Looking forward to seeing you in Swansea this evening Christy. I was over in Mourne on Friday – taking my mum (Norah) down to Kilkeel to see her sister (Eunice) – and when there I always think of Gortatagort, it somehow just captures the townlands of Ballinran and Carrigenagh and the way of life I remember from must be 40 years ago now. “Where the Red Fuchsia weeps…” It would be on my desert island discs… Best wishes – cofion gorau – Nigel
Christy's reply
“Saddle up the old grey mare
Tim-Big-Danny and Jacky-Timmy
are gonna ride across the mountain
to Puck fair”
from Gortatagort to Killorglin must be a good days trekking in any one’s language….to buy a horse or swap an ass….to have a fortune told,a cheek kissed, a promise made, a tune lilted,a pint spilled (or swilled )
“where have all them haltin places gone
all them friendly doors
where we’d draw spring water from the well
and sell our paper flowers”
heading for Swansea again..will Dekker Noone show up tonight? that would be a treat…what does the night hold..gonna lash into a different set tonight, gonna break out a decant a few old ballads….
Great to see you in Sheffield again Christy – brought back great memories of when I ran the student folk club at The Grapes, just a stone’s throw from the City Hall and still a music venue. That was 1968 and 1969 and you were a regular favourite for us. Your fee then was £12 and you were well worth it!
Brilliant gig tonight – thanks again.
Christy's reply
Hey Ian…great to get a call from The Grapes…I remember your club very well…always a treat to reconnect with those formative years….also remember Malcolm & Jennie Fox’s (Barley Mow) club not to forget Win White’s up at The Highcliffe (Folk Blues and beyond-I think I was beyond )….Capstick’s in Rotherham, John Chatterly’s in Donny and George Pearsons in Bentley …..its 48 years since you gave me a gig Ian !!!….next time we must have a chat…best for now
Hi christy hows the tour going,Hope the home made Bara Brith was up to standard Geraint .
Christy's reply
Your contribution to our mobile canteen was very well received…the crew are anxious for more BB so expect further gigs within your region…hope the fish are biting
Looking forward to Thursday at Symphony Hall – it’s been a while since you were here in Birmingham, Christy!
If there’s any way you could include Sweet Thames, Flow Softly, it’d be lovely – for me it’d be in memory of my mum, who died this year. She loved your music, the Thames and that song, and introduced me to the work of its writer Ewan MacColl
Christy's reply
I’ll try and have it polished up before Thursday…yes,its been a few years since our last visit….we’re lookin forward to our return
Hi Christy
Looking forward to seeing you in Sheffield tonight.
I know it’s a bit of a pain getting requests at short notice but I thought it might be nice to here Haiti .
Once again these unfortunate people are experiencing terrible hardships and anguish.(how lucky we are to live in such safe areas.)
Just thought a song to keep them in our thoughts might be nice.
Regards
Pat O Connor
Christy's reply
I feel no pain from your request….I’m gonna see if I can resurrect that song..its been a while since but yours is a noble call..cant promise anything
Hi Christy
You and Declan (and Jim) were on top form at Bridgewater Hall last night. You sound better as the years go by – long may that continue. You must have felt the affection your audience had for you as soon as you walked on stage. My only regret was that I was slow in booking tickets this year and at the end of July, all that was available was in the Circle and down the sides! Your new album “Lily” is another winner and the quality of the recording is first class. A plea for your next album, please find room for “Dalesman’s Litany” – you must have noticed how well it was received last night.
I was just looking at my Planxty and Moving Hearts LPs (yes, I’m older than you – and got my introduction to real Irish music back in the 70s with those groups and The Chieftains and The Bothy Band) and when I looked at the photo on the sleeve of the MH LP “Dark Side of the Street”, I thought to myself that I wouldn’t liked to have met such a mean looking group of guys in any darkly lit street – you look positively refined now (and that goes for Declan, too). I’ll be spending Christmas in Kilkenny this year and only sorry that my time there doesn’t coincide with one of your homeland concerts in December. Thank you for the joy and celebration of life you bring to us – and for the great causes you articulate through your singing.
Christy's reply
Hey Joe..thats a good suggestion for Dalesman’s…I think I may have it on a 1976 album..it seldom appears on the set list but,like you say, it always seems to still the night….its always heartwarming to hear from someone who has been listening for so long..right back to early Planxty !!..the years have surely flown rapid and I feel extremely fortunate to still have some ” skin in the game”…………. I cherish these gigs …40 years ago I never wondered ” how many more gigs to go”..these days I often ponder it…each night we gather at the side of the stage before commencing and express our gratitude for this great priviledge..to have so many listeners coming to hear these songs that we love to play…
I like the first Moving Hearts Sleeve, one of my favourites..the second one you mention less so…that shot was taken at a time when the band was feeling a little uneasy with itself… we were at the corner of cold cross road….but thats the way life goes..cant be plain sailing all the way
Evening Christy.
Myself and the two girls were in Manchester last night for the show. The eldest Lucy travelled all the way from Cardiff and Rosie and myself from Worcester . What a night we had. You, Declan and jimmy put on some show. They love the songs and were so pleased to hear some of the old favourites as well as the new stuff. From the three of us, thanks a million.
Ps. The singing from the audience was special. Shame about the drunken maiden near the front.
Regards.
Tony, Lucy and Rosie
Christy's reply
Hey Bansha..good to see you back again….great to read that you, Lucy and Rosie met up to share the songs….
hope the over enthusiastic young lady did not encroach too much….its hard to know what to do when one audient amidst 1600 seems oblivious to the distraction being caused by badly timed interjection….sometimes its best ignored in the hope that it will recede..other nights I get drawn in and try to calm it down…in the past,anger used to rise….thankfully, that seldom happens now and serves no purpose….
what a fantastic night at the bridgewater you never let us down Christy, I also remember the old house at home in blackley when it was surrounded by industry an area of which a certain politician destroyed
Christy's reply
thanks bo36442152…..I still remember many friends I made in that old Folk Club…it was a very special time for me.Freed from the shackles,collar and tie of bank clerking I was wandering the streets of manchester every night to a different folk club…Mike Harding’s,Frank Duffy’s, The Beggarmen,St Clare’s, The Pennine Folk, MSG, Golden Lion Didsbury,Rai Birnes, Toni & Arthur’s, Pete Wilmot’s then moving on out to Bury, Bolton,Oldham, Rochdale,Stockport,..hearing all those singers,Harry Bradshaw, Mary Asquith, Marie Little, Rosie Hardman,Tom & Smiley, Pete Ryder, Union Folk,Jack & Mavis, Valley Folk,Tony Downes,
….theres a corner of my mind still dwelling there…auld bedsits in Moss Side Cheetham Hill, Fallowfield Rochdale….friendly doors in Crumpsall, Ardwick Green, Birtle,…then a midnight flit across the Pennines to settle in Halifax with my old pal Derek McEwan…that lad of Chadderton who became my first agent, flatmate, conspirator, teacher, student, chef,
Hi Christy, thanks for last night. Sublime as ever. I come to the gigs with my daughter as part of annual tradition we have. We normally watch you in Liverpool, but this year it was a change to see you in Manchester where she lives. Pre-gig we enjoyed a beer and I told her of a real favoutite song of mine called Spancil Hill. I explained the lyrics and the wonderful melody and then you sang it for us as ‘one for the road’ – just perfect timing and a beautiful end to the gig. I’d love to see the setlist – can someone update the setlist section??? Take it easy and thanks again. Graham
Christy's reply
Hey Graham..thanks for positive feedback..here is your setlist…
Bridgewater Manchester Oct 7th 2016
1.This is The day
2.North&South
3. Yellow Triangle
4.Beeswing
5.Quinte
6.Lightning Bird.
7.Missing You.
8.Morecambe Bay
9.Tuam Beat
10.Oblivious
11.Bight Blue Rose.
12.Brown Eyes.
13.Ride On
14.Smke &Whiskey
15.Merseyside
16.Dalesmans Litany
17.Go Move Shift
18.Take a Chance
19.Deluge
20.Stitch
21.DTs
22 Lingo Politico
23Chicago
24.Burning Times
25.JoxerD
26 Back Derry
27.Van Dieman’s Lsnd
28. The Voyage
29.Nancy Spain
30. Lisdoonvarna
31.Spancihill
Hi Christy, Really looking forward to the show on Thursday night. Will be in attendance with my fiancée Sinead and her parents, Niall and Ger. Would love if you could sing Wave up to the shore. My parents used to play it on the record player and dad would sing it as the sing songs came to a close. Have really enjoyed hearing you live in Cork, Mallow and London through the years. In the strange times ahead for us “foreigners” in UK, your songs of social justice will no doubt resonate all the more. Thanks Christy. Kevin
Christy's reply
Hey Kevin…I’ve not sung that publicly since 1977…it is a favourite song of my nephew Donnacadh Rynne in Miltown Malbay. It was written by my brother Barry Moore (aka Luka Bloom)..we all sing it together when we meet….Donnacadh has written some beautiful pieces himself and is an inspiration to all our family…I’ll see if I can get it together before next Thu
Hello there Christy. Heading for Sheffield tomorrow. In tow, as ever, is my dear old mother Patsy Hurley, now in her ninth decade and giddy in anticipation. It has taken a good while to wean her gently away from Mary O’Hara, James Galway and Daniel O’Donnel.
You’ve already serenaded her in Leeds and Buxton. She’s on a hat-trick!
Christy's reply
great to see Patsy’s name come up again….hope ye have a lovely night in Sheffield tonight…..
Hi Christy, last night at the Bridgewater Hall was amazing, what was the song called about the drunken husband? Did you write it? Thank you for coming to England, we had a brilliant time at your show – safe travels.
Christy's reply
“Stitch in Time”was written by the late Mike Waterson. I heard Martin Carthy sing it some years back. Mike was a dear friend and a great singer. “The Watersons ” recorded two beautiful albums almost 50 years ago.
Hi Christy
It was a great night at The Bridge Water Hall last night, I don’t know how two whole hours can melt away like that!
Loved Declan’s song and also love the extra something that Jim Higgins brings.
I got to Lisdoonvarna at last and I had a great time so loved hearing the song.
Hope Shane MacGowan enjoys the recording and feels better soon.
Gail
Loved last night at the Bridgewater, a great set of tunes, including some of my favourites I’ve never heard live before.
What was the one about politicians? – not familiar with that one.
Christy's reply
Its called “Lingo Politico”… a work in progress.It was composed by Pat Quinn of Inis Oírr Island in County Galway I’m hoping to record it when its ready…I feel its nearly there but still needs adjustments and alterations…just like a new suit (I’ve not had one of them for 50 years!)
Last night went well for us…the songs seemed to flow, the audience were uplifting
Hello Christy I hope your sojourns are going well. It’s all thrupenny bits here. You bring a bright breeze with you. I have in my hand John Spillane’s fine work. It’s such a totally cool book. It was as I had expected. My favourite at the moment is Passage West. And its right next to the Ballad of Patrick Murphy. Such a beautiful way with words. Aren’t we just so lucky to have all this music and words. But without the voice to say the words they would stay on the page. I hope you have an excellent tour as you lift the words from the page and watch them fly. Xx
Christy's reply
Met John last week, he was telling me about his book….we shared a table at my Nephews wedding to his beautiful bride….tour going well..2 down 4 to go…greetings to you and Mick, and to your girls
Elated to have just obtained two eleventh-hour tickets for The Bridgewater Hall this evening.
Any chance of submitting a couple of late requests?
You could dedicate Morrissey’s America, I Love You (America You Are Not The World) to Donald Trump.
Otherwise, Before The Deluge would be marvellous.
Knock ’em dead!
Christy's reply
that song slipped away on me after the album…only gigged it 3 times but could never do it justice ….Deluge still features 35 years since we recorded it…never fails for me…always find something new in it….Jackson is a great wordsmith…The Manchester Welcome embraced us one more time..this United City never lets me down…my first gig here was in “The Old House At Home” in Blakeley back in 1967..a lovely Folk Club run by Mike and Patricia Harding…
Not been to a gig for a few years now, blaming kids. Absolutely gutted the wife and I are missing the Bridgewater tonight. No babysitter for the 8 month who’s still on the boob. Wife and I loving Lily. Please come back next year!
Christy's reply
first things first Chris…..we’ll be back (provided we’re still able)….happy lacting to all three of you
Looking forward to seeing you in Swansea this evening Christy. I was over in Mourne on Friday – taking my mum (Norah) down to Kilkeel to see her sister (Eunice) – and when there I always think of Gortatagort, it somehow just captures the townlands of Ballinran and Carrigenagh and the way of life I remember from must be 40 years ago now. “Where the Red Fuchsia weeps…” It would be on my desert island discs… Best wishes – cofion gorau – Nigel
“Saddle up the old grey mare
Tim-Big-Danny and Jacky-Timmy
are gonna ride across the mountain
to Puck fair”
from Gortatagort to Killorglin must be a good days trekking in any one’s language….to buy a horse or swap an ass….to have a fortune told,a cheek kissed, a promise made, a tune lilted,a pint spilled (or swilled )
“where have all them haltin places gone
all them friendly doors
where we’d draw spring water from the well
and sell our paper flowers”
heading for Swansea again..will Dekker Noone show up tonight? that would be a treat…what does the night hold..gonna lash into a different set tonight, gonna break out a decant a few old ballads….
Great to see you in Sheffield again Christy – brought back great memories of when I ran the student folk club at The Grapes, just a stone’s throw from the City Hall and still a music venue. That was 1968 and 1969 and you were a regular favourite for us. Your fee then was £12 and you were well worth it!
Brilliant gig tonight – thanks again.
Hey Ian…great to get a call from The Grapes…I remember your club very well…always a treat to reconnect with those formative years….also remember Malcolm & Jennie Fox’s (Barley Mow) club not to forget Win White’s up at The Highcliffe (Folk Blues and beyond-I think I was beyond )….Capstick’s in Rotherham, John Chatterly’s in Donny and George Pearsons in Bentley …..its 48 years since you gave me a gig Ian !!!….next time we must have a chat…best for now
Excellent gig in Sheffield tonight. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks Simon…I faltered on the opening song but ye stayed with me
Hi christy hows the tour going,Hope the home made Bara Brith was up to standard Geraint .
Your contribution to our mobile canteen was very well received…the crew are anxious for more BB so expect further gigs within your region…hope the fish are biting
Looking forward to Thursday at Symphony Hall – it’s been a while since you were here in Birmingham, Christy!
If there’s any way you could include Sweet Thames, Flow Softly, it’d be lovely – for me it’d be in memory of my mum, who died this year. She loved your music, the Thames and that song, and introduced me to the work of its writer Ewan MacColl
I’ll try and have it polished up before Thursday…yes,its been a few years since our last visit….we’re lookin forward to our return
Hi Christy
Looking forward to seeing you in Sheffield tonight.
I know it’s a bit of a pain getting requests at short notice but I thought it might be nice to here Haiti .
Once again these unfortunate people are experiencing terrible hardships and anguish.(how lucky we are to live in such safe areas.)
Just thought a song to keep them in our thoughts might be nice.
Regards
Pat O Connor
I feel no pain from your request….I’m gonna see if I can resurrect that song..its been a while since but yours is a noble call..cant promise anything
Hi Christy
You and Declan (and Jim) were on top form at Bridgewater Hall last night. You sound better as the years go by – long may that continue. You must have felt the affection your audience had for you as soon as you walked on stage. My only regret was that I was slow in booking tickets this year and at the end of July, all that was available was in the Circle and down the sides! Your new album “Lily” is another winner and the quality of the recording is first class. A plea for your next album, please find room for “Dalesman’s Litany” – you must have noticed how well it was received last night.
I was just looking at my Planxty and Moving Hearts LPs (yes, I’m older than you – and got my introduction to real Irish music back in the 70s with those groups and The Chieftains and The Bothy Band) and when I looked at the photo on the sleeve of the MH LP “Dark Side of the Street”, I thought to myself that I wouldn’t liked to have met such a mean looking group of guys in any darkly lit street – you look positively refined now (and that goes for Declan, too). I’ll be spending Christmas in Kilkenny this year and only sorry that my time there doesn’t coincide with one of your homeland concerts in December. Thank you for the joy and celebration of life you bring to us – and for the great causes you articulate through your singing.
Hey Joe..thats a good suggestion for Dalesman’s…I think I may have it on a 1976 album..it seldom appears on the set list but,like you say, it always seems to still the night….its always heartwarming to hear from someone who has been listening for so long..right back to early Planxty !!..the years have surely flown rapid and I feel extremely fortunate to still have some ” skin in the game”…………. I cherish these gigs …40 years ago I never wondered ” how many more gigs to go”..these days I often ponder it…each night we gather at the side of the stage before commencing and express our gratitude for this great priviledge..to have so many listeners coming to hear these songs that we love to play…
I like the first Moving Hearts Sleeve, one of my favourites..the second one you mention less so…that shot was taken at a time when the band was feeling a little uneasy with itself… we were at the corner of cold cross road….but thats the way life goes..cant be plain sailing all the way
Evening Christy.
Myself and the two girls were in Manchester last night for the show. The eldest Lucy travelled all the way from Cardiff and Rosie and myself from Worcester . What a night we had. You, Declan and jimmy put on some show. They love the songs and were so pleased to hear some of the old favourites as well as the new stuff. From the three of us, thanks a million.
Ps. The singing from the audience was special. Shame about the drunken maiden near the front.
Regards.
Tony, Lucy and Rosie
Hey Bansha..good to see you back again….great to read that you, Lucy and Rosie met up to share the songs….
hope the over enthusiastic young lady did not encroach too much….its hard to know what to do when one audient amidst 1600 seems oblivious to the distraction being caused by badly timed interjection….sometimes its best ignored in the hope that it will recede..other nights I get drawn in and try to calm it down…in the past,anger used to rise….thankfully, that seldom happens now and serves no purpose….
what a fantastic night at the bridgewater you never let us down Christy, I also remember the old house at home in blackley when it was surrounded by industry an area of which a certain politician destroyed
thanks bo36442152…..I still remember many friends I made in that old Folk Club…it was a very special time for me.Freed from the shackles,collar and tie of bank clerking I was wandering the streets of manchester every night to a different folk club…Mike Harding’s,Frank Duffy’s, The Beggarmen,St Clare’s, The Pennine Folk, MSG, Golden Lion Didsbury,Rai Birnes, Toni & Arthur’s, Pete Wilmot’s then moving on out to Bury, Bolton,Oldham, Rochdale,Stockport,..hearing all those singers,Harry Bradshaw, Mary Asquith, Marie Little, Rosie Hardman,Tom & Smiley, Pete Ryder, Union Folk,Jack & Mavis, Valley Folk,Tony Downes,
….theres a corner of my mind still dwelling there…auld bedsits in Moss Side Cheetham Hill, Fallowfield Rochdale….friendly doors in Crumpsall, Ardwick Green, Birtle,…then a midnight flit across the Pennines to settle in Halifax with my old pal Derek McEwan…that lad of Chadderton who became my first agent, flatmate, conspirator, teacher, student, chef,
Hi Christy, thanks for last night. Sublime as ever. I come to the gigs with my daughter as part of annual tradition we have. We normally watch you in Liverpool, but this year it was a change to see you in Manchester where she lives. Pre-gig we enjoyed a beer and I told her of a real favoutite song of mine called Spancil Hill. I explained the lyrics and the wonderful melody and then you sang it for us as ‘one for the road’ – just perfect timing and a beautiful end to the gig. I’d love to see the setlist – can someone update the setlist section??? Take it easy and thanks again. Graham
Hey Graham..thanks for positive feedback..here is your setlist…
Bridgewater Manchester Oct 7th 2016
1.This is The day
2.North&South
3. Yellow Triangle
4.Beeswing
5.Quinte
6.Lightning Bird.
7.Missing You.
8.Morecambe Bay
9.Tuam Beat
10.Oblivious
11.Bight Blue Rose.
12.Brown Eyes.
13.Ride On
14.Smke &Whiskey
15.Merseyside
16.Dalesmans Litany
17.Go Move Shift
18.Take a Chance
19.Deluge
20.Stitch
21.DTs
22 Lingo Politico
23Chicago
24.Burning Times
25.JoxerD
26 Back Derry
27.Van Dieman’s Lsnd
28. The Voyage
29.Nancy Spain
30. Lisdoonvarna
31.Spancihill
Hi Christy, Really looking forward to the show on Thursday night. Will be in attendance with my fiancée Sinead and her parents, Niall and Ger. Would love if you could sing Wave up to the shore. My parents used to play it on the record player and dad would sing it as the sing songs came to a close. Have really enjoyed hearing you live in Cork, Mallow and London through the years. In the strange times ahead for us “foreigners” in UK, your songs of social justice will no doubt resonate all the more. Thanks Christy. Kevin
Hey Kevin…I’ve not sung that publicly since 1977…it is a favourite song of my nephew Donnacadh Rynne in Miltown Malbay. It was written by my brother Barry Moore (aka Luka Bloom)..we all sing it together when we meet….Donnacadh has written some beautiful pieces himself and is an inspiration to all our family…I’ll see if I can get it together before next Thu
Hello there Christy. Heading for Sheffield tomorrow. In tow, as ever, is my dear old mother Patsy Hurley, now in her ninth decade and giddy in anticipation. It has taken a good while to wean her gently away from Mary O’Hara, James Galway and Daniel O’Donnel.
You’ve already serenaded her in Leeds and Buxton. She’s on a hat-trick!
great to see Patsy’s name come up again….hope ye have a lovely night in Sheffield tonight…..
Hi Christy, last night at the Bridgewater Hall was amazing, what was the song called about the drunken husband? Did you write it? Thank you for coming to England, we had a brilliant time at your show – safe travels.
“Stitch in Time”was written by the late Mike Waterson. I heard Martin Carthy sing it some years back. Mike was a dear friend and a great singer. “The Watersons ” recorded two beautiful albums almost 50 years ago.
Hi Christy
It was a great night at The Bridge Water Hall last night, I don’t know how two whole hours can melt away like that!
Loved Declan’s song and also love the extra something that Jim Higgins brings.
I got to Lisdoonvarna at last and I had a great time so loved hearing the song.
Hope Shane MacGowan enjoys the recording and feels better soon.
Gail
sure does fly by….
Thanks for that Christy. Look forward to it.
Thanks Christy, look forward to that.
Loved last night at the Bridgewater, a great set of tunes, including some of my favourites I’ve never heard live before.
What was the one about politicians? – not familiar with that one.
Its called “Lingo Politico”… a work in progress.It was composed by Pat Quinn of Inis Oírr Island in County Galway I’m hoping to record it when its ready…I feel its nearly there but still needs adjustments and alterations…just like a new suit (I’ve not had one of them for 50 years!)
Last night went well for us…the songs seemed to flow, the audience were uplifting
Hello Christy I hope your sojourns are going well. It’s all thrupenny bits here. You bring a bright breeze with you. I have in my hand John Spillane’s fine work. It’s such a totally cool book. It was as I had expected. My favourite at the moment is Passage West. And its right next to the Ballad of Patrick Murphy. Such a beautiful way with words. Aren’t we just so lucky to have all this music and words. But without the voice to say the words they would stay on the page. I hope you have an excellent tour as you lift the words from the page and watch them fly. Xx
Met John last week, he was telling me about his book….we shared a table at my Nephews wedding to his beautiful bride….tour going well..2 down 4 to go…greetings to you and Mick, and to your girls
Elated to have just obtained two eleventh-hour tickets for The Bridgewater Hall this evening.
Any chance of submitting a couple of late requests?
You could dedicate Morrissey’s America, I Love You (America You Are Not The World) to Donald Trump.
Otherwise, Before The Deluge would be marvellous.
Knock ’em dead!
that song slipped away on me after the album…only gigged it 3 times but could never do it justice ….Deluge still features 35 years since we recorded it…never fails for me…always find something new in it….Jackson is a great wordsmith…The Manchester Welcome embraced us one more time..this United City never lets me down…my first gig here was in “The Old House At Home” in Blakeley back in 1967..a lovely Folk Club run by Mike and Patricia Harding…
Not been to a gig for a few years now, blaming kids. Absolutely gutted the wife and I are missing the Bridgewater tonight. No babysitter for the 8 month who’s still on the boob. Wife and I loving Lily. Please come back next year!
first things first Chris…..we’ll be back (provided we’re still able)….happy lacting to all three of you