Hugely enjoyable trip upto Galway. I can only concur with the comments below – What a sound ye produced – leaving us all wanting more of the same. One of the highlights for me had to be Brendan’s Voyage – with Máirtin on the box playing it through to the end. Twas great to put faces to names of several of the 4711 gang aswell. As Iggy says below, lovely start to the New Year. Thanks Christy for a special event.
Christy's reply
I was in my element in the midst of all that music…the listeners created a great atmosphere in which to play
Finally touched down in my adopted home country after a week or so at home for the Christmas. Managed to visit family and friends and see how the kids are now all taller than me! I was very happy to catch yourself, Máirtín, Cathal, Séamie and Jimmy on your second night at Ardilaun. I’d seen you many times and in many guises in Sligo, Dublin, London over the years, but my daughter had never seen you before although she knows quite a few songs from my tapes and CDs. I was praying that you’d play her favourite song and fair play, you started up the show with it … and hopes for better weather. Thanks again for a mighty gig. I love the way the lads enhance the songs. It is indeed a lovely combo. Well done to all of you. Best of luck to you all in 2013.
Christy's reply
glad you made it Joe…and that I picked that song…dont do it that often…must have been on the air…
Hi All. Well the 2nd and 3rd of Jan gigs in Galway were eagerly awaited and they didnt disappoint,,, some very memorable moments and lots of great music singing with subtle yet powerful and evocative accompaniment… lots of positive energy flowing there,,,,Mighty stuff indeed,,,, Perhaps some Benylin may need to be added to the kit,,, for the winter months,,, not for the singers but for the audience… it could be kept at the door and at the ready !! Shine on,,, lets have more of these gigs,,, Oh and BTW Declan & Victoria visit Listowel on Thurs 10th and INEC Fri 11th. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
We hope to re-convene sometime in April…those boys are busy at work…Sheamie left for Australia the morning after, Cathal also plays with 4 Men and a Dog,Jimmy guests with various line-ups including, most recently, The Stunning. Mairtín is at the heart of the music wherever he plays.
Back Home in Derry too. Can only echo the words of the Donegal folk – a couple of great gigs in great company and can’t speak highly enough of the entire crew and the hotel staff. Máirtín, Cathal, Seamie and Jimmy certainly added an extra dimension to the gigs. My personal highlights were Brendan’s Voyage, Spancil Hill and the Raggle Taggle Gypsy but the entire two nights were quality – definitely not to be sneezed at (or coughed at). Thanks yet again to all – a great start to the year. Thanks for the handshake. See you along the way.
Christy's reply
the entire population came,the place was chocker block…….see you on The Diamond before too long
We are back in the Hills , still buzzing with the songs and music from the two nights in the Ardilaun. Words can,t describe how good the gigs were , how the music of the lads with you enhanced the already great songs . Ger was overwhelmed to hear Spancil Hill on both nights , very very special.
The Ardilaun is a great spot, great staff and very busy. They were setting up for a big wedding as we left this afternoon…. hope they changed the pillow in the Bridal Suite !!
A very happy new year to you and all the people around you that make it all happen..Seems Galway was brilliant and Im sorry to have missed, but Vicar St comin up soon, we look forward…all the best
Christy's reply
have a good one Lar…see you’re gonna have The Bruce Fellow here for a week…
Just in from a wonderful concert in the Ardilaun – with the superb Máirtin O’Connor band adding lovely subtle backing and occasionally letting it rip. One of the best ever (not the first time I’ve said that coming from a Christy gig!) – great sound, comfortable venue, listening audience and Christy in fine fettle – so many highlights but The Fair of Spancil Hill, followed by Fairytale of New York, All for the Rose (?) Wally Page song – Back home in Derry and Sullivan’s John (not sure if I have the sequence spot on) captured in a few songs the uniqueness but also the diversity of Irishness – and probably could say the same about any other series of songs. I loved The Wild Colonial Boy and the Curragh of Kildare. Christy / you’re a national treasure! Go mbeirimid beo ag an am seo arís.
Christy's reply
the real treasure is our tradition…we have such a wealth of music and song on this Island..Its future is securely in the hands of all the exponents,young and old, who continue to delve into the trove,to play to sing and to listen…thanks for your feedback John and for your long haul listening
Belated best wishes Christy for 2013 to you , your family and your excellent crew .
Some great memories still very much alive from rain soaked 2012 not least the atmosphere and performance at Barrowlands .
Looking forward to some magic nights in 2013 on the never ending tour . Tickets already applied for for Bath and Hay on Wye .
Is this year the anniversary of 50 years since you first played in the UK ? If so is there a date/ month to toast ?
Wish i could be in Galway but pleased it is going so well
Michael Hayes ( Not the Farmer ).
Christy's reply
I first came to England in the Summer of 1962….. I worked in Walls near Southall and EMI in Hayes. Came again the Following Summer to work in Ross Foods in Westwick nr Cromer…in 1966 I left my last “real” job and started on this journey… despite the fact that I was playing songs in pubs, concerts, choirs, musicals, sessions and fleadhs since childhood I consider my first “real” gig to have been The Golden Lion, Blakeley, Manchester. It was sometime late 66 early 67. That was the first time I was given a proper booking, the first time I was a featured guest in a Folk Club. It was in Mike Hardings Club which he ran with his wife Patricia in a pub called “The Old House at Home”….I still recall what an amazing experience it was..I did two 20 minute sets to a roomful of intent listeners..back then I was extremely nervous, so much so that I never did any intoductions or chat..I simply sang and tried to hide behind my old battered spainish guitar…no microphones, no dressing rooms, no stage, just a bunch of Folkies and a bunch of songs
Hi Christy, I’m looking for a big favour in the Ardilaun tonight (Thurs) if at all possible, My wife and I and some other family members are going to the gig tonight. My wife Rita and I had our wedding reception in the Ardilaun two years ago and it is a very special place to us. We would love to hear either ‘The Two Conneelys’ who would have been relations of mine or ‘Beeswing’ as it is one of Rita’s favourite songs. Looking forward to tonight, CJ
Well Christy you took a ship load of passengers out on Galway bay last night solo, the waters were a bit choppy at the start but you settled it.then you took on the four crew and brought us on a magical music trip around the bay as you neared home Luka hopped on to punch the tickets and then like a true captain you brought us back solo again and sent us off into the night happy out,it was a lovely start to the New Year, I was drawn to the never ending tour almost 30 years ago in Haydens Ballinasloe where I was biten by the bug and ever since it never healed, long may you sail forth oh noble captain
Christy's reply
Morra Igg..just gettin ready to go back out again..I’m lovin playing with Mairtín,Cathal, Sheamie and Jimmy…not only are they great players but they are all true songsters too..they have ears for whats happening in a song and seek to enhance rather then over embellish….thanks for the feedback and for your long term support…pull first time and send the sliothar in low and hard,
Christy
Thanks to you and all the lads for a wonderful show last night ……….what a way to kick off the New Year …………the bar is set high now !!
Ride onn.
Looking forward to the Man in January tonight with some of the West’s great musicians. The cars on the hill Wednesday night were parked just like ’twas a mission! I wonder will there be choc ices. I reckon I’ve seen Christy in at least ten Galway venues over the last forty years – The Savoy, O’Malleys on Prospect Hill (on a mighty Sunday afternoon), the Cellar (with Kevin Burke who came by train), Teach Furbo, O’Connors in Salthill, the Taibhdearc (Christy wore a tie!), Leisureland, the Big Top, the Black Box, the Radisson (Planxty) and I’m forgetting the detail of one or two Moving Hearts gigs – Seapoint?
Christy's reply
Great Southern, St Patricks Hall, CJs, The Castle, UCG, Black Box, The Hanger,The Warwick, Bridie Hogans,…..fair play John D….great to hear from a long haul listener….
CM (67)
Won’t make the Galway gigs this time ….very sad about that but will catch you soon le cúnamh dé:(
Hope both nights go well ..in the ard Oileán RS(13) and . (8)
Christy's reply
sorry to hear that but listen…you do what you got to do and we’ll meet up along the road at some diversion..we’ll have a right night of it before too long…wish you and all the family a great 2013…all the magpies, hedgehogs, goats, hens ducks geese, ladybirds, spiders, mushrooms, robins, scallywags and scallions, medallions and scapulars, jinny joes, leprachauns,pigeons,mackerel, ferrets and gadflies,janey macs, sliotars,hookers, and bodhran players…Bless them all….keep coming back…..CM( 67)…ps..the Oileán Ard went ceart go leor…Mairtín was on fire, he tore into the reels…2 bats nearly died of fright in the rafters. The Starlings vacated their nests and took off for Inis Maan
Here we go again Christy,will you run down to Owen Lawlors and put a score on a Kildare/Kilkenny double for 2013 ,and a prayer to St.Jude………HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Christy's reply
The hard and the wild John…you might get better odds in Dickie Whites…truth is I dont think The Cats are up to it ,but I has me shirt on the Lilies for the one in a row…from Clock To Clogh, theres no gettin away from it… Jim and Paddy, God be good to them
Hey Christie Happy New Year mate. When will you come to Australia to play a few gigs you’d fill the stadium. I love your music.. Cheers
Christy's reply
one of these days Sam, dont know where dont know when….the old world seemed to be get smaller but, today,it just seems to be gettin bigger again….greetings to all songsters above there. This morning I’m remembering the Matt Talbot in Wooloomooloo
Hugely enjoyable trip upto Galway. I can only concur with the comments below – What a sound ye produced – leaving us all wanting more of the same. One of the highlights for me had to be Brendan’s Voyage – with Máirtin on the box playing it through to the end. Twas great to put faces to names of several of the 4711 gang aswell. As Iggy says below, lovely start to the New Year. Thanks Christy for a special event.
I was in my element in the midst of all that music…the listeners created a great atmosphere in which to play
Finally touched down in my adopted home country after a week or so at home for the Christmas. Managed to visit family and friends and see how the kids are now all taller than me! I was very happy to catch yourself, Máirtín, Cathal, Séamie and Jimmy on your second night at Ardilaun. I’d seen you many times and in many guises in Sligo, Dublin, London over the years, but my daughter had never seen you before although she knows quite a few songs from my tapes and CDs. I was praying that you’d play her favourite song and fair play, you started up the show with it … and hopes for better weather. Thanks again for a mighty gig. I love the way the lads enhance the songs. It is indeed a lovely combo. Well done to all of you. Best of luck to you all in 2013.
glad you made it Joe…and that I picked that song…dont do it that often…must have been on the air…
Hi All. Well the 2nd and 3rd of Jan gigs in Galway were eagerly awaited and they didnt disappoint,,, some very memorable moments and lots of great music singing with subtle yet powerful and evocative accompaniment… lots of positive energy flowing there,,,,Mighty stuff indeed,,,, Perhaps some Benylin may need to be added to the kit,,, for the winter months,,, not for the singers but for the audience… it could be kept at the door and at the ready !! Shine on,,, lets have more of these gigs,,, Oh and BTW Declan & Victoria visit Listowel on Thurs 10th and INEC Fri 11th. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
We hope to re-convene sometime in April…those boys are busy at work…Sheamie left for Australia the morning after, Cathal also plays with 4 Men and a Dog,Jimmy guests with various line-ups including, most recently, The Stunning. Mairtín is at the heart of the music wherever he plays.
Back Home in Derry too. Can only echo the words of the Donegal folk – a couple of great gigs in great company and can’t speak highly enough of the entire crew and the hotel staff. Máirtín, Cathal, Seamie and Jimmy certainly added an extra dimension to the gigs. My personal highlights were Brendan’s Voyage, Spancil Hill and the Raggle Taggle Gypsy but the entire two nights were quality – definitely not to be sneezed at (or coughed at). Thanks yet again to all – a great start to the year. Thanks for the handshake. See you along the way.
the entire population came,the place was chocker block…….see you on The Diamond before too long
We are back in the Hills , still buzzing with the songs and music from the two nights in the Ardilaun. Words can,t describe how good the gigs were , how the music of the lads with you enhanced the already great songs . Ger was overwhelmed to hear Spancil Hill on both nights , very very special.
The Ardilaun is a great spot, great staff and very busy. They were setting up for a big wedding as we left this afternoon…. hope they changed the pillow in the Bridal Suite !!
I stept on board a vision and followed with a wll
The Golden Lion , Blakeley , Manchester , Winter 2016 it is !! See you there .
Michael Hayes ( Not the Farmer )
count me in
A very happy new year to you and all the people around you that make it all happen..Seems Galway was brilliant and Im sorry to have missed, but Vicar St comin up soon, we look forward…all the best
have a good one Lar…see you’re gonna have The Bruce Fellow here for a week…
Just in from a wonderful concert in the Ardilaun – with the superb Máirtin O’Connor band adding lovely subtle backing and occasionally letting it rip. One of the best ever (not the first time I’ve said that coming from a Christy gig!) – great sound, comfortable venue, listening audience and Christy in fine fettle – so many highlights but The Fair of Spancil Hill, followed by Fairytale of New York, All for the Rose (?) Wally Page song – Back home in Derry and Sullivan’s John (not sure if I have the sequence spot on) captured in a few songs the uniqueness but also the diversity of Irishness – and probably could say the same about any other series of songs. I loved The Wild Colonial Boy and the Curragh of Kildare. Christy / you’re a national treasure! Go mbeirimid beo ag an am seo arís.
the real treasure is our tradition…we have such a wealth of music and song on this Island..Its future is securely in the hands of all the exponents,young and old, who continue to delve into the trove,to play to sing and to listen…thanks for your feedback John and for your long haul listening
Belated best wishes Christy for 2013 to you , your family and your excellent crew .
Some great memories still very much alive from rain soaked 2012 not least the atmosphere and performance at Barrowlands .
Looking forward to some magic nights in 2013 on the never ending tour . Tickets already applied for for Bath and Hay on Wye .
Is this year the anniversary of 50 years since you first played in the UK ? If so is there a date/ month to toast ?
Wish i could be in Galway but pleased it is going so well
Michael Hayes ( Not the Farmer ).
I first came to England in the Summer of 1962….. I worked in Walls near Southall and EMI in Hayes. Came again the Following Summer to work in Ross Foods in Westwick nr Cromer…in 1966 I left my last “real” job and started on this journey… despite the fact that I was playing songs in pubs, concerts, choirs, musicals, sessions and fleadhs since childhood I consider my first “real” gig to have been The Golden Lion, Blakeley, Manchester. It was sometime late 66 early 67. That was the first time I was given a proper booking, the first time I was a featured guest in a Folk Club. It was in Mike Hardings Club which he ran with his wife Patricia in a pub called “The Old House at Home”….I still recall what an amazing experience it was..I did two 20 minute sets to a roomful of intent listeners..back then I was extremely nervous, so much so that I never did any intoductions or chat..I simply sang and tried to hide behind my old battered spainish guitar…no microphones, no dressing rooms, no stage, just a bunch of Folkies and a bunch of songs
Hi Christy, I’m looking for a big favour in the Ardilaun tonight (Thurs) if at all possible, My wife and I and some other family members are going to the gig tonight. My wife Rita and I had our wedding reception in the Ardilaun two years ago and it is a very special place to us. We would love to hear either ‘The Two Conneelys’ who would have been relations of mine or ‘Beeswing’ as it is one of Rita’s favourite songs. Looking forward to tonight, CJ
no bother
Well Christy you took a ship load of passengers out on Galway bay last night solo, the waters were a bit choppy at the start but you settled it.then you took on the four crew and brought us on a magical music trip around the bay as you neared home Luka hopped on to punch the tickets and then like a true captain you brought us back solo again and sent us off into the night happy out,it was a lovely start to the New Year, I was drawn to the never ending tour almost 30 years ago in Haydens Ballinasloe where I was biten by the bug and ever since it never healed, long may you sail forth oh noble captain
Morra Igg..just gettin ready to go back out again..I’m lovin playing with Mairtín,Cathal, Sheamie and Jimmy…not only are they great players but they are all true songsters too..they have ears for whats happening in a song and seek to enhance rather then over embellish….thanks for the feedback and for your long term support…pull first time and send the sliothar in low and hard,
Christy
Thanks to you and all the lads for a wonderful show last night ……….what a way to kick off the New Year …………the bar is set high now !!
Ride onn.
and now we have to go out and try to jump it !
@ Hilary
O’Donoghue’s Opera [Part 1/4], Ha, Ha! Lovely! Thanks.
The Night before Larry was stretched
@Marty
Thanks so much for your post / link.
Lovely, beautiful, I REALLY enjoyed it.
Looking forward to the Man in January tonight with some of the West’s great musicians. The cars on the hill Wednesday night were parked just like ’twas a mission! I wonder will there be choc ices. I reckon I’ve seen Christy in at least ten Galway venues over the last forty years – The Savoy, O’Malleys on Prospect Hill (on a mighty Sunday afternoon), the Cellar (with Kevin Burke who came by train), Teach Furbo, O’Connors in Salthill, the Taibhdearc (Christy wore a tie!), Leisureland, the Big Top, the Black Box, the Radisson (Planxty) and I’m forgetting the detail of one or two Moving Hearts gigs – Seapoint?
Great Southern, St Patricks Hall, CJs, The Castle, UCG, Black Box, The Hanger,The Warwick, Bridie Hogans,…..fair play John D….great to hear from a long haul listener….
Let us know when you may come to New York. Can’t wait to see you in person.
feckin right Jim, I’ll give you a bell soon as we dock…feelin a bit skitzo so there may be two of us
well christy just gets better and better great show tonight well enjoyed would go again tomorrow if i could get my hands on tickets. great show
sound Gazza..I tripped over a few briars at the start but as soon as we found the gap we got thrashin
CM (67)
Won’t make the Galway gigs this time ….very sad about that but will catch you soon le cúnamh dé:(
Hope both nights go well ..in the ard Oileán RS(13) and . (8)
sorry to hear that but listen…you do what you got to do and we’ll meet up along the road at some diversion..we’ll have a right night of it before too long…wish you and all the family a great 2013…all the magpies, hedgehogs, goats, hens ducks geese, ladybirds, spiders, mushrooms, robins, scallywags and scallions, medallions and scapulars, jinny joes, leprachauns,pigeons,mackerel, ferrets and gadflies,janey macs, sliotars,hookers, and bodhran players…Bless them all….keep coming back…..CM( 67)…ps..the Oileán Ard went ceart go leor…Mairtín was on fire, he tore into the reels…2 bats nearly died of fright in the rafters. The Starlings vacated their nests and took off for Inis Maan
Here we go again Christy,will you run down to Owen Lawlors and put a score on a Kildare/Kilkenny double for 2013 ,and a prayer to St.Jude………HAPPY NEW YEAR.
The hard and the wild John…you might get better odds in Dickie Whites…truth is I dont think The Cats are up to it ,but I has me shirt on the Lilies for the one in a row…from Clock To Clogh, theres no gettin away from it… Jim and Paddy, God be good to them
Hey Christie Happy New Year mate. When will you come to Australia to play a few gigs you’d fill the stadium. I love your music.. Cheers
one of these days Sam, dont know where dont know when….the old world seemed to be get smaller but, today,it just seems to be gettin bigger again….greetings to all songsters above there. This morning I’m remembering the Matt Talbot in Wooloomooloo