Today,I got knackered headphones fixed…tested them out on YouTube,Planxty at Vicar Street…hallelujah,all good!!
Such an ace gig.Playing at top level and the cameras catching glances and smiles of band members…wonderful to absorb.
RIP Liam and thank you ,all
Dave
Christy's reply
I’ve just realised that its 20 years since….bloomin heck our kid…gone in a blink
Well Christy, the places this site takes us!
Thanks Rory fir your pointer to Séamus Heaneys home place. On Friday we were in Dublin, and dropped in out of the rain to the BOI College Green to the Séamus exhibition there…..a lot of stuff he donated to the National Library. Brilliant.
Then Saturday following the Rory hint, off to Bellaghy. A completely different experience, but magic, mesmerizing, and truly engrossing meeting the good people of Bellaghy, and chatting Irish things with them on the days when Jeffrey D had to exit the stage.
Did you visit the graveyard Rory? As (sad) luck would have it, there was a funeral of a member of the extended Heeney family talking place.
A graveyard full if Irish History! The McGlincheys, Mary and Dominic reunited in death following tragic shootings, and the terribly sad sight of two cousins, Francis Hughes and Thomas McElwee united by hunger strike deaths, and by burial in the home graveyard.
As returning from a night out in Ardboe as a youngster had introduced Francis to the brutality if the British soldiers, his father wanted him to tell the police, Francis said he’d find his own way to deal with it, Ardboe was a suitable place for us to visit, as it also involved the Heaney family, Seamus’ wife Maire was from there.
But chatting to a distant relative of the Tamlaghtduff boy, Irish political and parochial history was summed up in one wee comment….’you know Paddy Heaney didn’t come to our Francis’ wake’….
Nonetheless, a couple of words from a very moving (much personal experience) poem by Séamus are appropriate here I think:
“The tightness and the nilness round that space when the car stops in the road,
the troops inspect its make and number and,
as one bends his face towards your window, you catch sight of more
on a hill beyond,
eyeing with intent down cradled guns that hold you under cover;
(From the frontier of writing …a checkpoint experience)
A small enough distance from Tamlaghtduff to Castledawson …
Christy's reply
my last gig in the GAA Club Bellaghy was over 40 years ago… I have good reason to remember it clearly….also,there was a mighty hooley after… sweet poitin and almighty crack…I was taken to bed in a wheelbarrow..I could not even look at an egg the following morning…had to drive up over the Glenshane for a gig up The Falls Rd…
Hi Christy
It’s such an honor to be able to reach out to you and fair play for putting together a platform to do so. Your music has been a big part of my life especially during my songwriting years. I gave up the demon drink a few years ago and use songwriting as my tool of sobriety.
I know you’ve always said it was by complete fluke that you had commercial success with Ronan Collins playing Don’t Forget Your Shovel When You Want To Go To Work, although I have no interest in commercial success I would like a song or two I wrote to be heard and possibly played on radio. What steps would you have taken to distribute your music, this is something I’ve always struggled with. And also would you have any songwriting tips for a newcomer. I’ve attached a link to a song I wrote and released called My Dear Sarah, it’s about Robert Emmet deciding not to go to France but to stay and see Sarah Curran one last time, I hope it finds it’s way to your ears. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8nfXEJbvnw
Much love to you Christy
Keith
Christy's reply
Keith…. I like your song and the way you do it..well done
re what steps to take….
thats a hard one …
The success I had with the shovel came 18 years after I went on the road full time..I set out in 1966 to try may hand at balladeering…in 1984 Ronan Collins took a shine to my cover of Christie Hennessy’s “Shovel”…
since that time the world has been turned upside down..I’ve no idea how the airplay / music industry functions in 2024….I keep singing and hoping for the best…I had to take many many long steps way back in the day…..I came back to Ireland in 1972 and formed Planxty …we enjoyed some success..when Ileft Planxty in 1974 I was back to square one..found it very hard to get work nutil an Irishman in Polydor London called George McManus called Polydor in Dublin and suggested they give me a go..and I got going again…all this 10 years before the shovel dug me out of the doldrums….
Hi all,
Probably not the right place to put this but for some unknown reason (me being useless basically) i have managed to leave sufficient time in purchasing tickets for Leisureland in Galway on September 14th in that it now appears to be too late and the dreaded “House Full” has appeared beside that date.
With it being the year that the good lady turns 50, i have now relegated myself to an also-ran in the family awards for best gift. I will keep trying ticketmaster for re-sale and have also stumbled upon donedeal website but alas no joy so far.
As you can tell from my location, this will include booking of flights and hotel so if anyone has any ideas where i could purchase two tickets for the above gig then i would be eternally grateful and forever in your debt.
Any help appreciated, thanks.
Christy's reply
hope something works out for yourself and herself…
Howya Christy,
Wasn’t planning on watching the match yesterday.
Joe Brolly reckoned Derry could keep the dubs to six points.
And he’s watched Derry a lot more than me.
(Did you ever meet up for his podcast ? )
Can’t remember a better game le fada an la.
Going to be anteresting if hopefully they renew acquaintances
in the championship.
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Christy's reply
it was a turn up for the books….
we recorded a Free State Podcast a few months back
Joe might have slapped a Section 31 on it
I posted a lengthy message that got nobbled in cyberspace…the gist of it was a eulogy on the merits of Claddagh Records…having played loads of their output recently.
Dolly Mac Mahon’s singing and life story well worth a visit to Claddagh world.Plus,loads more of interest…
Dave
Christy's reply
since the last site update some new tics and foibles have emerged….
Hello Christy,
Looks like a stray ceiling was the least of my problems in that quote. The way it was actually written is so much better, lovely rhythm to it.
Anyway, talking of Hishups, Here’s something I first heard in my teens. A drunk one, walking down a corridor always appears in my head when I think of it. https://youtu.be/EOILCt9q4ps?si=QOY_s_pCCpPP15xO
Hi christy
If any fellow 4711ers are interested my friend Allal Yamine is organising this festival. Performers/attendees have to self fund their travel and stay but he would love anyone who can to come to Morocco.
Thanks Rory
I Pity The Poor Immigrant.
I read that many countries including Ireland – like Oz – have turned their attention to vilifying & demonising migrants.
It seems to be the lot of man to sleepwalk towards injustice & follow the lines of hatred & intolerance.
My country is born of migrants – from the original inhabitants to those today…
Let’s not make the mistakes of the past..big money will try bribery but our hearts must be just & full of love.
Anyway, Happy Easter (pagan or otherwise) to you all.
Danny Harris
Hi. Christy, Some songs are forever linked to a specific day and feelings. I can’t listen to without going back in time.
So as: “ easter snow” reminds the day we returned from Telford, where our daughter had finished her Erasmus semester. It was nearly Easter, it was cold and it snowed all the time. A difficult journey but we were happy to be together.
Neil Young “such a woman”, 1994. we were on our way home very early in the morning with a spectacular sunrise over the lake maggiore.at that time my sister-in-law and best friend was fighting cancer and I tought that this experience was a sign of hope. Unfortunaly she died three months later, leaving behind two little daughters .
Requiem Faure : sitting on a French terras, far below us the river verdon, high above us a bird of prey and the music of faure’s requiem.
These are such strong memories.
I still have other fine experiences, not related to music, but they are a bit weird, so I’ll leave it at this. Eastergreetings and goodnight
Made me think of
The commotion will be a lotion on the strutting
At the continental ceiling tonight
Christy's reply
such commotion
will act like a lotion
for the struttin
at the Continental Céilí tonight.. ( John Mulhearn)
….cant vouch for veracity…but I’m sure I recall sessions in The Continental Bar in Salthill, County Galway back in the day..did I dream it ? or was Mickey Finn there, Pete Galligan, Terry Smith, Alec Finn, Corky….
any answers ?
Christy i wonder how Seán Mac Diarmada and his fellow volunteers felt as they prepared for tomorrow.
Mick Blake’s stirring song may give us a clue.
And then the poet, a few months on wrote
I write it out in a verse—
MacDonagh and MacBride
And Connolly and Pearse
Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.
The arts can recall , but the courage was theirs.
Rory
Hi Christy
lastly on my way I had a very nice experience with the taxidriver who gave me a lift to the Airport. When we drove round Howth and I had to say goodbye to the sea he told me about the stunning event when the whales are coming up end of November . It must be absolutely gorgeous…..
and then when we talked about you he told me he had driven you already many, many times. So I left Ireland again with a heart full of warm memories and say thank you for giving me those great moments in my life with your music.
Then way back home the voyage still cruised in my head
I have to admit it was for the first time it went that directly in my heart , actually I don t really know why it didn t before
and then it reminded me of a german poem which I also love very much and I tried to translate it:
two rowing a boat
one knowing the stars
one knowing the storms
will the one be leading through the stars
will the other be leading through the storms
and at the end at the very, very end
the sea of the memories will be blue
From Rainer Kunze
Perhaps you ll like it too.
All the best and ride on
Christy,
I can remember hearing Luke Kelly describe being given the ‘imprimatur’ as he called it by Paddy Kavanagh to sing Raglan Road.
Your own generous words are something similar.
Here’s a link to the tune … sound quality’s not great but you get the idea.
Not sure if many people here will know of Les Barker,but he’d have been a kindred spirit…via nostalgia/YouTube fest,I’ve just read that Les died last year.
I’d urge people to check out his poems,that he performed,often containing surreal humour and excrutiating puns…also,a superb songwriter.He rarely sang,but donated his output to friends such as Martin Carthy and June Tabor.
‘Mrs Ackroyd’ was his faithful dog at the time we played as support for him in a Lancashire folk club. A wet Monday night and few punters…Les wasn’t happy as he’d had to leave Mrs A tied to a lamp post outside the pub…the landlord having told Les that he was welcome, but not ‘the bloody dog’…
I’m sad to read that Les has passed,but am smiling at the memories of seeing him gig at a big festival. Half the audience laughing their heads off and others completely missing his humour…so,back to YouTube and raising a cuppa to a rare talent.I hope some companeros will join me.
Not sure if you’ve seen this Christy, just released from the RTE archive. Lovely version of McIllhatton. Have to say, doesn’t Donal L have the vocal range of a piano! Agus ceist eile le do thoil! The guitar you pick up at the end? Not the usual Atki or Taki?
Hi Christy
Today,I got knackered headphones fixed…tested them out on YouTube,Planxty at Vicar Street…hallelujah,all good!!
Such an ace gig.Playing at top level and the cameras catching glances and smiles of band members…wonderful to absorb.
RIP Liam and thank you ,all
Dave
I’ve just realised that its 20 years since….bloomin heck our kid…gone in a blink
Well Christy, the places this site takes us!
Thanks Rory fir your pointer to Séamus Heaneys home place. On Friday we were in Dublin, and dropped in out of the rain to the BOI College Green to the Séamus exhibition there…..a lot of stuff he donated to the National Library. Brilliant.
Then Saturday following the Rory hint, off to Bellaghy. A completely different experience, but magic, mesmerizing, and truly engrossing meeting the good people of Bellaghy, and chatting Irish things with them on the days when Jeffrey D had to exit the stage.
Did you visit the graveyard Rory? As (sad) luck would have it, there was a funeral of a member of the extended Heeney family talking place.
A graveyard full if Irish History! The McGlincheys, Mary and Dominic reunited in death following tragic shootings, and the terribly sad sight of two cousins, Francis Hughes and Thomas McElwee united by hunger strike deaths, and by burial in the home graveyard.
As returning from a night out in Ardboe as a youngster had introduced Francis to the brutality if the British soldiers, his father wanted him to tell the police, Francis said he’d find his own way to deal with it, Ardboe was a suitable place for us to visit, as it also involved the Heaney family, Seamus’ wife Maire was from there.
But chatting to a distant relative of the Tamlaghtduff boy, Irish political and parochial history was summed up in one wee comment….’you know Paddy Heaney didn’t come to our Francis’ wake’….
Nonetheless, a couple of words from a very moving (much personal experience) poem by Séamus are appropriate here I think:
“The tightness and the nilness round that space when the car stops in the road,
the troops inspect its make and number and,
as one bends his face towards your window, you catch sight of more
on a hill beyond,
eyeing with intent down cradled guns that hold you under cover;
(From the frontier of writing …a checkpoint experience)
A small enough distance from Tamlaghtduff to Castledawson …
my last gig in the GAA Club Bellaghy was over 40 years ago… I have good reason to remember it clearly….also,there was a mighty hooley after… sweet poitin and almighty crack…I was taken to bed in a wheelbarrow..I could not even look at an egg the following morning…had to drive up over the Glenshane for a gig up The Falls Rd…
Hi Christy
It’s such an honor to be able to reach out to you and fair play for putting together a platform to do so. Your music has been a big part of my life especially during my songwriting years. I gave up the demon drink a few years ago and use songwriting as my tool of sobriety.
I know you’ve always said it was by complete fluke that you had commercial success with Ronan Collins playing Don’t Forget Your Shovel When You Want To Go To Work, although I have no interest in commercial success I would like a song or two I wrote to be heard and possibly played on radio. What steps would you have taken to distribute your music, this is something I’ve always struggled with. And also would you have any songwriting tips for a newcomer. I’ve attached a link to a song I wrote and released called My Dear Sarah, it’s about Robert Emmet deciding not to go to France but to stay and see Sarah Curran one last time, I hope it finds it’s way to your ears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8nfXEJbvnw
Much love to you Christy
Keith
Keith…. I like your song and the way you do it..well done
re what steps to take….
thats a hard one …
The success I had with the shovel came 18 years after I went on the road full time..I set out in 1966 to try may hand at balladeering…in 1984 Ronan Collins took a shine to my cover of Christie Hennessy’s “Shovel”…
since that time the world has been turned upside down..I’ve no idea how the airplay / music industry functions in 2024….I keep singing and hoping for the best…I had to take many many long steps way back in the day…..I came back to Ireland in 1972 and formed Planxty …we enjoyed some success..when Ileft Planxty in 1974 I was back to square one..found it very hard to get work nutil an Irishman in Polydor London called George McManus called Polydor in Dublin and suggested they give me a go..and I got going again…all this 10 years before the shovel dug me out of the doldrums….
Hi all,
Probably not the right place to put this but for some unknown reason (me being useless basically) i have managed to leave sufficient time in purchasing tickets for Leisureland in Galway on September 14th in that it now appears to be too late and the dreaded “House Full” has appeared beside that date.
With it being the year that the good lady turns 50, i have now relegated myself to an also-ran in the family awards for best gift. I will keep trying ticketmaster for re-sale and have also stumbled upon donedeal website but alas no joy so far.
As you can tell from my location, this will include booking of flights and hotel so if anyone has any ideas where i could purchase two tickets for the above gig then i would be eternally grateful and forever in your debt.
Any help appreciated, thanks.
hope something works out for yourself and herself…
Howya Christy,
Wasn’t planning on watching the match yesterday.
Joe Brolly reckoned Derry could keep the dubs to six points.
And he’s watched Derry a lot more than me.
(Did you ever meet up for his podcast ? )
Can’t remember a better game le fada an la.
Going to be anteresting if hopefully they renew acquaintances
in the championship.
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
it was a turn up for the books….
we recorded a Free State Podcast a few months back
Joe might have slapped a Section 31 on it
Hi Christy
I posted a lengthy message that got nobbled in cyberspace…the gist of it was a eulogy on the merits of Claddagh Records…having played loads of their output recently.
Dolly Mac Mahon’s singing and life story well worth a visit to Claddagh world.Plus,loads more of interest…
Dave
since the last site update some new tics and foibles have emerged….
Hello Christy,
Looks like a stray ceiling was the least of my problems in that quote. The way it was actually written is so much better, lovely rhythm to it.
Anyway, talking of Hishups, Here’s something I first heard in my teens. A drunk one, walking down a corridor always appears in my head when I think of it.
https://youtu.be/EOILCt9q4ps?si=QOY_s_pCCpPP15xO
Rebecca
Hi christy
If any fellow 4711ers are interested my friend Allal Yamine is organising this festival. Performers/attendees have to self fund their travel and stay but he would love anyone who can to come to Morocco.
Thanks Rory
https://gnaouafestivalasilah.weebly.com/performers.html
I Pity The Poor Immigrant.
I read that many countries including Ireland – like Oz – have turned their attention to vilifying & demonising migrants.
It seems to be the lot of man to sleepwalk towards injustice & follow the lines of hatred & intolerance.
My country is born of migrants – from the original inhabitants to those today…
Let’s not make the mistakes of the past..big money will try bribery but our hearts must be just & full of love.
Anyway, Happy Easter (pagan or otherwise) to you all.
Danny Harris
Hi. Christy, Some songs are forever linked to a specific day and feelings. I can’t listen to without going back in time.
So as: “ easter snow” reminds the day we returned from Telford, where our daughter had finished her Erasmus semester. It was nearly Easter, it was cold and it snowed all the time. A difficult journey but we were happy to be together.
Neil Young “such a woman”, 1994. we were on our way home very early in the morning with a spectacular sunrise over the lake maggiore.at that time my sister-in-law and best friend was fighting cancer and I tought that this experience was a sign of hope. Unfortunaly she died three months later, leaving behind two little daughters .
Requiem Faure : sitting on a French terras, far below us the river verdon, high above us a bird of prey and the music of faure’s requiem.
These are such strong memories.
I still have other fine experiences, not related to music, but they are a bit weird, so I’ll leave it at this. Eastergreetings and goodnight
Christy
Listening to Traveller today.
The Siren’s Voice should be played to that sadly growing band of anti-immigration nimby craturs.
Rory
John Creedon played it last week on evening programme on RTE Radio
I swear it said ceili when I typed it 💚
cud appen two a hishup
Made me think of
The commotion will be a lotion on the strutting
At the continental ceiling tonight
such commotion
will act like a lotion
for the struttin
at the Continental Céilí tonight.. ( John Mulhearn)
….cant vouch for veracity…but I’m sure I recall sessions in The Continental Bar in Salthill, County Galway back in the day..did I dream it ? or was Mickey Finn there, Pete Galligan, Terry Smith, Alec Finn, Corky….
any answers ?
Hello Christy,
May the joys of spring walk, flutter and strut among us.
Here’s something I heard yesterday.
https://youtu.be/Q8riZlnDdHs?si=detaPCPHS6qZo4R4
Sounds like the B set?
Thankyou for mentioning my links. I love sharing things that give me joy.
Rebecca
Hi Christy
Happy Easter all…Summer time welcomed with a mug of tea and Easter Snow, courtesy of Seamus Ennis’ ace piping
Dave
Christy i wonder how Seán Mac Diarmada and his fellow volunteers felt as they prepared for tomorrow.
Mick Blake’s stirring song may give us a clue.
And then the poet, a few months on wrote
I write it out in a verse—
MacDonagh and MacBride
And Connolly and Pearse
Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.
The arts can recall , but the courage was theirs.
Rory
Hi Christy
lastly on my way I had a very nice experience with the taxidriver who gave me a lift to the Airport. When we drove round Howth and I had to say goodbye to the sea he told me about the stunning event when the whales are coming up end of November . It must be absolutely gorgeous…..
and then when we talked about you he told me he had driven you already many, many times. So I left Ireland again with a heart full of warm memories and say thank you for giving me those great moments in my life with your music.
Then way back home the voyage still cruised in my head
I have to admit it was for the first time it went that directly in my heart , actually I don t really know why it didn t before
and then it reminded me of a german poem which I also love very much and I tried to translate it:
two rowing a boat
one knowing the stars
one knowing the storms
will the one be leading through the stars
will the other be leading through the storms
and at the end at the very, very end
the sea of the memories will be blue
From Rainer Kunze
Perhaps you ll like it too.
All the best and ride on
now again unfortunately far away
Ursula
Christy,
I can remember hearing Luke Kelly describe being given the ‘imprimatur’ as he called it by Paddy Kavanagh to sing Raglan Road.
Your own generous words are something similar.
Here’s a link to the tune … sound quality’s not great but you get the idea.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4-xVBhyemQ/?igsh=MTRkNnh3OTc4OWo2eg==
Appreciate the encouragement … Go Raibh Míle Maith Agat
Dublin Dan
Hi Christy
Not sure if many people here will know of Les Barker,but he’d have been a kindred spirit…via nostalgia/YouTube fest,I’ve just read that Les died last year.
I’d urge people to check out his poems,that he performed,often containing surreal humour and excrutiating puns…also,a superb songwriter.He rarely sang,but donated his output to friends such as Martin Carthy and June Tabor.
‘Mrs Ackroyd’ was his faithful dog at the time we played as support for him in a Lancashire folk club. A wet Monday night and few punters…Les wasn’t happy as he’d had to leave Mrs A tied to a lamp post outside the pub…the landlord having told Les that he was welcome, but not ‘the bloody dog’…
I’m sad to read that Les has passed,but am smiling at the memories of seeing him gig at a big festival. Half the audience laughing their heads off and others completely missing his humour…so,back to YouTube and raising a cuppa to a rare talent.I hope some companeros will join me.
Dave
Evening Christy and All!
Not sure if you’ve seen this Christy, just released from the RTE archive. Lovely version of McIllhatton. Have to say, doesn’t Donal L have the vocal range of a piano! Agus ceist eile le do thoil! The guitar you pick up at the end? Not the usual Atki or Taki?
https://www.rte.ie/archives/2024/0330/1435159-christy-moore-sings-mcilhaton/