Hi christy my 8 year old boy and I are coming to your waterford show next Wednesday night .his name is noah mulcahy and he just loves your music .his favourite song is viva la quota brigada could you give him a shout out if you can next week it would mean the world to him .thanks Darren mulcahy
I was thinking about a book of Yorkshire folktales that I read. There’s a story in there of a poltergeist in a house near the centre of Brighouse that caused havoc for the residents.
It reminded me of things my mother told me. When she was a curate, the priest in her church was the person in the parish who dealt with paranormal events. She assisted him. We called them the ghost busters. There are a remarkable number of people experience things and feel the need of a priest to help them.
So she visited and helped a lots of people.
She said that she had no idea why, but usually there was a teenage girl living in the house where things were happening. Something about the energy of a female growing up. It was something she noticed.
Hello Christy,
Your Lyrics pages here are a great place to begin a wander through songs. I pick a letter and see where it takes me. B today. Bright blue rose, ballydine, ballinamore, boys of Barr ne sraide. And then somehow I ended up at Wally Page’s Hackensack. Perfect song for today. Its a beauty. https://youtu.be/U2Cnw7v0NL8
I’ve been trying to pair the tune with some words I found. Not got there with it yet.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Every Single Day I remember Wally…he is always here with me…close by I hear him sing…. I miss our auld chats…. we always laughed..we always had a few songs “on the go”….he was a true friend, a great companero…
” He’s 25 he’s sick and tired
its time to try the other side
the B&I to paradise
to Sergeants and their men”….( Finglas Boys)
Thanks for your reply, Christy. I am sure you will not be disappointed. All the best for the rest of the tour. Sorry I could not make it being on the otherside of the world but I still have fond memories when I saw you at the Southport Arts Centre, November 1993! Cheers Mark
Patsy, arent those the lines, he sees the truck leaking lines of slurry, sounds ‘picturesque’, the driver jumps out to greet our man. “Hey, dont I know your face/Are you Paddy Reilly or Brendan Grace?” I love the rhyming.
I can account for about ‘thirty’ Christy gigs, I’d reckon there’s more. Meself and yourself, Patsy, probably thumbed to the same gigs.
Hi Christy,
Thank you for your understanding and prompt response.I apologise for any confusion about receiving the lyrics Monday night. If you don’t receive the lyrics of the song I can email them or provide my contact details if that suits.
My contact details is on my website at : https://www.mmacousticduo.com/#Contact
Ah Christy, 6000 Gigs and still going strong…It’s no wonder the Trucker leaking lines of slurry thought you were lady Ga Ga, it was just that he had seen you so often on the road !!!! What a fantastic achievement. I am just thinking of the hundreds of thousands of listeners that have been picked up along the way, and the many new and lifelong friends some of us have gained because of the love for your music and song, from Cork, New York, An Riocht to Santiago. Thoughts too for all those whose lives are now richer because of your generosity. Last but by no means least the vast array of songs that would have been lost if it wasn’t for you good self.
LONG MAY IT CONTINUE.
Ride On.
Patsy
Christy's reply
greetings to Broad Street…we must have a cuppa cha
Bourkey, the Irish emigrant story is one tinged with sadness, despair, you-name-it. All so much different now with cheap air fares, Zoom. I only spoke to someone only a short time ago. We talked about priests and nuns who went abroad years ago and were never to return. He said unless someone in the house could ‘write’, perhaps many of the family themselves were gone from the home place. The sole family member left at home on the farm unless they got a neighbour to jot down a few lines on a card at Christmas, nobody wrote to the emigrant; Christmas maybe. The priest or nun themselves would write home. Awful sad. The same perhaps for the man, woman who took off to England years ago and might have been heard of again. The family might have died out.
Christy's reply
have you hear the song “Kilkelly Ireland”..there are various versions but the Mick Moloney one is my favourite
Thanks for sharing that special memory C evoking the feeling of emigrants. I I think it was the back room of Ma Murphys. The CD features many regulars from the MOT, including Iarla O Lionaird, Noel Hill, Martin and Denis, plud Sinead O Comnor, its really haunting , very evocative. Beir bua agus beannacht.H
where the summer is fine but the winter’s a fridge
wrapped up in old cardboard under charring cross bridge
and I’ll never go home now because of the shame
of a misfits reflection in a shop window pane
Six thousand, be God. What a privilege it is to be able to attend shows, observe, listen and learn from your continued dedication to craft. Long may the road ahead be.
Comhghairdeachas C, that is some massive milestone and each gig different, from Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall, from Sydney Opera House to those other iconic venues you mentioned Silverbridge and Mayflower and Barrowlands ! Like Lar said spreading such joy all the time, with a diverse setlist running from the sublime to the, at times, ridiculous !! I believe you have long had your finger on the pulse of the nation and beyond to the bigger questions facing the planet. Long may we have the privilege of your genius, Shine On C, go deo. Bourkey you have stumbled on a treasure a new extended edition came out in June and there is also a film and a wonderful CD of the soundtrack, if you ever get a chance to hear Timothy O Grady speak do n’t miss him !! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
Met Tim O’Grady at The Bantry Masters of Tradition Festival a few years back.. Tim did a Q&A with Martin Hayes in Murphy’s Lounge (or was it Bantry House !)…he sent us two of his books both of them cherished
I’ve never made it to Sydney Opera House but had a few great nights in Sydney State Theatre
a very special moment remembered..leaving that Sydney Theatre one night there was a small group waiting to greet me…. with neither fuss nor brouhaha they presented me with a framed certificate stating that I had been elected an Honorary Member of the New South Wales -Kildare Association….so faraway from home it was a very special moment..no big PR, no media, nothing sought…it stands out in my memory from April 11th 1992…signed by Caroline Lane, President, and Eugene Kavanagh, Vice president…
always something special about meeting old neighbours, townies, lily whites in far flung corners….Tadg Manly (The College) in Perth WA, John Geraghty (Pearse Town) in NZ, Dekker Noone ( Tha Barracks) in Wales, Niall Murray (Moorefield Terrace) in The Forum Kentish Town, The Costello Family ( Timber Yard) in Brisbane, Breda Fogarty (Ballymany) in Carnegie Hall , Charlie Shaughnessy ( Station Road) in Chicago, “The Meg” McGowan ( Moorefield) in Kensington, Michael Geraghty ( Sarsfields, The Commons) in Melbourne………on and on it goes….
“From Hawkfield and Kilbelin Chinatown and Rosy’s Lane
scattered round the world we dreamt of comin home again
from The Rocks in Sydney Harbour, The Bronx and Birmingham
to the Sandy Hills,The Seven Springs, the waters of The Fen”
(From “Lily”)
Hello Christy,
6000 gigs, my most sincere congratulations. Sharing the music and the songs.
I’m onto my sixth in August, solo folk songs and harp. It was pretty rickety at first… I had 6 songs.
This one has captivated me since I first heard you sing it in Vicar Street. It was one of those first 6 for me. https://youtu.be/4IG1MT5CKnY
6,000 gigs…wowser…huge congratulations on such an amazing milestone Christy, and long may you continue on this never ending tour, you have certainly brought us utter joy in every gig..along with many other emotions…too many outstanding gigs for this follower to mention, but grateful for each and every moment I’ve watched and listened to you, thank you.
Monday night’s Focus gig was a beauty, loved Martin’s two songs..and the lady that spoke at beginning of show certainly moved many in the audience, €40K was outstanding to raise.
In other news…never mind 6,000…I’ve a first…last Friday night on me radio show on Nova, The Friday Night Rock Show , I took a chance, so in amongst Metallica, Led Zep, Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Mama’s Boys, Black Sabbath etc, I stuck on the CM version of ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’…well….a storm, a good one…99% of a great reaction, but there’s always one…I smiled through the whole 5.16 of it…good luck for the 6,000th, Shine On, Ride On, Sail On..x
Christy's reply
Good man Lar…I’ll be adding Nova to my menu now…wish you the very best with your new programme
Howya Christy and all,
When you’re working evenings but you read a lot more,
drink a lot less and have more time for the gairdin too.
Mrs B found me a little treasure in Charlie Byrnes
I could read the sky by Timothy O’Grady with photography
by Steve Pyke a new edition of the 1997 book.
A tale of emigration and emigrants.
Here’s a bit before he had to and became one …
I lift the flap of hide over the gap in the wall. The gap is not much bigger than the size of a fist but light falls through it onto the pig. He looks up at me from the ground, eye to eye.
The pig’s eye is like the eye of the priest. Very calm and sure.
I am no longer sure of anything. Looking at the eye of the pig with his blond lashes you’ld think he could do sums quicker than you. The eye of the horse makes you warm. The eye of the
cow makes you sad. The eye of the sheep makes you think you might grow stupid just looking at it.
It gets a lot sadder as it goes on. I was minded of your singing of Missing you by Jimmy Mac more than once
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Christy's reply
Its a lovely book..have it here..a gift from Tim
been singing “Missing You ” here in the workroom these past months..have not gigged it for a few years..great song..Jimmy Mack wrote some great songs that will live on
Hi Christy, I hope you are well. I wonder if you have heard Natalie Merchant’s new album, Keep Your Courage? It came out in April. I highly recommend it. In particular is one tune, Eye Of The Storm, which I think would really suit your delivery and style just like you did with Motherland. Lunasa members Kevin Crawford and Cillian Vallely play on the song. She also covers Hunting The Wren written by Ian Lynch from Lankum. To add she also does two nights 8/9 November at 3Olympia Theatre in Dublin. Take care, best wishes, Mark.
PS: apologies if already mentioned elsewhere.
Hi Christy,
I was at your Gig on Monday in Vicar Street. I gave a security guard a song that I wrote – The Dublin Melody. I was just wondering did you receive it. I emailed your management – Paddy Doherty.
Thanks in advance ,
Micheál.
Christy's reply
not yet..but it will turn up..I left Vicar St on Monday immediately after the gig
Hi C. The sun was splitting the stones this day 10 years ago when you came up the hill to the Community Centre in Knocknagoshel for two memorable solo gigs with an international attendance, Ken came from Liverpool, Pete, Els, Lars and Eva came from Belgium and Ruth came from Germany, Richie T took great photos. The gigs have taken on the status of ” Rural Myth ” ! You sang to about 500 people over the 2 nights in a village with a population of about 600, an indication of your enduring popularity ! When I meet the woman who made it all happen they always speak fondly of that time, the buzz it created around the area, and how it was such a pleasure to host you and the crew and how it put Knocknagoshel on the map, aris ! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
That decade passed by in an inst….those nights in Knocknagoshel were standout gigs for me….every now there are nights that leave an indelible imprint on the mind …..Knocknasgoshel, Silverbridge,Mayflower in Drumshabo,Rakish Paddy’s in Lanesborough,Merriman Scariff, Barrowland Glasgow (33rd County)…..
this coming Saturday in TLT,Drogheda will be my 6,000th gig since commencing in 1966 …thats the year I ran out of The National Bank in Ballyhaunis and took the boat to Liverpool…I started out Solo, along the way played with many outfits,bands, duos until last year when I reverted to Solo once more
Hi christy my 8 year old boy and I are coming to your waterford show next Wednesday night .his name is noah mulcahy and he just loves your music .his favourite song is viva la quota brigada could you give him a shout out if you can next week it would mean the world to him .thanks Darren mulcahy
see you there
I was thinking about a book of Yorkshire folktales that I read. There’s a story in there of a poltergeist in a house near the centre of Brighouse that caused havoc for the residents.
It reminded me of things my mother told me. When she was a curate, the priest in her church was the person in the parish who dealt with paranormal events. She assisted him. We called them the ghost busters. There are a remarkable number of people experience things and feel the need of a priest to help them.
So she visited and helped a lots of people.
She said that she had no idea why, but usually there was a teenage girl living in the house where things were happening. Something about the energy of a female growing up. It was something she noticed.
take no notice !
Hello Christy,
Your Lyrics pages here are a great place to begin a wander through songs. I pick a letter and see where it takes me. B today. Bright blue rose, ballydine, ballinamore, boys of Barr ne sraide. And then somehow I ended up at Wally Page’s Hackensack. Perfect song for today. Its a beauty.
https://youtu.be/U2Cnw7v0NL8
I’ve been trying to pair the tune with some words I found. Not got there with it yet.
Rebecca
Every Single Day I remember Wally…he is always here with me…close by I hear him sing…. I miss our auld chats…. we always laughed..we always had a few songs “on the go”….he was a true friend, a great companero…
” He’s 25 he’s sick and tired
its time to try the other side
the B&I to paradise
to Sergeants and their men”….( Finglas Boys)
Thanks for your reply, Christy. I am sure you will not be disappointed. All the best for the rest of the tour. Sorry I could not make it being on the otherside of the world but I still have fond memories when I saw you at the Southport Arts Centre, November 1993! Cheers Mark
Sound Goodison…Ride On
Patsy, arent those the lines, he sees the truck leaking lines of slurry, sounds ‘picturesque’, the driver jumps out to greet our man. “Hey, dont I know your face/Are you Paddy Reilly or Brendan Grace?” I love the rhyming.
I can account for about ‘thirty’ Christy gigs, I’d reckon there’s more. Meself and yourself, Patsy, probably thumbed to the same gigs.
Patsy is still coming ! Shine On Ed…
Hi Christy,
Thank you for your understanding and prompt response.I apologise for any confusion about receiving the lyrics Monday night. If you don’t receive the lyrics of the song I can email them or provide my contact details if that suits.
My contact details is on my website at :
https://www.mmacousticduo.com/#Contact
Best wishes,
Micheál.
Ride On Micheál
Ah Christy, 6000 Gigs and still going strong…It’s no wonder the Trucker leaking lines of slurry thought you were lady Ga Ga, it was just that he had seen you so often on the road !!!! What a fantastic achievement. I am just thinking of the hundreds of thousands of listeners that have been picked up along the way, and the many new and lifelong friends some of us have gained because of the love for your music and song, from Cork, New York, An Riocht to Santiago. Thoughts too for all those whose lives are now richer because of your generosity. Last but by no means least the vast array of songs that would have been lost if it wasn’t for you good self.
LONG MAY IT CONTINUE.
Ride On.
Patsy
greetings to Broad Street…we must have a cuppa cha
Bourkey, the Irish emigrant story is one tinged with sadness, despair, you-name-it. All so much different now with cheap air fares, Zoom. I only spoke to someone only a short time ago. We talked about priests and nuns who went abroad years ago and were never to return. He said unless someone in the house could ‘write’, perhaps many of the family themselves were gone from the home place. The sole family member left at home on the farm unless they got a neighbour to jot down a few lines on a card at Christmas, nobody wrote to the emigrant; Christmas maybe. The priest or nun themselves would write home. Awful sad. The same perhaps for the man, woman who took off to England years ago and might have been heard of again. The family might have died out.
have you hear the song “Kilkelly Ireland”..there are various versions but the Mick Moloney one is my favourite
Thanks for sharing that special memory C evoking the feeling of emigrants. I I think it was the back room of Ma Murphys. The CD features many regulars from the MOT, including Iarla O Lionaird, Noel Hill, Martin and Denis, plud Sinead O Comnor, its really haunting , very evocative. Beir bua agus beannacht.H
a wintery July day
where the summer is fine but the winter’s a fridge
wrapped up in old cardboard under charring cross bridge
and I’ll never go home now because of the shame
of a misfits reflection in a shop window pane
Six thousand, be God. What a privilege it is to be able to attend shows, observe, listen and learn from your continued dedication to craft. Long may the road ahead be.
Comhghairdeachas C, that is some massive milestone and each gig different, from Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall, from Sydney Opera House to those other iconic venues you mentioned Silverbridge and Mayflower and Barrowlands ! Like Lar said spreading such joy all the time, with a diverse setlist running from the sublime to the, at times, ridiculous !! I believe you have long had your finger on the pulse of the nation and beyond to the bigger questions facing the planet. Long may we have the privilege of your genius, Shine On C, go deo. Bourkey you have stumbled on a treasure a new extended edition came out in June and there is also a film and a wonderful CD of the soundtrack, if you ever get a chance to hear Timothy O Grady speak do n’t miss him !! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Met Tim O’Grady at The Bantry Masters of Tradition Festival a few years back.. Tim did a Q&A with Martin Hayes in Murphy’s Lounge (or was it Bantry House !)…he sent us two of his books both of them cherished
I’ve never made it to Sydney Opera House but had a few great nights in Sydney State Theatre
a very special moment remembered..leaving that Sydney Theatre one night there was a small group waiting to greet me…. with neither fuss nor brouhaha they presented me with a framed certificate stating that I had been elected an Honorary Member of the New South Wales -Kildare Association….so faraway from home it was a very special moment..no big PR, no media, nothing sought…it stands out in my memory from April 11th 1992…signed by Caroline Lane, President, and Eugene Kavanagh, Vice president…
always something special about meeting old neighbours, townies, lily whites in far flung corners….Tadg Manly (The College) in Perth WA, John Geraghty (Pearse Town) in NZ, Dekker Noone ( Tha Barracks) in Wales, Niall Murray (Moorefield Terrace) in The Forum Kentish Town, The Costello Family ( Timber Yard) in Brisbane, Breda Fogarty (Ballymany) in Carnegie Hall , Charlie Shaughnessy ( Station Road) in Chicago, “The Meg” McGowan ( Moorefield) in Kensington, Michael Geraghty ( Sarsfields, The Commons) in Melbourne………on and on it goes….
“From Hawkfield and Kilbelin Chinatown and Rosy’s Lane
scattered round the world we dreamt of comin home again
from The Rocks in Sydney Harbour, The Bronx and Birmingham
to the Sandy Hills,The Seven Springs, the waters of The Fen”
(From “Lily”)
Hello Christy,
6000 gigs, my most sincere congratulations. Sharing the music and the songs.
I’m onto my sixth in August, solo folk songs and harp. It was pretty rickety at first… I had 6 songs.
This one has captivated me since I first heard you sing it in Vicar Street. It was one of those first 6 for me.
https://youtu.be/4IG1MT5CKnY
Rebecca
6,000 gigs…wowser…huge congratulations on such an amazing milestone Christy, and long may you continue on this never ending tour, you have certainly brought us utter joy in every gig..along with many other emotions…too many outstanding gigs for this follower to mention, but grateful for each and every moment I’ve watched and listened to you, thank you.
Monday night’s Focus gig was a beauty, loved Martin’s two songs..and the lady that spoke at beginning of show certainly moved many in the audience, €40K was outstanding to raise.
In other news…never mind 6,000…I’ve a first…last Friday night on me radio show on Nova, The Friday Night Rock Show , I took a chance, so in amongst Metallica, Led Zep, Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Mama’s Boys, Black Sabbath etc, I stuck on the CM version of ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’…well….a storm, a good one…99% of a great reaction, but there’s always one…I smiled through the whole 5.16 of it…good luck for the 6,000th, Shine On, Ride On, Sail On..x
Good man Lar…I’ll be adding Nova to my menu now…wish you the very best with your new programme
Howya Christy and all,
When you’re working evenings but you read a lot more,
drink a lot less and have more time for the gairdin too.
Mrs B found me a little treasure in Charlie Byrnes
I could read the sky by Timothy O’Grady with photography
by Steve Pyke a new edition of the 1997 book.
A tale of emigration and emigrants.
Here’s a bit before he had to and became one …
I lift the flap of hide over the gap in the wall. The gap is not much bigger than the size of a fist but light falls through it onto the pig. He looks up at me from the ground, eye to eye.
The pig’s eye is like the eye of the priest. Very calm and sure.
I am no longer sure of anything. Looking at the eye of the pig with his blond lashes you’ld think he could do sums quicker than you. The eye of the horse makes you warm. The eye of the
cow makes you sad. The eye of the sheep makes you think you might grow stupid just looking at it.
It gets a lot sadder as it goes on. I was minded of your singing of Missing you by Jimmy Mac more than once
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Its a lovely book..have it here..a gift from Tim
been singing “Missing You ” here in the workroom these past months..have not gigged it for a few years..great song..Jimmy Mack wrote some great songs that will live on
Hi Christy, I hope you are well. I wonder if you have heard Natalie Merchant’s new album, Keep Your Courage? It came out in April. I highly recommend it. In particular is one tune, Eye Of The Storm, which I think would really suit your delivery and style just like you did with Motherland. Lunasa members Kevin Crawford and Cillian Vallely play on the song. She also covers Hunting The Wren written by Ian Lynch from Lankum. To add she also does two nights 8/9 November at 3Olympia Theatre in Dublin. Take care, best wishes, Mark.
PS: apologies if already mentioned elsewhere.
I’m gonna seek it out and have a listen
Monday night was absolutely fantastic!! Thank you for sharing the love and the music.
Hi Christy,
I was at your Gig on Monday in Vicar Street. I gave a security guard a song that I wrote – The Dublin Melody. I was just wondering did you receive it. I emailed your management – Paddy Doherty.
Thanks in advance ,
Micheál.
not yet..but it will turn up..I left Vicar St on Monday immediately after the gig
Gabh mo leithscéal the WOMEN * not the woman…. H
ná bach….ceart go leór
Hi C. The sun was splitting the stones this day 10 years ago when you came up the hill to the Community Centre in Knocknagoshel for two memorable solo gigs with an international attendance, Ken came from Liverpool, Pete, Els, Lars and Eva came from Belgium and Ruth came from Germany, Richie T took great photos. The gigs have taken on the status of ” Rural Myth ” ! You sang to about 500 people over the 2 nights in a village with a population of about 600, an indication of your enduring popularity ! When I meet the woman who made it all happen they always speak fondly of that time, the buzz it created around the area, and how it was such a pleasure to host you and the crew and how it put Knocknagoshel on the map, aris ! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
That decade passed by in an inst….those nights in Knocknagoshel were standout gigs for me….every now there are nights that leave an indelible imprint on the mind …..Knocknasgoshel, Silverbridge,Mayflower in Drumshabo,Rakish Paddy’s in Lanesborough,Merriman Scariff, Barrowland Glasgow (33rd County)…..
this coming Saturday in TLT,Drogheda will be my 6,000th gig since commencing in 1966 …thats the year I ran out of The National Bank in Ballyhaunis and took the boat to Liverpool…I started out Solo, along the way played with many outfits,bands, duos until last year when I reverted to Solo once more