Well Christy! Ronan signed off today in a very emotional show. I know he did great stuff for the shovel song but he regularly played Brendans Voyage on the show and always commented after it that it was his favourite Christy song! As far as i can work out was it the last time the fab 4 recorded together in studio?
Christy's reply
That never occurred to me Gipp..I think you’re right..our subsequent recordings were all live takes..
Whats the spot prize Christy? Jaysus dont tell me ive to catch that bleedin turkey last seen sprintin’ up the ‘Rock road!
Christy's reply
not at all Gipp…those 3 instrumentals might have been performed by The Hearts over 2022 but not by this 3 chord trickster..I did play a slow air on the Bodhrán one night in Armagh but no one noticed
Your pursuit of the turkey reminds me of Daideo’s circa 1940 pier road tale of the 3 legged chicken.
She ran so fast she was never caught for the pot.
T’was all a tall tale until recently a credible witness emerged to concur.
She lived out her life in the chicken coop along with a parrot that came ashore from a HMS from Malta.
There was also a turtle in the house 2 doors up ach sin scéal eile.
Beannachtaí na nollag ort fhéin agus do clann uilig and to all who come here.
Lately I realised that a lot of people are missing someone at Christmas time and all the time. Enjoy the people around you. Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís
I see lá an dreoilín you are on “a note for nature ” that looks good.
Slán go fóil a mhac bán lách
CS 18
Christy's reply
theres only half a century between mo mhaicín…
I’ve taken to my new mug like a fish to water..the tae tastes better out of it…
and the duck sits comfortably in the new cup…
it reminds me of the Digs I stayed in once in Ballaghadereen.
the Landlady sez to me
“How do you like your egg in the morning’
I sez to her
“I likes ’em done in twos”
“Right” sez she “I’ll put yours down with my own”
that same lady would get two portions out of a streaky rasher
but we survived it and always got a few crubeens at closing time
“…..came in at eighteen to one…” didnt Shane get those lines great?!
Someone emailed me last night to tell me a great programme on TV about Moving Hearts, just as the programme was over. I got it on the tg4 website. Watched half of it and will watch second half today. Jayney what memories; what music. To see and listen to all those contributors. I recall one night leaving the Baggot Inn basement speechless; walking on air. (“What have I just seen and heard?!”) It had to be summer of ’80 or ’81. I still remember it. We can remember it fondly and with posterity; no mobile phones back then.
“Clarinbridge for the chowder/Keep your powder dry/For the continental ceidhli tonight.”
Was that on the Ordinary Man album? I think it was.
For those where the bird hasnt flown away, enjoy the festive season, dont eat too much, nor imbibe too much, just enough.
****Happy Christmas****
Christy's reply
every time I sing that beautiful line I remember Mr What winning the Aintree Grand National at 18/1.the only reason I remember is I was on him…a shillin each way in Dicky Whites bettin shop in Newbridge.. went to the pictures that night with Joe Coffey… we gorged on Patsi-Pops, Tayto and Double Centres….
Moving Hearts at The Baggot was a unique experience.. we played there every Mon,Tue and Wed for quite a time….it was hot, smoky, jammers and sometimes a bit edgy….the 7 of us squeezed onto that small stage….£3 on the door, half price unwaged..we had to drop that as dole cards were getting passed out the jacks window and you could have 10 go-boys getting in on one dole card…Charlie Mcgettigan was the fear-an-tí… he was into the band and always treated us well.. we used to get the occasional lock-in ND WE USED TO rehearse up in the attic….three of the 1981 repertoire were performed across 2022…any guesses ???
Christy, not all bad news about the turkey. Give it a good feed of nut roast over Christmas, throw a saddle on it in February and you might be able to ride it in next years Grand National. I’d put a couple of Bob on you (each way), could be my lucky day, especially if you come in at 18/1. Merry Christmas to all.
Christy's reply
Hard to believe its 40 years since I was beating with the Moving Hearts…had a great run with the Band for about two years….the coming together, consolidating and then getting out on the road was a really exciting time for all of us..
and the Hearts still beat..for many years now they have been an instrumental Band ,coming together every now and then to give it the lash..I hear great reports every time they gig..
That Greenbriar was a stand out gig…40 years on I still have vivid recall of the night
Hi Christy, really enjoyed Spin on TG4 last night it’s a cracking programme. Watched it years ago and now have it recorded. It was great to see you and your friends from the ranks of Moving Hearts again and to hear the sound tracts created for the times and days that were in it. A joy to listen to Keith Donald on saxophone and the whole energetic rhythm that you and the band brought. The programme brought back great memories of the Green Briar. Nollaig Shona agus blain úr mhaise duit a Christy.
Morning Christy just like to wish you and yours a happy and peaceful Christmas and the same to all the good people out there stay well stay safe and face the puck out
Christy's reply
maith an fear Iggy mo cara..hope all is well in Bullaune…I was out this morning at 6am trying to catch the Turkey but she did a runner on me again..I nearly caught her at the back of the hayshed but the feckin sheepdog ran across me and tripped my up into the slurry pit..I managed to crawl out and mount the Ferguson TVO but the fecker would not start..the mobile was covered in cowshite but I managed to get thru to An Garda where a recorded message from the Sergeant told me he was gone to Lough Derg for the week…it looks like a vegetarian chrismas dinner here..sprouts, turnip and spuds boiled, roasted, baked, chipped and mashed..how bad sez you and you’d be right…that feckin turkey is as big as an Ostrich now..she has avoided me for the last 7 years ..come Jan she’ll be back in around the yard with a big innocent face on her cacklin and chortling and atin all round her..I’m thinkin of going vegan
Apparently Gabriel Byrne speaks fondly of his Bobness time on The Riordans and how he advised him to give Hollywood a try.
Learn your lines, turn up on time and don’t walk into the furniture.
Hello Christy,
I’ve been looking for unusual traditional Christmas songs. Here’s one I hadn’t heard before.
It was collected from May Bradley who was recorded near Ludlow in Shropshire. She learnt it from her mother Ester Smith. https://youtu.be/cEUo_RqDTh4
Rebecca
Christy's reply
“an old fashioned Lady begins to sing a song,
ah lads, a bit of order over there”
Hi Christy, it’s been some run in and great to follow the magic of the recent gigs.. even murmurs of a stand up gig in response to the joule meter readings at Vicar St.. wishing you continued good health and strength…P.S go raibh mile maith agat from Emily agus mise for your recent well wishes..most appreciative..
Kev
Christy's reply
a stand up in Vicar St ?? now there’s an idea…I’ll get on to St John’s Ambuance
Hi Christy
Seasons greetings to you and all.
Keep up with the guestbook, occasionally lower the tone and contribute.
But coming from the land of
Coronation Street, heard the news about our Bob doing cameo role too.
Apparently he’s a fan, will certainly have to reacquaint my self with the story line. Think Elsie Tanner was still in it last time I seriously watched.
Have the best of Christmases.
Pam
Christy's reply
we are well used to such cultural incursions here in Eire…over the years Bob has featured in Wanderly Wagon, The Riordans, Glenroe and Tolka Row…he ambles on to the set..gives a few grunts and away with him to the next port of call….
Although it may seem bizarre, you do in fact have listeners out in the Wild West! I have listened to the “on the road” rendition of St. Brendan’s Voyage about a hundred times and would love to release a cover with your permission. Not sure what other outlet to use to contact you, so I hope this finds you!
-Blake
Christy's reply
fire ahead (with proper accreditation)…happy to report that we have many listeners out yonder…some of them quite bizarre
Great that Vicar Street finished your year on a high and rave reviews resulting. The new songs are intriguing, you ve had a busy year in the work room too…
Whenever there s a newsletter from http://www.karinepolwart.com it’s fascinating and often leads to the work of others. True enough today… I can’t link the newsletter, but it may be on Karine s website. In it, she references two Scots social campaigners and their powerful stories – Mary Brooksbank and John Maclean (tied into the music of Hamish Henderson)…
Fair play to KP et al who keep the fires burning so brightly.
All good wishes for a Peaceful Christmas
Dave
Christy's reply
recieved Karine’s letter ..always a welcome post…once shared a few wee drams with Hamish Henderson in Sandy Bells
I’ve just listened to Easter Snow here on headphones. Just beautiful. She’s just a year (or two?) dead, Catherine Ennis.
Yes. Didnt Micheal O’Sulleabhan bring us some mighty music. Great programme on RTE, it really brought the man and his music to us.
Who mentioned Ordinary Man in here? When the album was reissued without the Stardust track, the record distributors gave local newspapers a tape to raffle. It was a way of getting it out there. I won a cassette tape in a local newspaper here. That LP has “Mattie” and “Hard Cases”. Two good ones that have stood the test of time.
Christy's reply
I once had the pleasure of performing with Míchéal on an RTE TV programme..we performed two songs together…”The Two Conneeleys” and “Mystic Lipstick”…all a long time ago but the memory prevails..a few years back he attended a Concert of mine in UCL Limerick and ,afterwards , wrote me a cherished letter ….
the reissued “Ordinary Man” album featured “Another Song is Born” which was written and recorded very quickly to replace “They Never Came Home” which was banned by Judge Frank Murphy…( in the case brought by the proprietor Butterly in who’s club the 48 young people died….)
Hello Christy and All,
I’ve been searching for a tune I wanted to post for the solstice. Shadow on the hill written by Shaun Davey and played by Liam O’Flynn. I can’t find a recording just of this tune.
But it is on this recording at 19 minutes and 22 seconds. https://youtu.be/V90EIR3T6Uc
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin: Between Worlds -……a new Doc on RTE last night was a beautiful tribute to the late musician…I highly recommend this to anyone interested in Irish Music…Míchéal was a true carrier of the flame…original, innovative and artistic he brought new dimensions to ourmusic without ever losing sight of the pure drop…we really enjoyed this film
I love that Liam Óg album..I’d foegotten that I played the drum with Liam on a track..lovely to hear him this morning
What a song..
Black is the Colour of my true love hair
That lyric haunts me…there was curious combination
Well Christy! Ronan signed off today in a very emotional show. I know he did great stuff for the shovel song but he regularly played Brendans Voyage on the show and always commented after it that it was his favourite Christy song! As far as i can work out was it the last time the fab 4 recorded together in studio?
That never occurred to me Gipp..I think you’re right..our subsequent recordings were all live takes..
McBrides, Category, Lake of Shadows?
Whats the spot prize Christy? Jaysus dont tell me ive to catch that bleedin turkey last seen sprintin’ up the ‘Rock road!
not at all Gipp…those 3 instrumentals might have been performed by The Hearts over 2022 but not by this 3 chord trickster..I did play a slow air on the Bodhrán one night in Armagh but no one noticed
CM (77)
Your pursuit of the turkey reminds me of Daideo’s circa 1940 pier road tale of the 3 legged chicken.
She ran so fast she was never caught for the pot.
T’was all a tall tale until recently a credible witness emerged to concur.
She lived out her life in the chicken coop along with a parrot that came ashore from a HMS from Malta.
There was also a turtle in the house 2 doors up ach sin scéal eile.
Beannachtaí na nollag ort fhéin agus do clann uilig and to all who come here.
Lately I realised that a lot of people are missing someone at Christmas time and all the time. Enjoy the people around you. Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís
I see lá an dreoilín you are on “a note for nature ” that looks good.
Slán go fóil a mhac bán lách
CS 18
theres only half a century between mo mhaicín…
I’ve taken to my new mug like a fish to water..the tae tastes better out of it…
and the duck sits comfortably in the new cup…
it reminds me of the Digs I stayed in once in Ballaghadereen.
the Landlady sez to me
“How do you like your egg in the morning’
I sez to her
“I likes ’em done in twos”
“Right” sez she “I’ll put yours down with my own”
that same lady would get two portions out of a streaky rasher
but we survived it and always got a few crubeens at closing time
“…..came in at eighteen to one…” didnt Shane get those lines great?!
Someone emailed me last night to tell me a great programme on TV about Moving Hearts, just as the programme was over. I got it on the tg4 website. Watched half of it and will watch second half today. Jayney what memories; what music. To see and listen to all those contributors. I recall one night leaving the Baggot Inn basement speechless; walking on air. (“What have I just seen and heard?!”) It had to be summer of ’80 or ’81. I still remember it. We can remember it fondly and with posterity; no mobile phones back then.
“Clarinbridge for the chowder/Keep your powder dry/For the continental ceidhli tonight.”
Was that on the Ordinary Man album? I think it was.
For those where the bird hasnt flown away, enjoy the festive season, dont eat too much, nor imbibe too much, just enough.
****Happy Christmas****
every time I sing that beautiful line I remember Mr What winning the Aintree Grand National at 18/1.the only reason I remember is I was on him…a shillin each way in Dicky Whites bettin shop in Newbridge.. went to the pictures that night with Joe Coffey… we gorged on Patsi-Pops, Tayto and Double Centres….
Moving Hearts at The Baggot was a unique experience.. we played there every Mon,Tue and Wed for quite a time….it was hot, smoky, jammers and sometimes a bit edgy….the 7 of us squeezed onto that small stage….£3 on the door, half price unwaged..we had to drop that as dole cards were getting passed out the jacks window and you could have 10 go-boys getting in on one dole card…Charlie Mcgettigan was the fear-an-tí… he was into the band and always treated us well.. we used to get the occasional lock-in ND WE USED TO rehearse up in the attic….three of the 1981 repertoire were performed across 2022…any guesses ???
greetings to all Shannon Siders
Christy, not all bad news about the turkey. Give it a good feed of nut roast over Christmas, throw a saddle on it in February and you might be able to ride it in next years Grand National. I’d put a couple of Bob on you (each way), could be my lucky day, especially if you come in at 18/1. Merry Christmas to all.
Hard to believe its 40 years since I was beating with the Moving Hearts…had a great run with the Band for about two years….the coming together, consolidating and then getting out on the road was a really exciting time for all of us..
and the Hearts still beat..for many years now they have been an instrumental Band ,coming together every now and then to give it the lash..I hear great reports every time they gig..
That Greenbriar was a stand out gig…40 years on I still have vivid recall of the night
Hi Christy, really enjoyed Spin on TG4 last night it’s a cracking programme. Watched it years ago and now have it recorded. It was great to see you and your friends from the ranks of Moving Hearts again and to hear the sound tracts created for the times and days that were in it. A joy to listen to Keith Donald on saxophone and the whole energetic rhythm that you and the band brought. The programme brought back great memories of the Green Briar. Nollaig Shona agus blain úr mhaise duit a Christy.
Morning Christy just like to wish you and yours a happy and peaceful Christmas and the same to all the good people out there stay well stay safe and face the puck out
maith an fear Iggy mo cara..hope all is well in Bullaune…I was out this morning at 6am trying to catch the Turkey but she did a runner on me again..I nearly caught her at the back of the hayshed but the feckin sheepdog ran across me and tripped my up into the slurry pit..I managed to crawl out and mount the Ferguson TVO but the fecker would not start..the mobile was covered in cowshite but I managed to get thru to An Garda where a recorded message from the Sergeant told me he was gone to Lough Derg for the week…it looks like a vegetarian chrismas dinner here..sprouts, turnip and spuds boiled, roasted, baked, chipped and mashed..how bad sez you and you’d be right…that feckin turkey is as big as an Ostrich now..she has avoided me for the last 7 years ..come Jan she’ll be back in around the yard with a big innocent face on her cacklin and chortling and atin all round her..I’m thinkin of going vegan
Thanks Christy! GREAT memories of Prosperous!!
I’m headin for Jack Reddy’s tonight….
Apparently Gabriel Byrne speaks fondly of his Bobness time on The Riordans and how he advised him to give Hollywood a try.
Learn your lines, turn up on time and don’t walk into the furniture.
Tell me about it
Hello Christy,
I’ve been looking for unusual traditional Christmas songs. Here’s one I hadn’t heard before.
It was collected from May Bradley who was recorded near Ludlow in Shropshire. She learnt it from her mother Ester Smith.
https://youtu.be/cEUo_RqDTh4
Rebecca
“an old fashioned Lady begins to sing a song,
ah lads, a bit of order over there”
….( Continental Céilí..Johnny Mulhearn)
Hi Christy, it’s been some run in and great to follow the magic of the recent gigs.. even murmurs of a stand up gig in response to the joule meter readings at Vicar St.. wishing you continued good health and strength…P.S go raibh mile maith agat from Emily agus mise for your recent well wishes..most appreciative..
Kev
a stand up in Vicar St ?? now there’s an idea…I’ll get on to St John’s Ambuance
Hi Christy
Seasons greetings to you and all.
Keep up with the guestbook, occasionally lower the tone and contribute.
But coming from the land of
Coronation Street, heard the news about our Bob doing cameo role too.
Apparently he’s a fan, will certainly have to reacquaint my self with the story line. Think Elsie Tanner was still in it last time I seriously watched.
Have the best of Christmases.
Pam
we are well used to such cultural incursions here in Eire…over the years Bob has featured in Wanderly Wagon, The Riordans, Glenroe and Tolka Row…he ambles on to the set..gives a few grunts and away with him to the next port of call….
Christy,
Although it may seem bizarre, you do in fact have listeners out in the Wild West! I have listened to the “on the road” rendition of St. Brendan’s Voyage about a hundred times and would love to release a cover with your permission. Not sure what other outlet to use to contact you, so I hope this finds you!
-Blake
fire ahead (with proper accreditation)…happy to report that we have many listeners out yonder…some of them quite bizarre
Hi Christy/all
Great that Vicar Street finished your year on a high and rave reviews resulting. The new songs are intriguing, you ve had a busy year in the work room too…
Whenever there s a newsletter from http://www.karinepolwart.com it’s fascinating and often leads to the work of others. True enough today… I can’t link the newsletter, but it may be on Karine s website. In it, she references two Scots social campaigners and their powerful stories – Mary Brooksbank and John Maclean (tied into the music of Hamish Henderson)…
Fair play to KP et al who keep the fires burning so brightly.
All good wishes for a Peaceful Christmas
Dave
recieved Karine’s letter ..always a welcome post…once shared a few wee drams with Hamish Henderson in Sandy Bells
Rumor has it that his Bobness
is making a guest appearance on Coronation Street.
And I cried and inly wept
That one so high should fall so low
he would not be the first ballad singer to have a life long obsession with Ena Sharples..in black and white
I’ve just listened to Easter Snow here on headphones. Just beautiful. She’s just a year (or two?) dead, Catherine Ennis.
Yes. Didnt Micheal O’Sulleabhan bring us some mighty music. Great programme on RTE, it really brought the man and his music to us.
Who mentioned Ordinary Man in here? When the album was reissued without the Stardust track, the record distributors gave local newspapers a tape to raffle. It was a way of getting it out there. I won a cassette tape in a local newspaper here. That LP has “Mattie” and “Hard Cases”. Two good ones that have stood the test of time.
I once had the pleasure of performing with Míchéal on an RTE TV programme..we performed two songs together…”The Two Conneeleys” and “Mystic Lipstick”…all a long time ago but the memory prevails..a few years back he attended a Concert of mine in UCL Limerick and ,afterwards , wrote me a cherished letter ….
the reissued “Ordinary Man” album featured “Another Song is Born” which was written and recorded very quickly to replace “They Never Came Home” which was banned by Judge Frank Murphy…( in the case brought by the proprietor Butterly in who’s club the 48 young people died….)
Hello Christy and All,
I’ve been searching for a tune I wanted to post for the solstice. Shadow on the hill written by Shaun Davey and played by Liam O’Flynn. I can’t find a recording just of this tune.
But it is on this recording at 19 minutes and 22 seconds.
https://youtu.be/V90EIR3T6Uc
Rebecca
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin: Between Worlds -……a new Doc on RTE last night was a beautiful tribute to the late musician…I highly recommend this to anyone interested in Irish Music…Míchéal was a true carrier of the flame…original, innovative and artistic he brought new dimensions to ourmusic without ever losing sight of the pure drop…we really enjoyed this film
I love that Liam Óg album..I’d foegotten that I played the drum with Liam on a track..lovely to hear him this morning