What a wonderful experience that evening at The Singers Club must have been, Christy. Unfortunately I never saw Ewan MacColl perform. I did very much appreciate the celebrations to mark his centenary in 2015: the Blood and Roses tribute concert by his family and friends, and the Joy of Living album to which you contributed “The Companeros”. The last time I saw Peggy was a gig she and Calum played two years ago at Cecil Sharp House, as part of her First Farewell tour. I see that she is planning to retire in 2025, with a farewell tour as she turns 90.
Your story of ye all gathered around the wireless reminds me of a story Dad once told me.
Dadó (Dad’s dad) was a great rower.
The only way the people on the island could hear the All Ireland rowing was to gather around the wireless…the island in one house.
It was a fierce hot summers day as they were hanging on every word.
There was a tangle between Dadó’s currach and the Ciarraí crowd when a rooster came in the half-door and let an almighty roar …they couldn’t hear the wireless.
Dad’s uncle took his pipe from his mouth , threw it at the rooster and shouted “cas an cloigeann ar an mbuachaill”. (And worse language even unsuitable as Gaeilge)
Dad was only 5 years old got a fright and passed out i laige.
When he awoke 10 minutes later he immidiatley exclaimed , who won the race.!
Someone shouted “your father!”
Many years later Dadó had a lovely comhrá with Hilary about his love of racing Kerry people…. it was that race he had in mind.
Have a grand afternoon.
CS
PS I’ve written a song “cac an ghandail bháin”
.. ghandail is a gander ..thats a story for another day
Rebeccah, the hurling was free to watch live on BBC N.I. on the ‘red button’, not sure if you plan on watching the Dublin, Kerry gamel next Sunday but if so give the ‘red button’ a try.
Hi Christy
Jaysus but some of Limerick’s hurling in that second half was close to perfection. When you consider the conditions, the opposition and the occasion – maybe it was.
Worthy champions again. Fair play to them.
Next week will see if Kerry are a two in a row team
Dublin’s old guard will have their say – gan doubt.
All over before August even starts
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Christy's reply
Doubtless these new ways will be absorbed by the general populace….but auld lads like myself will sometimes long for earlier days….the excitement of gathering around a battery wireless to hear Michéal Ó Hehir describe a match from Croke Park…all the neighbours cramming the Kitchen of Granny Dowlings….listening to World Title Fights on BBC Radio….hearing The Grand National and The Derby in Granny Powers Kitchen…Mr What comin in at 18/1….my Granny Power (nee Sheeran) had a devotion to Lester Piggott like as if he was a Son….she’d get tearful if he was beaten in a tight finish ( on the wireless)
I’ll watch Kerry & The Dubs but not with the same fixation of earlier years….for me,its hard to watch the game as it has evolved….I spoke recently to a renowned Kerry Player (he holds many All Ireland medals) I asked him what he thought of the modern game… He thought for a while and said ” anyone who enjoys watching the modern game, I’d have to question their sanity”
Doubtless there will be 82,000 excited followers in Croke Park next Sunday who would disagree and more power to them….heres hopin it will be a cracker of a match on a scorcher of a day
Was a privilege to be in Croke Park yesterday…. first time I’ve managed to get my hands on tickets for the Final. It’s an amazing spectacle…. miles ahead of the Football.
You were a little to old when you tried the Hurling…. you need to be starting @3 or 4 years of age I reckon… think you made the right choice….. for the music and the hurling !!
Christy's reply
In later years I always carried two hurls and a sliotar when out on the road. Had puck abouts in London, NewYork, Sydney and many parks in between…always an interesting way to meet new people in far off lands
Hello Christy,
What an amazing game. It was brilliant. Never seen anything like it. Better than quidditch, and that doesn’t exist.
We spent hours trying to get it to work. TV, two laptops, mobile phones, cables everywhere, lots of head scratching and vpns. Finally got it to work on one of the laptops after the TV refused at the final fence. And it was all worth it. Loved it.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Full marks for dedication and determination to see the game..we were spoiled for choice, we had it on RTE2 and BBC1 N.I. As the ref blew full time we had a Rogan Josh delivery.
Hang sandwidges no doubt! Nainsí’s wee ears will be ringing. Cats and the Treaty will be some game. Adh mór to them both. Don’t forget to fasten your seat belt for the glorious helter skelter of this beautiful game.
Christy's reply
Nothing sounds like the clash of the ash….many sports excite, raise and dampen, draw masses, create hyperbole, bring death and destruction, ecstacy and adulation BUT ye cant bate a good game of hurling….for sheer speed of puck, skill of plucking a high ball in a forest of hurls, for Jimmy-Barry’s goal, for Ringie, Theo, Babs, Eddie Keher,D.J., Mick Mackey to name but a few…
I became aware of a difference in codes at an early age…My Home Club is Moorefield in County Kildare… primarily a GAA Football club we also fielded a Hurling Team in the 1950s… While our Football team was all locals our Hurling Team was a gathering of displaced exiles who had landed in Kildare from far flung corners…Some were Army Soldiers stationed on The Curragh, othere were Jockeys and Stable Hands from various nearby Yards, we had GardaÍ, Bank Clerks and Factory Workers…..I loved watching them, a disparate bunch, joined together passionately by their love of our Native Game…..
Yesterday, “The Hurling Final” lived Up to its name. The weather was unkind, it was’nt the “first Sunday in Sept”, the new sliotar probably travels too far, but nevertheless…..Ye can’t bate a good game of hurling
( I tried it once…turned out for a training session with Marlfied in The Vale of Honey….I soon realised it was beyond my skill set…went back to my digs in Annie Kehoe’s and practiced my Clancy Brother Songs….still at that..myself and Thady Quill )
Beeswing – beautiful.
Black is the colour – tender as a mother’s smile
Geez I’m enjoying the music Christy – I drift between your songs & the classic Irish folk tunes you so kindly nudged me toward
Hoping you & your company ride on with the breeze at your back & light hearts of whisper
The round ball game & the willow vs cherry ball – gotta cheer on me Aussie sheilas but I wouldn’t hit a depression if the Irish colleens prevailed
Play for those present & those overdue & those who’ve left Christy – good spirit will always find yourself & your voice & hands
Danny Harris – loving life
Christy's reply
Danny Boy,…your pen is flowing freely today..Fáilte arais
True that Ed.
Liam Clancy does a fine job as does Luke Kelly.
Never heard the Christy Man’s version.
Further research reveals that Ewan MacColl recorded tales of the old fishermen up along the east coast of England for a
BBC program – singing the fishing. He then rhymed the
collected lines into the shoals of herring.
Now you’re up on deck, you’re a fisherman
You can swear and show a manly bearing
Take your turn and watch with the other fellas
As you’re hunting for the shoals of herring
Christy's reply
I’ve not sung it since 1966 Bourkey..I’ve never gigged it …but I still love to hear it
Hello Christy,
Yes that recording of Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór is gorgeous, isn’t it. Glad you like it Ed.
Maybe it’s even more impressive if you’re a string player, harps don’t count, somehow. Not sure why. The strings and the soundboard are perpendicular, not parallel, maybe it’s that?
I always seem to find my way back to Planxty though. And the sublime pipes of Mr O’Flynn. https://youtu.be/z-WDNjcwIJs
I was once at a session and no melody instruments had turned up. I ended up vocalising it so they could play it.
Trying to work out how to watch the hurling here today.
Rory, I hope you survived your unsupervised evening with the grandkids.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Just toggin out here…the sangwidges are wrapped, the bicycle wheels pumped, tickets secure in the póca…The Cats v The Treaty…
Hello R. Arent those two mighty exponents of stringed instruments, probably the best two, Steve and Donal. Much talk in here of the great Ewan McC and the many songs he left. I associate the ‘(Bonny) Shoals of Herring’ with Liam Clancy, he recorded a great version of it.
Christy's reply
I too was smitten by Liam Clancy’s of this song….amongst all his repertoire, I assumed it to be another traditional song….when I went “over” I began to realise the extent of Ewan MacColl’s out put….to mention a handfull;
Travelling People
Dirty Old Town
First Time Ever I saw Your Face
Sweet Thames
Tim Evans
My Old Man
The Joy of Living
Champion at Keeping Them Rolling
Go Move Shift
Good Ship Granma ( Companeros)
Terror Time
40 Foot Trailer
Tunnel Tigers
Green Island
The Shoals of Herring
Manchester Rambler
these but a handfull of songs from his lifelong output….our singing world benefits enormously from the songs of Salford’s Ewan MacColl, of Scotland’s Jimmy Miller
My nephew and his partner were over the moon to be at your gig in Waterford. Sitting a handful of rows from the front, they sent me a picture of the stage before you stepped on. Delighted for them ach I couldn’t help but think of all the years and all the gigs, we have never been in a houns goul (sic) of the stage. No poor mouth here for no matter the row your music cascades around us all. Looking forward to the Orchard gig. Go well Christy, le grá…
Christy's reply
I was over the moon in that beautiful Theatre myself…..The Theatre Royal in Waterford is a very special room….for me tis far more Real than Royal…. but then again, I’m very biased in that department
Hi Christy, My own name is Evan O’Sullivan, I’m 21 years old. I have listened to your music for as long as I can remember. Me and my family are great supporters of you especially my grandad who had sadly passed a number of years of ago, he met you a number of years ago his name is John McGrath, my brother Chris McGrath has given birth to his first baby boy his name is shónin which is Irish for John. Chris knows all of your songs eapicailly your song ordinary man which was my grandads favourite, I’m wondering is there anyway I can persuade you to maybe play at his baby’s christening. It would be the biggest honour to our family to have a man like you be at my brothers child’s christening. I can’t stress enough how much we support you and we have always wanted to come see you in person but every show has been sold out which is of course a good thing😀 please if you even consider it could you please email me at sullivanevan74@gmail.com. Of course we can pay you if you want but either way we just want our family’s hero to be there
Christy's reply
truth is Evan, I’m flat out with Christenings at the moment….not a week goes by but we have another arrival….grand-childer, grand-nephews, grand-nieces arriving in happy profusion….may you all have enjoy the Christening of Shónín…may he have a long and peaceful life
Christy hi, these 2 grandweans aged 4 and 2 are running rings around me, they are far too clever. No ice cream unless you eat your main quickly becomes ‘what type of ice cream do you want then?’
The eldest loves singing Islands in the Stream , not sure if i am dolly or kenny.
Their parents will be back half 10, i doubt i will be awake longer than both of them, i hope to make 8pm but am doubtful, john O will not be needed here.
Currently we are playing boats, i am definitely the cabin boy with 2 pirate masters.
There must be a song in all that.
Anyway, 3 appearances on the wing and 1 as tighthead in a full game of thankfully uncontested scrumming.
Argh, montezumas revenge has just hit the wee’est one…..where’s the gin?
Rory
Let John o’dreams take you Christy, and never give up hope of the call, i have played 4 matches for the mighty Hawick rfc (2nds) in the last 2 seasons, aged now 59, so i reckon you are heading for the cauliflower ears in paris in the final.
Rory
Christy's reply
John took me away Rory..I knocked another three hours out of the night… 4 games for the 2nds @ 58….what position ?
I once lurked below in the Bective Rangers 3rd Bs but then I changed position from loose to tight and my (short) career began to blossom…I ended up with Galway Corinthians and we got to a Connacht Senior Final….(we trained on pint bottles of Guinness in The Skeffington Hotel on Eyre Square) UCG Galway beat us 3-0 in a dour Final…They were captained that day by Mick Molloy who went on to gain many caps for Ireland…
but more important affairs loomed….a month later I ran out of my bank job and took the B&I to Liverpool…..off the train in Paddington I set to work…that was 1966 and I’ve hardly had a day off since..
its dark and lonely work but someone has to do it ( George Wimpey)
Christy, the tune ‘king puck’ that you break into after ‘johnny connors’ on the album of the same name is a glorious toe tapper. Will you and the 3 lads gig together again?…..not that it is a complaint about the solo gigs!
Rory
Christy's reply
early in the morning here…far too early…I need another 4 hours with Morpheus but the head is acting up…wild dreaming got my head askew so I’m gonna do some fingerwork on the Mac…
you’re a humdinger Rory…you offer me some soothing distraction….King Puck you ask…for the life of me I cant recall who played on it…but its coming to me…there were a few players on that album…initially I rehearsed with Jimmy Faulkner and we set sail for Muskerry…we anchored in Ballyvourney and set to work in Sullaune Studio….Jimmy took ill and departed for The Black Lagoon….I was stuck…then I remembered Neil MacColl…took a chance and gave him a call….Him being a true troubador son of Peggy & Ewan he hopped aboard a Turbo Prop outa Gatwick and by teatime we were jamming goodo in The Mill Tavern….. Máire Breathnach joined us on Fiddle and (I think) Viola….the Sullane resident engineer also played fiddle and I invited him to play ….that tune after Johnny Conners happened by accident….I must get that song going again….I’ll give it a birl later…..me head is settled a bit now….I’m gonna try for a few more hours kip now…. I think “The Two Conneeleys” is on the album, also Me & The Rose..that Lady’s Son is on the Irish Rugby Squad currenlly in Camp before The Rugby World Cup… 3 songs there that might be refreshed and brought back into service…I hope Finn Russell is in good order…far as I know our lads are bonding well under Andy Farrell….I’m practicing my tight head techniques here in the unlikely event of getting the call up…. I dream the headline “78 year old prop strikes 3 against the head in gripping World Cup Final”….zzzzzzzzzzz
Howya Christy
Ewan McColl is being mentioned in dispatches recently
Agus is ceart agus is coir sin.
The Bonny Shoals of Herrings
is one of those one in a hundred songs.
Jaysus Christy after writing that you’d just close the book
and say Peggy I’m done now.
One of those very hard to sing well songs like
The Limerick Rake
The Good Ship Kangaroo
The Galway Races
The Rocky Road to Dublin
Ride On
Roll Back The Clouds
Looking forward to the hurling on Sunday
Thinking Limerick but those Cats are never bet
Christy's reply
“Night and Day we’re sailing”
I was singing that for 10 years befor I learned that Ewan wrote it….what a lyric
What a wonderful experience that evening at The Singers Club must have been, Christy. Unfortunately I never saw Ewan MacColl perform. I did very much appreciate the celebrations to mark his centenary in 2015: the Blood and Roses tribute concert by his family and friends, and the Joy of Living album to which you contributed “The Companeros”. The last time I saw Peggy was a gig she and Calum played two years ago at Cecil Sharp House, as part of her First Farewell tour. I see that she is planning to retire in 2025, with a farewell tour as she turns 90.
CM
Your story of ye all gathered around the wireless reminds me of a story Dad once told me.
Dadó (Dad’s dad) was a great rower.
The only way the people on the island could hear the All Ireland rowing was to gather around the wireless…the island in one house.
It was a fierce hot summers day as they were hanging on every word.
There was a tangle between Dadó’s currach and the Ciarraí crowd when a rooster came in the half-door and let an almighty roar …they couldn’t hear the wireless.
Dad’s uncle took his pipe from his mouth , threw it at the rooster and shouted “cas an cloigeann ar an mbuachaill”. (And worse language even unsuitable as Gaeilge)
Dad was only 5 years old got a fright and passed out i laige.
When he awoke 10 minutes later he immidiatley exclaimed , who won the race.!
Someone shouted “your father!”
Many years later Dadó had a lovely comhrá with Hilary about his love of racing Kerry people…. it was that race he had in mind.
Have a grand afternoon.
CS
PS I’ve written a song “cac an ghandail bháin”
.. ghandail is a gander ..thats a story for another day
There’s quite enough politicians in this house already (none! )… Without those two popping up when I’m trying to watch some sensible sport…
Could have been worse Christy, you could have pressed the Blue button and Boris Johnson pop up (he’s never far away).
Rebeccah, the hurling was free to watch live on BBC N.I. on the ‘red button’, not sure if you plan on watching the Dublin, Kerry gamel next Sunday but if so give the ‘red button’ a try.
I tried….Derek Hatton came up
Hi Christy
Jaysus but some of Limerick’s hurling in that second half was close to perfection. When you consider the conditions, the opposition and the occasion – maybe it was.
Worthy champions again. Fair play to them.
Next week will see if Kerry are a two in a row team
Dublin’s old guard will have their say – gan doubt.
All over before August even starts
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Doubtless these new ways will be absorbed by the general populace….but auld lads like myself will sometimes long for earlier days….the excitement of gathering around a battery wireless to hear Michéal Ó Hehir describe a match from Croke Park…all the neighbours cramming the Kitchen of Granny Dowlings….listening to World Title Fights on BBC Radio….hearing The Grand National and The Derby in Granny Powers Kitchen…Mr What comin in at 18/1….my Granny Power (nee Sheeran) had a devotion to Lester Piggott like as if he was a Son….she’d get tearful if he was beaten in a tight finish ( on the wireless)
I’ll watch Kerry & The Dubs but not with the same fixation of earlier years….for me,its hard to watch the game as it has evolved….I spoke recently to a renowned Kerry Player (he holds many All Ireland medals) I asked him what he thought of the modern game… He thought for a while and said ” anyone who enjoys watching the modern game, I’d have to question their sanity”
Doubtless there will be 82,000 excited followers in Croke Park next Sunday who would disagree and more power to them….heres hopin it will be a cracker of a match on a scorcher of a day
Was a privilege to be in Croke Park yesterday…. first time I’ve managed to get my hands on tickets for the Final. It’s an amazing spectacle…. miles ahead of the Football.
You were a little to old when you tried the Hurling…. you need to be starting @3 or 4 years of age I reckon… think you made the right choice….. for the music and the hurling !!
In later years I always carried two hurls and a sliotar when out on the road. Had puck abouts in London, NewYork, Sydney and many parks in between…always an interesting way to meet new people in far off lands
Hello Christy,
What an amazing game. It was brilliant. Never seen anything like it. Better than quidditch, and that doesn’t exist.
We spent hours trying to get it to work. TV, two laptops, mobile phones, cables everywhere, lots of head scratching and vpns. Finally got it to work on one of the laptops after the TV refused at the final fence. And it was all worth it. Loved it.
Rebecca
Full marks for dedication and determination to see the game..we were spoiled for choice, we had it on RTE2 and BBC1 N.I. As the ref blew full time we had a Rogan Josh delivery.
Hang sandwidges no doubt! Nainsí’s wee ears will be ringing. Cats and the Treaty will be some game. Adh mór to them both. Don’t forget to fasten your seat belt for the glorious helter skelter of this beautiful game.
Nothing sounds like the clash of the ash….many sports excite, raise and dampen, draw masses, create hyperbole, bring death and destruction, ecstacy and adulation BUT ye cant bate a good game of hurling….for sheer speed of puck, skill of plucking a high ball in a forest of hurls, for Jimmy-Barry’s goal, for Ringie, Theo, Babs, Eddie Keher,D.J., Mick Mackey to name but a few…
I became aware of a difference in codes at an early age…My Home Club is Moorefield in County Kildare… primarily a GAA Football club we also fielded a Hurling Team in the 1950s… While our Football team was all locals our Hurling Team was a gathering of displaced exiles who had landed in Kildare from far flung corners…Some were Army Soldiers stationed on The Curragh, othere were Jockeys and Stable Hands from various nearby Yards, we had GardaÍ, Bank Clerks and Factory Workers…..I loved watching them, a disparate bunch, joined together passionately by their love of our Native Game…..
Yesterday, “The Hurling Final” lived Up to its name. The weather was unkind, it was’nt the “first Sunday in Sept”, the new sliotar probably travels too far, but nevertheless…..Ye can’t bate a good game of hurling
( I tried it once…turned out for a training session with Marlfied in The Vale of Honey….I soon realised it was beyond my skill set…went back to my digs in Annie Kehoe’s and practiced my Clancy Brother Songs….still at that..myself and Thady Quill )
Beeswing – beautiful.
Black is the colour – tender as a mother’s smile
Geez I’m enjoying the music Christy – I drift between your songs & the classic Irish folk tunes you so kindly nudged me toward
Hoping you & your company ride on with the breeze at your back & light hearts of whisper
The round ball game & the willow vs cherry ball – gotta cheer on me Aussie sheilas but I wouldn’t hit a depression if the Irish colleens prevailed
Play for those present & those overdue & those who’ve left Christy – good spirit will always find yourself & your voice & hands
Danny Harris – loving life
Danny Boy,…your pen is flowing freely today..Fáilte arais
True that Ed.
Liam Clancy does a fine job as does Luke Kelly.
Never heard the Christy Man’s version.
Further research reveals that Ewan MacColl recorded tales of the old fishermen up along the east coast of England for a
BBC program – singing the fishing. He then rhymed the
collected lines into the shoals of herring.
Now you’re up on deck, you’re a fisherman
You can swear and show a manly bearing
Take your turn and watch with the other fellas
As you’re hunting for the shoals of herring
I’ve not sung it since 1966 Bourkey..I’ve never gigged it …but I still love to hear it
Hello Christy,
Yes that recording of Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór is gorgeous, isn’t it. Glad you like it Ed.
Maybe it’s even more impressive if you’re a string player, harps don’t count, somehow. Not sure why. The strings and the soundboard are perpendicular, not parallel, maybe it’s that?
I always seem to find my way back to Planxty though. And the sublime pipes of Mr O’Flynn.
https://youtu.be/z-WDNjcwIJs
I was once at a session and no melody instruments had turned up. I ended up vocalising it so they could play it.
Trying to work out how to watch the hurling here today.
Rory, I hope you survived your unsupervised evening with the grandkids.
Rebecca
Just toggin out here…the sangwidges are wrapped, the bicycle wheels pumped, tickets secure in the póca…The Cats v The Treaty…
Hello R. Arent those two mighty exponents of stringed instruments, probably the best two, Steve and Donal. Much talk in here of the great Ewan McC and the many songs he left. I associate the ‘(Bonny) Shoals of Herring’ with Liam Clancy, he recorded a great version of it.
I too was smitten by Liam Clancy’s of this song….amongst all his repertoire, I assumed it to be another traditional song….when I went “over” I began to realise the extent of Ewan MacColl’s out put….to mention a handfull;
Travelling People
Dirty Old Town
First Time Ever I saw Your Face
Sweet Thames
Tim Evans
My Old Man
The Joy of Living
Champion at Keeping Them Rolling
Go Move Shift
Good Ship Granma ( Companeros)
Terror Time
40 Foot Trailer
Tunnel Tigers
Green Island
The Shoals of Herring
Manchester Rambler
these but a handfull of songs from his lifelong output….our singing world benefits enormously from the songs of Salford’s Ewan MacColl, of Scotland’s Jimmy Miller
My nephew and his partner were over the moon to be at your gig in Waterford. Sitting a handful of rows from the front, they sent me a picture of the stage before you stepped on. Delighted for them ach I couldn’t help but think of all the years and all the gigs, we have never been in a houns goul (sic) of the stage. No poor mouth here for no matter the row your music cascades around us all. Looking forward to the Orchard gig. Go well Christy, le grá…
I was over the moon in that beautiful Theatre myself…..The Theatre Royal in Waterford is a very special room….for me tis far more Real than Royal…. but then again, I’m very biased in that department
Hi Christy, My own name is Evan O’Sullivan, I’m 21 years old. I have listened to your music for as long as I can remember. Me and my family are great supporters of you especially my grandad who had sadly passed a number of years of ago, he met you a number of years ago his name is John McGrath, my brother Chris McGrath has given birth to his first baby boy his name is shónin which is Irish for John. Chris knows all of your songs eapicailly your song ordinary man which was my grandads favourite, I’m wondering is there anyway I can persuade you to maybe play at his baby’s christening. It would be the biggest honour to our family to have a man like you be at my brothers child’s christening. I can’t stress enough how much we support you and we have always wanted to come see you in person but every show has been sold out which is of course a good thing😀 please if you even consider it could you please email me at sullivanevan74@gmail.com. Of course we can pay you if you want but either way we just want our family’s hero to be there
truth is Evan, I’m flat out with Christenings at the moment….not a week goes by but we have another arrival….grand-childer, grand-nephews, grand-nieces arriving in happy profusion….may you all have enjoy the Christening of Shónín…may he have a long and peaceful life
Christy hi, these 2 grandweans aged 4 and 2 are running rings around me, they are far too clever. No ice cream unless you eat your main quickly becomes ‘what type of ice cream do you want then?’
The eldest loves singing Islands in the Stream , not sure if i am dolly or kenny.
Their parents will be back half 10, i doubt i will be awake longer than both of them, i hope to make 8pm but am doubtful, john O will not be needed here.
Currently we are playing boats, i am definitely the cabin boy with 2 pirate masters.
There must be a song in all that.
Anyway, 3 appearances on the wing and 1 as tighthead in a full game of thankfully uncontested scrumming.
Argh, montezumas revenge has just hit the wee’est one…..where’s the gin?
Rory
you’ll be needing a lie in this morning
Hello Christy,
I hope a deep dreamless sleep took you in its arms.
Here I’ve had the wild dreams too. People exploding, cutting off each others hair, riding in a car off a cliff, sneaking an ice cream van out of a door.
I’ve been taking valerian and it’s done bugger all.
Hers something lovely
https://www.facebook.com/100010917466155/posts/pfbid0tCq7fAiZgZs8zfRVHBpkhMRxcjdRRZRVDVgGnqZtenXa5tKLK4j1B6jchttpqSPfl/
Rebecca
it might be the Valerian thats setting you off
Let John o’dreams take you Christy, and never give up hope of the call, i have played 4 matches for the mighty Hawick rfc (2nds) in the last 2 seasons, aged now 59, so i reckon you are heading for the cauliflower ears in paris in the final.
Rory
John took me away Rory..I knocked another three hours out of the night… 4 games for the 2nds @ 58….what position ?
I once lurked below in the Bective Rangers 3rd Bs but then I changed position from loose to tight and my (short) career began to blossom…I ended up with Galway Corinthians and we got to a Connacht Senior Final….(we trained on pint bottles of Guinness in The Skeffington Hotel on Eyre Square) UCG Galway beat us 3-0 in a dour Final…They were captained that day by Mick Molloy who went on to gain many caps for Ireland…
but more important affairs loomed….a month later I ran out of my bank job and took the B&I to Liverpool…..off the train in Paddington I set to work…that was 1966 and I’ve hardly had a day off since..
its dark and lonely work but someone has to do it ( George Wimpey)
Christy, the tune ‘king puck’ that you break into after ‘johnny connors’ on the album of the same name is a glorious toe tapper. Will you and the 3 lads gig together again?…..not that it is a complaint about the solo gigs!
Rory
early in the morning here…far too early…I need another 4 hours with Morpheus but the head is acting up…wild dreaming got my head askew so I’m gonna do some fingerwork on the Mac…
you’re a humdinger Rory…you offer me some soothing distraction….King Puck you ask…for the life of me I cant recall who played on it…but its coming to me…there were a few players on that album…initially I rehearsed with Jimmy Faulkner and we set sail for Muskerry…we anchored in Ballyvourney and set to work in Sullaune Studio….Jimmy took ill and departed for The Black Lagoon….I was stuck…then I remembered Neil MacColl…took a chance and gave him a call….Him being a true troubador son of Peggy & Ewan he hopped aboard a Turbo Prop outa Gatwick and by teatime we were jamming goodo in The Mill Tavern….. Máire Breathnach joined us on Fiddle and (I think) Viola….the Sullane resident engineer also played fiddle and I invited him to play ….that tune after Johnny Conners happened by accident….I must get that song going again….I’ll give it a birl later…..me head is settled a bit now….I’m gonna try for a few more hours kip now…. I think “The Two Conneeleys” is on the album, also Me & The Rose..that Lady’s Son is on the Irish Rugby Squad currenlly in Camp before The Rugby World Cup… 3 songs there that might be refreshed and brought back into service…I hope Finn Russell is in good order…far as I know our lads are bonding well under Andy Farrell….I’m practicing my tight head techniques here in the unlikely event of getting the call up…. I dream the headline “78 year old prop strikes 3 against the head in gripping World Cup Final”….zzzzzzzzzzz
Howya Christy
Ewan McColl is being mentioned in dispatches recently
Agus is ceart agus is coir sin.
The Bonny Shoals of Herrings
is one of those one in a hundred songs.
Jaysus Christy after writing that you’d just close the book
and say Peggy I’m done now.
One of those very hard to sing well songs like
The Limerick Rake
The Good Ship Kangaroo
The Galway Races
The Rocky Road to Dublin
Ride On
Roll Back The Clouds
Looking forward to the hurling on Sunday
Thinking Limerick but those Cats are never bet
“Night and Day we’re sailing”
I was singing that for 10 years befor I learned that Ewan wrote it….what a lyric