I have no recollection whatsoever of singing two of the songs on this St Andrews tape….one them is totally new to me despite the fact that I was gigging it 54 years ago….I think I might have another go at it…..thanks for the link…. sounds like I might have taken on a swift gallon before the gig….
Wasn’t that recording of Dalesman’s Litany just before the Bothy Band kidnapped Kevin Burke just after Tommy Peoples left? After all the talk of innovation with Planxty pipes and harmonica didn’t it happen again on this track? Hadn’t Jimmy been on the previous album (whatever tickles) on electric and acoustic but I think you may have slide guitar here for the 1st time? (Open to correction on this) ! Its so good it almost sounds like a synth or fender rhodes, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible! Then Jimmy did it again on “Pretty Boy Floyd” you can hear the joy in that! Wonderful innovation back in the day! Christy! How did you come across Jimmy?
Christy's reply
During the first Planxty time Nicky Ryan was the Sound Engineer…..He put me in touch with Jimmy Faulkner…Nicky reckoned we would get on together and we did….Jimmy was a revelation to me….we did a lot of work together.. England,France, Holland,Germany and once in Lichtenstein !…..then Kevin Burke and Declan McNelis came aboard and we toured as a 4 piece for a while
The Planxty recording of “Sweet Thames Flow Softly” is the one I listen to when I’m driving my boat along the upper reaches of the Thames, as the river winds though the meadows. The combination of the Uilleann Pipes and the Harmonica was an inspiration. The instrumentation evokes the movement of the river.
For a long time I didn’t have a recording of Ewan McColl singing the song. I believe it was written for a BBC radio programme so not released in the usual way. I’d listened to it on headphones at the River and Rowing Museum by the Thames in Henley, where it is part of the exhibition. Then a couple of years ago I got a copy of the album Freeborn Man which includes it – a great album which also has “Go Move Shift”, “Shoals of Herring”, “I’m a Rambler”, Peggy singing “The First Time Ever…” and many others.
All the best,
Anne
Christy's reply
Way back in 1967 I was booked to sing at The Singers Club where Ewan & Peggy were the resident Singers….It was a unique Club like no other….Ewan & Peggy and The Critics Group were the stuff of legend..getting to sing there was a daunting prospect…I was very nervous beforehand which Ewan recognised…he called me aside and had a wee chat with me…it both encouraging and nerve settling….I sat beside them and sang 4 songs….an experience I’ve never forgotten… so many were influenced by Ewan…….half a century on his songs are sung by countless performers….his words still resound,his influence spreading with every passing generation….he’s champion at keeping ’em rolling
Hello Christy,
Here’s something to celebrate the friendship between Ireland and Yorkshire. https://youtu.be/hkX_TH4-ARI
My great grandad kept rabbits in a coop.
I’ll be singing it in Scotland in August, given a prevailing wind. I think my version of the tune must have come from the fairies.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
brings me right back..I think thats a 1974 recording…was not sure until Kevin Burke came in on fiddle…it also features Jimmy Faulkner and Declan McNelis , both gone to the cosy snug…..
our only first cousins lived in Sheffield, the Power family from Nether Edge….John,Christopher and Susan being first cousins, the song always had an extra dimension for me.
Good day Mr Moore I’m writing this comment today as I learned last night how profoundly my son has been impacted by your music for many years and truly appreciates your talent and contributions to traditional irish folk music. My sons name is Christian Teller and he recently lost his dear friend and cousin David Moore to a Seizure and has drawn strength from your songs and lyrics.Today July 20 is his birthday and if perhaps you correspond with listeners periodically an email from you would be truly special his email is cworld97@gmail.com thank you again for making so many people happy for so long Cheers to you!
One of my meetings with Con Houlihan was as I hung on to the shirt-tails of Jim McLaughlin, we ended up in the Harp Inn on O’Connell St Bridge, where Con was interviewing Jim for his column. A couple of Dublin socialites decided to join us. After a while, the question from them to Con: ” your Kerry accent. What’s your name? ” “Houlihan “said Con. ” Oh, you are one of the ones who took the soup” came the unwise answer. It took myself and Jim, and a few others also to hold that gentle giant down while the barman got the silly girls out of the place.
Christy's reply
I always avoided The Harp Inn back in those thirsty times
Christy, what an amazing gig in Waterford last night. The voice, the venue and the crowd was all perfect. From 8 year olds to 88 years old all in harmony together was wonderful to see. Hope to see plenty more of you in the years to come. Keep her lit Christy. P.s the Bord na mona man. Absolutely brilliant has us in the stitches
Christy's reply
This wee man has featured twice before in previous attempts to foist a song upon his weary work-bent back…..he refuses to budge, forever coming back at me….
Now Christy! As you were listing the wonders of Kerry, I couldn’t help being surprised to see you mention Charlie Haughey in the same sentence as Con Houlihan. Mind you Charlie was a bit of a storyteller alright!
I had the good fortune to meet Con a few times, and he kindly wrote an article for me for a magazine I was producing.
One of my favourite books is Con’s great collection of articles, More than a Game.
Christy's reply
I met Charlie Haughey 3 times…most memorably in The Hillgrove Hotel Dingle way back when he was Taoiseach…..there was lock in after a gig…..refreshments were in abundance and the host (Tom McCarthy from Annascaul) was mid song when the door burst open and in came An Taoiseach with Páidí O Sé….what followed caused me to list CJ among my wonders of Kerry..of which there are many..
Con was a different kettle of fish….only met him once in Mulligan’s of Poolbeg Street… a giant of a man in every way… a great pleasure to be in his presence.. however briefly
Hi Christy, it was wonderful to see you in such fine voice and fettle yesterday in Waterford 19/7. I flew in from
Chicago for the gig and to have you open with City of Chicago was special. I was able to bring along my dad and nephews and it was their first Christy gig and they absolutely loved it I don’t think the young fellas slept a wink from the buzz! You created a fantastic vibe as always. I loved how you also combined the poem on the mainland into Back Home in Derry that was wonderful!!! Stay well and thanks for all you do!
Christy's reply
fair play to you Kieran..you were a long haul listener last night…thank you for your feedback..best wishes to all of you
Hi Christy, I was reminded of the songs of Sean Mone this morning and having listened to Rosalita and Jack Cambell, went digging for more. I found this gallery of some of his songs. “Rosie Black” and the story that goes with it are hilarious. https://pipers.ie/source/gallery?galleryId=1361
Ah Christy all this Football Talk, in days when we would take the boat across to see the odd match…..
You remind me of a great story I heard. When Laurie Cunningham (English international) was signed by West Brom, late 70s, Paddy Mulligan (Irish international) welcomed him to the dressing room with ‘ good man Larry. Give us a few bars of Lovely Leitrim ‘!
Green Island, i love your history and culture, your music and people.
I daily regret what the island i come from did to first nations the world around, from america to australia, Ireland to south africa.
So i cherish the right of language to remain unadulterated by invasion, Midnight Oil have a wonderful album ‘makarrata project’ and Gurrumul was a fabulous person and singer, Red Crow wrote one of our standard favourites and Dee Brown’s ‘bury my heart at wounded knee’ is sobering.
Ipi tombi is deeply joyous and authentic music , while ‘free nelson mandela’ remains possibly my favourite song.
My family joke i should have been Irish but half scottish, half yorkshire is good enough, with a love for Ireland. Invaders try to subjugate with many tools including language but will , and should,never overcome the will of the native people.
I would love to visit Puc Fair next summer, i am coming to Kilkenny in November for music, i shall get out of bed now ( rather than wake the wife) and play myself the song of Cill Orglan to mix the two.
Keep on keeping on Christy and celebrate in word, deed and song of that Green Island.
Rory
Christy's reply
Good man Rory….we’re all in the same boat…our ancestors all experienced the invaders whip, the conquering empire also savaged and exploited its own….and ,sad to say, there were some of our own among the savage hordes who invaded,raped and slaughtered wherever their masters sent them….
Waterford is a beautiful ancient city…our oldest….I love being here….its where my life began
6,000+ appearances – unbelievable
One club man
(But helped all others when called upon)
Long may you run
Vicar St and the big tent in 2024 Please God
You mentioned the great United team of old in a recent post
The stories of Matt Busby I do recall…
Telling Nobby Stiles
We’ll play against ten today (enough said)
After Crenard had a one-off nightmare of a game
We’ll never play that bad again
And George Best turning up late for a team meeting
Sorry Boss what do you want me to do Saturday
Turn up on time
Captained Liverpool and convinced Shankly
to stay on as our manager more than once
As footballers it was close
But no one can deny
Bobby Charlton had better hair than Pogba
(I cried for reggae agin)
The Cats/Limerick ???
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Christy's reply
I loved my Manchester Saturdays back in 1966/7…..be it Old Trafford, Maine Road or Gigg Lane I’d trot along whenever I could….be it to see Denis Law or Franny Lee, Paddy Crerand or Colin Bell…. I think it was 3 shillings in or maybe 4/6 entrance fee…always a pie with gravy and brown sauce …. either Yates Lodge or The Shambles afterwards…
I was learning some great English Songs back then…..Seth Davy, Dalesman’s Litany, John O’Dreams, getting to hear so many different singers ….Cyril Tawney, Ewan MacColl, Fred Jordan, The Watersons, ….exciting formative years serving my time “over”.. where I was always made to feel welcome
Hi C. What a wonderful venue and to hear four songs no less from Flying into Mystery in your penultimate gig of the 57th season, and your 6001th gig, you are some man for one man, gan sárú, cinnte !!!! and doing it all again on Fri. You looked so happy on stage, you had to tear yourself away !! GRMMA , beir bua agus beannacht, go deo. H
Christy's reply
Only when I read your post did I realise that we did 4 from “Flying”album last night….very happy about that
what a great venue..I believe its the oldest surviving venue in the country….so beautifully and sensitively restored
First played it in 1972 with Andy,Donal & Liam Óg…back then it felt like a very old venue…now its a fine contemporary venue that celebrates its history and architecture
I should add that this is written from a performance and backstage aspect..I’ve never been out front…must have a walkabout on Friday
Kerry v Dublin an exciting prospect …Limerick V Kilkenny even more so… a great Summer
Just spotted Hilary’s post! Brilliant! An poc ar buille is right! And of course it brought me straight to the Chieftains Brill version of the song, was the original by Seán Ó Sé, or Seán Ó Riada?
far as I recall it was the two Seáns together in that first Ó’Ríada ensemble …….Sean Ó Ríada changed the course of Irish Music in those wonderful heady days…… Seán Ó Sé still singing 60 years later, his voice still reverberating
Well Christy, delighted to see you, Rebecca and others mention Séamus Ennis. A glorious gentle man, a life worth contemplating.
One of my favourite songs of all time is your tribute to Séamus, Easter Snow. Poignant, full of meaning and devotion. Beautiful.
Oh the music! As Séamus he did play
But the fog crept over the mantle white, and turned it back into the clay https://youtu.be/GFh2CCyOX_Y
I’ll get my coat then, shall I.
It seems pretty strange to me to lump a huge range of diverse people together and then blame them for things that happened hundreds of years ago.
If Puck Fair has the wrong name then you can change it.
I’m shocked by this exchange. A post in a language that I don’t understand and a direct attack on a group of people that I can’t help belonging to.
I wouldn’t have said this but I’ve drunk some wine. I don’t know whether in this scenario that is good or bad. It’s given me the courage (stupidity? ) to say something.
Rebecca
will they be on the hunt now ? or have they chosen this years King already…..might I suggest that every year, whoever leads the pack, be made to spend the duration up on the platform alongside the unfortunate creature
Talking of the South Pole of Annascaul, Hafilax is what happens after a few hours in the Upper George…
Other definitions include
A dish made from smoked salmon and dill
Or a medicine you hope you won’t need to take.
By the way Christy, was just mooching online for old stuff and came upon this. You probably know it but was like finding a lost album.
In hindsight you can just hear the lads coming in on “As I Roved Out”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3EPWlyrehQ
I have no recollection whatsoever of singing two of the songs on this St Andrews tape….one them is totally new to me despite the fact that I was gigging it 54 years ago….I think I might have another go at it…..thanks for the link…. sounds like I might have taken on a swift gallon before the gig….
Wasn’t that recording of Dalesman’s Litany just before the Bothy Band kidnapped Kevin Burke just after Tommy Peoples left? After all the talk of innovation with Planxty pipes and harmonica didn’t it happen again on this track? Hadn’t Jimmy been on the previous album (whatever tickles) on electric and acoustic but I think you may have slide guitar here for the 1st time? (Open to correction on this) ! Its so good it almost sounds like a synth or fender rhodes, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible! Then Jimmy did it again on “Pretty Boy Floyd” you can hear the joy in that! Wonderful innovation back in the day! Christy! How did you come across Jimmy?
During the first Planxty time Nicky Ryan was the Sound Engineer…..He put me in touch with Jimmy Faulkner…Nicky reckoned we would get on together and we did….Jimmy was a revelation to me….we did a lot of work together.. England,France, Holland,Germany and once in Lichtenstein !…..then Kevin Burke and Declan McNelis came aboard and we toured as a 4 piece for a while
Hello Christy,
The Planxty recording of “Sweet Thames Flow Softly” is the one I listen to when I’m driving my boat along the upper reaches of the Thames, as the river winds though the meadows. The combination of the Uilleann Pipes and the Harmonica was an inspiration. The instrumentation evokes the movement of the river.
For a long time I didn’t have a recording of Ewan McColl singing the song. I believe it was written for a BBC radio programme so not released in the usual way. I’d listened to it on headphones at the River and Rowing Museum by the Thames in Henley, where it is part of the exhibition. Then a couple of years ago I got a copy of the album Freeborn Man which includes it – a great album which also has “Go Move Shift”, “Shoals of Herring”, “I’m a Rambler”, Peggy singing “The First Time Ever…” and many others.
All the best,
Anne
Way back in 1967 I was booked to sing at The Singers Club where Ewan & Peggy were the resident Singers….It was a unique Club like no other….Ewan & Peggy and The Critics Group were the stuff of legend..getting to sing there was a daunting prospect…I was very nervous beforehand which Ewan recognised…he called me aside and had a wee chat with me…it both encouraging and nerve settling….I sat beside them and sang 4 songs….an experience I’ve never forgotten… so many were influenced by Ewan…….half a century on his songs are sung by countless performers….his words still resound,his influence spreading with every passing generation….he’s champion at keeping ’em rolling
Hello Christy,
Here’s something to celebrate the friendship between Ireland and Yorkshire.
https://youtu.be/hkX_TH4-ARI
My great grandad kept rabbits in a coop.
I’ll be singing it in Scotland in August, given a prevailing wind. I think my version of the tune must have come from the fairies.
Rebecca
brings me right back..I think thats a 1974 recording…was not sure until Kevin Burke came in on fiddle…it also features Jimmy Faulkner and Declan McNelis , both gone to the cosy snug…..
our only first cousins lived in Sheffield, the Power family from Nether Edge….John,Christopher and Susan being first cousins, the song always had an extra dimension for me.
Good day Mr Moore I’m writing this comment today as I learned last night how profoundly my son has been impacted by your music for many years and truly appreciates your talent and contributions to traditional irish folk music. My sons name is Christian Teller and he recently lost his dear friend and cousin David Moore to a Seizure and has drawn strength from your songs and lyrics.Today July 20 is his birthday and if perhaps you correspond with listeners periodically an email from you would be truly special his email is cworld97@gmail.com thank you again for making so many people happy for so long Cheers to you!
Brian Teller
btelljr@gmail.com
One of my meetings with Con Houlihan was as I hung on to the shirt-tails of Jim McLaughlin, we ended up in the Harp Inn on O’Connell St Bridge, where Con was interviewing Jim for his column. A couple of Dublin socialites decided to join us. After a while, the question from them to Con: ” your Kerry accent. What’s your name? ” “Houlihan “said Con. ” Oh, you are one of the ones who took the soup” came the unwise answer. It took myself and Jim, and a few others also to hold that gentle giant down while the barman got the silly girls out of the place.
I always avoided The Harp Inn back in those thirsty times
Christy, what an amazing gig in Waterford last night. The voice, the venue and the crowd was all perfect. From 8 year olds to 88 years old all in harmony together was wonderful to see. Hope to see plenty more of you in the years to come. Keep her lit Christy. P.s the Bord na mona man. Absolutely brilliant has us in the stitches
This wee man has featured twice before in previous attempts to foist a song upon his weary work-bent back…..he refuses to budge, forever coming back at me….
Now Christy! As you were listing the wonders of Kerry, I couldn’t help being surprised to see you mention Charlie Haughey in the same sentence as Con Houlihan. Mind you Charlie was a bit of a storyteller alright!
I had the good fortune to meet Con a few times, and he kindly wrote an article for me for a magazine I was producing.
One of my favourite books is Con’s great collection of articles, More than a Game.
I met Charlie Haughey 3 times…most memorably in The Hillgrove Hotel Dingle way back when he was Taoiseach…..there was lock in after a gig…..refreshments were in abundance and the host (Tom McCarthy from Annascaul) was mid song when the door burst open and in came An Taoiseach with Páidí O Sé….what followed caused me to list CJ among my wonders of Kerry..of which there are many..
Con was a different kettle of fish….only met him once in Mulligan’s of Poolbeg Street… a giant of a man in every way… a great pleasure to be in his presence.. however briefly
Hi Christy, it was wonderful to see you in such fine voice and fettle yesterday in Waterford 19/7. I flew in from
Chicago for the gig and to have you open with City of Chicago was special. I was able to bring along my dad and nephews and it was their first Christy gig and they absolutely loved it I don’t think the young fellas slept a wink from the buzz! You created a fantastic vibe as always. I loved how you also combined the poem on the mainland into Back Home in Derry that was wonderful!!! Stay well and thanks for all you do!
fair play to you Kieran..you were a long haul listener last night…thank you for your feedback..best wishes to all of you
Hi Christy, I was reminded of the songs of Sean Mone this morning and having listened to Rosalita and Jack Cambell, went digging for more. I found this gallery of some of his songs. “Rosie Black” and the story that goes with it are hilarious. https://pipers.ie/source/gallery?galleryId=1361
Kev
he does a lovely job on Willie McCrea
Ah Christy all this Football Talk, in days when we would take the boat across to see the odd match…..
You remind me of a great story I heard. When Laurie Cunningham (English international) was signed by West Brom, late 70s, Paddy Mulligan (Irish international) welcomed him to the dressing room with ‘ good man Larry. Give us a few bars of Lovely Leitrim ‘!
Green Island, i love your history and culture, your music and people.
I daily regret what the island i come from did to first nations the world around, from america to australia, Ireland to south africa.
So i cherish the right of language to remain unadulterated by invasion, Midnight Oil have a wonderful album ‘makarrata project’ and Gurrumul was a fabulous person and singer, Red Crow wrote one of our standard favourites and Dee Brown’s ‘bury my heart at wounded knee’ is sobering.
Ipi tombi is deeply joyous and authentic music , while ‘free nelson mandela’ remains possibly my favourite song.
My family joke i should have been Irish but half scottish, half yorkshire is good enough, with a love for Ireland. Invaders try to subjugate with many tools including language but will , and should,never overcome the will of the native people.
I would love to visit Puc Fair next summer, i am coming to Kilkenny in November for music, i shall get out of bed now ( rather than wake the wife) and play myself the song of Cill Orglan to mix the two.
Keep on keeping on Christy and celebrate in word, deed and song of that Green Island.
Rory
Good man Rory….we’re all in the same boat…our ancestors all experienced the invaders whip, the conquering empire also savaged and exploited its own….and ,sad to say, there were some of our own among the savage hordes who invaded,raped and slaughtered wherever their masters sent them….
Waterford is a beautiful ancient city…our oldest….I love being here….its where my life began
Hi Christy,
6,000+ appearances – unbelievable
One club man
(But helped all others when called upon)
Long may you run
Vicar St and the big tent in 2024 Please God
You mentioned the great United team of old in a recent post
The stories of Matt Busby I do recall…
Telling Nobby Stiles
We’ll play against ten today (enough said)
After Crenard had a one-off nightmare of a game
We’ll never play that bad again
And George Best turning up late for a team meeting
Sorry Boss what do you want me to do Saturday
Turn up on time
Captained Liverpool and convinced Shankly
to stay on as our manager more than once
As footballers it was close
But no one can deny
Bobby Charlton had better hair than Pogba
(I cried for reggae agin)
The Cats/Limerick ???
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
I loved my Manchester Saturdays back in 1966/7…..be it Old Trafford, Maine Road or Gigg Lane I’d trot along whenever I could….be it to see Denis Law or Franny Lee, Paddy Crerand or Colin Bell…. I think it was 3 shillings in or maybe 4/6 entrance fee…always a pie with gravy and brown sauce …. either Yates Lodge or The Shambles afterwards…
I was learning some great English Songs back then…..Seth Davy, Dalesman’s Litany, John O’Dreams, getting to hear so many different singers ….Cyril Tawney, Ewan MacColl, Fred Jordan, The Watersons, ….exciting formative years serving my time “over”.. where I was always made to feel welcome
Hi C. What a wonderful venue and to hear four songs no less from Flying into Mystery in your penultimate gig of the 57th season, and your 6001th gig, you are some man for one man, gan sárú, cinnte !!!! and doing it all again on Fri. You looked so happy on stage, you had to tear yourself away !! GRMMA , beir bua agus beannacht, go deo. H
Only when I read your post did I realise that we did 4 from “Flying”album last night….very happy about that
what a great venue..I believe its the oldest surviving venue in the country….so beautifully and sensitively restored
First played it in 1972 with Andy,Donal & Liam Óg…back then it felt like a very old venue…now its a fine contemporary venue that celebrates its history and architecture
I should add that this is written from a performance and backstage aspect..I’ve never been out front…must have a walkabout on Friday
Kerry v Dublin an exciting prospect …Limerick V Kilkenny even more so… a great Summer
saw a placename called knocknovena in mayo once
no irsih translation underneath – strange
another joyful mystery
Just spotted Hilary’s post! Brilliant! An poc ar buille is right! And of course it brought me straight to the Chieftains Brill version of the song, was the original by Seán Ó Sé, or Seán Ó Riada?
https://youtu.be/zAGhiW3qQvQ
far as I recall it was the two Seáns together in that first Ó’Ríada ensemble …….Sean Ó Ríada changed the course of Irish Music in those wonderful heady days…… Seán Ó Sé still singing 60 years later, his voice still reverberating
Well Christy, delighted to see you, Rebecca and others mention Séamus Ennis. A glorious gentle man, a life worth contemplating.
One of my favourite songs of all time is your tribute to Séamus, Easter Snow. Poignant, full of meaning and devotion. Beautiful.
Oh the music! As Séamus he did play
But the fog crept over the mantle white, and turned it back into the clay
https://youtu.be/GFh2CCyOX_Y
I’ll get my coat then, shall I.
It seems pretty strange to me to lump a huge range of diverse people together and then blame them for things that happened hundreds of years ago.
If Puck Fair has the wrong name then you can change it.
I’m shocked by this exchange. A post in a language that I don’t understand and a direct attack on a group of people that I can’t help belonging to.
I wouldn’t have said this but I’ve drunk some wine. I don’t know whether in this scenario that is good or bad. It’s given me the courage (stupidity? ) to say something.
Rebecca
Credim go bhfuil an Poc ar Buile anois !! H
will they be on the hunt now ? or have they chosen this years King already…..might I suggest that every year, whoever leads the pack, be made to spend the duration up on the platform alongside the unfortunate creature
Talking of the South Pole of Annascaul, Hafilax is what happens after a few hours in the Upper George…
Other definitions include
A dish made from smoked salmon and dill
Or a medicine you hope you won’t need to take.