the strings pulling it upwards.
It’s a fun time to watch it and listen to it doing its thing.
Rebecca
Dolores…a voice like no other…such passion in her singing…I wish her a Happy and Peaceful Christmas
Hello
Howdy Christy:
Beeswing played on my music & touched my day…to me it has a Nancy Spain feel to it, same gentle wistful dedication. Beautiful.
Glad you’re enjoying & sharing the feel at your concerts..
Re Bob Lind: I’m a huge fan, David Griffin – you may also like his “I Just Let It Take Me” & “We’ve Never Spoken” …
Here, the flood waters spread like molasses & the peak not due for a few weeks
And of course, say some locals, it’s not to do with climate change – I suppose they think it’s heavenly payback for marriage equality, women’s rights & allowing non white non Christian migrants into this big empty country
If they had another brain it would be lonely
Keep up the keeping up CM et al
Fondest regards
Danny Harris – Land of Oz
in the past few years it has become a big song in Ireland..many listeners join in at gigs and it always feels good….Richard Thompson nailed it with this song and it is a privilige to sing it
A quick message Christy,
I’m having a day off retirement,that is the 80 hours a week, zero hours contract, and no pay anyway, part of it.
Always loved your music and poetry. It’s done a lot for me spiriitually and socially but that’s another story.
Just revisiting pop ballads of the 50’s and 60′ and had a surprise with this one that you may like to share –
The Butterfly of Love. WAIT WAIT !!!
The original Bob Lind long version, Pure WB Yates ish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbuC9hX2XAk
Hope I haven’t wasted your time
Very Best Wishes
David Griffin
thanks for sharing David….greetings to all Cymru songsters
Hello Christy,
Thank you, the new harp is safely here in my workroom, it was great to meet its maker and have a good chat. He’s a Planxty fan. The harp feels lighter and neater than my student model. The strings are heavier and closer together, so it needs more accuracy to avoid buzzes but you can get a lot more expression out of it very easily. The noise it makes seems to follow your feelings and thoughts.
Best of all, it’s got a glass fibre case with wheels. I’m mobile!
Rebecca
get a wee electric motor attached and a pillion seat..there would be no stopping you
Hi C, 3 posts in a row from me ! The statue is still in place, I saw flowers there the other week. H
must pay a visit to Christie’s memorial….maybe sit and sing a song or two, just remember him quietly…we only met half a dozen times or so but we used to chat on the phone occasionally…just chew the fat…idle banter…without doubt one of the finest people I ever encountered along the road….we first met at a Folk Club in Chatham,Kent circa 1969…when Kevin Burke came to Ireland circa 1974 he stayed with us in Inchicore and played in my Band…he had a copy of Christie’s First album..it was (and is) a pure gem of a Record..thats where I first heard “Shovel” and “Messenger Boy”
Christie Hennessy…a proud Son of Tralee..always remembered
Gabh mo leithscéal, of course Sun is the 11th !! H
the sets have been getting longer..maybe Sunday night will run into the Monday
Hi C. Good to hear Shovel at gigs recently and mention of Christie Hennessy here on the guestbook. I first saw him in the late 1980s at a Folk Festival in Killarney and last saw him and shook hands with him at your gig in the Apollo in Hammersmith Oct 2007. His illness was so swift it was good that he had time to make that duets album and also this documentary https://youtu.be/QVo2LaBSuiM
His funeral was in town just after Christmas that year, on a wet miserable day but he got a great send off. It was a big day here in the square just two years later when, along with his family, you unveiled his statue. It will actually be his anniversary on Mon 11th. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
is Christie’s statue still in position ?? or did I hear otherwise
“Spot on”. I love it.
Patsy.
I think Ronan is credited with giving “Dont Forget Your Shovel” airplays on Radio One and getting that track greater prominence. Maybe Christy can inform us. I always liked Ronan.
spot on there Ed,
after leaving Moving Hearts in 1983 I recorded an album which featured Christie Hennessy’s song “Dont Forget Your Shovel” …it was released as a single and Ronan Collins took a shine to it…at the time Ronan had an early morning show and he played the song every morning for weeks on end..it became very popular and gave my solo gigs a great boost..it proved to be a turning point in my work…I’ve always maintained that Ronan’s repeated playing of the “Shovel” changed the course of my life…
He has always championed Irish performers and will be sadly missed from the airwaves…hopefully he will continue to gig himself and keep his own show on the road