“extreme unction” always brings to to mind “capernosity and function” (Brendan Behan – “The Confirmation Suit”)
Anyhow Christy, I finally got around to adding me hard copy of “The Box Set” (credit to Rory) to the juke box! So there she is on shuffle today and out pops “Dunnes Stores”! Powerful! The driving force of it is palpable! The vocal, guitar, bouzouki, bodhran! It stopped me in my tracks and took me back forty years! (Yourself and Donal at your finest)
Christy's reply
21 years since that was released….
twas a good project…curated by Michael Traynor, songster extrodinaire….
Michael gathered up everything I had to offer and curated it into 106 CDs from which we chose the 6 CDs that made the cut…..
I thoroughly enjoyed the mixing, mastering, sleeve noting, art work and the eventual release…
There were many shoulders to the wheel before Columbia (@ Sony Ireland) released it ….
The collection retains a feel good factor amongst the archives on my shelf…..
Some long haul listeners still share feedback….
Rory has been a loyal supporter of thon “Box Set 1964-2004” and often points up long forgotten verses
The earliest recordings were done in East County Clare in 1964 by the late Joe McGrath….
I was 19 and working in The National Bank in Tulla…Joe had a small reel to reel….
The recording turned up 30 years later in New York where Joe’s nephew unearthed it and made contact..
I agree with you..that version of “Dunne’s Stores” really ricochets…
We recorded it late one night in a studio somewhere in County Wicklow
Donal Lunny and Myself were fairly flying that night…
Reading in the guestbook after coming home from a sunday morning walk and having a second breakfast with friends.
I want to express my full support to Dave’s lines.
A unique guestbook.
Thank you, Christy
Günter
Christy's reply
Drogheda Set list July 3rd 2026
Deluge
Natives
Go Move Shift
Lingo
Shovel
Yellow Furze Woman
Lawless
Brendan’s Voyage
Johnny Boy
Ride on
DTs
Lyra
Pagan Ritual
Cry Like a man
Farmer Michael Hayes
Chicago
Black & Amber
Stitch in Time
Beeswing
Cumann na Mná
Voyage
McIlhatton
Veronica
Quinte Brigada
Palestine
Lisdoonvarna
(encore)
John Of Dreams
Bright Blue Rosa
Sonny’s Dream
Hello Christy,
I do read every post here. It’s the only place on the internet where I do. I find myself moved in many different ways by the people here. There does feel to be a kind of community here. Even between such a huge range of different people, experiences and places. Open and honest hearts, I guess. I read it because it gives me this. I felt it strongly when I watched the documentary, The Job of Songs. A kinship of unusual people.
Dear Christy,
I hope you will see this and hear this story. Like many people, my life has been touched by your songs and the story’s you tell in them. I am a 28 year old woman and my father is the man who made you one of the most important musicians in my life. I have a very early memory of watching my dad singing Ordinary Man as he drove his jeep. I wondered recently why my young self held onto this moment. I think it’s because I could feel the emotion he felt. He is a farmer and he doesn’t talk about feelings, but when he sings he releases them somehow. Now, that isn’t something I would discuss with him! This is all very Irish I suppose. The story I want to tell you is about love. The love of two brothers. As I have started to become an adult, I respect my elders more and I see them more clearly. I think of who they are to themselves, not to me, it has opened up a world of stories in my mind. My father’s brother was always his best friend. They were eachother’s best men at one another’s weddings. My uncle moved to London in the 80s. He did very well for himself but he never forgot Ireland. My happiest childhood memories are times when he would come home. I think this is because those times were filled with joy and celebration. When two brothers, two best friends were reunited. When an Irish man came home to his farm he grew up on and could be part of it all again. He would always skip his flight home just to stay on a little longer and live the life he had to leave behind. My dad doesn’t go to the pub much, but when his brother was home, they were there every night. There was always laughter, always adventure, with us brats in the back of the jeep, having our own fun, cousins reunited. I realise how loved we were. My uncle would spoil us, arriving with a jeep full of presents, he would book bouncing castles for us even though it was no one’s birthday and we would play and run wild and have as many sweets as we wanted. One time he even picked me up from school in a convertible BMW. I felt so cool. I will never forget those days, I will never forget my uncle. I am sharing this story because I want my uncle to have that happiness again. He is a young man still but he had a heart attack and a stroke two years ago. He is in a nursing home in England with people twice his age. A man comes and plays music on Sundays but it’s music for 90 year olds and my uncle doesn’t like it. He has lost his bubbliness, he has lost his joy. Your song Missing You reminds me of him. Christy, it is a big request but I am wondering if you could sing there. I want to give back to him what he gave to us. I don’t want this to be life, when we all become robotic mobile phone users, numbing the pain, accepting our fate. Your music is the thing that touches the parts of us we suppressed and wakes us up again. I want life to still be beautiful and special. I want him to remember he is still alive and he is loved and there is beauty and joy. If you cannot do such a thing I absolutely understand, but if you can I’ll be in debt to you for all my life. Thank you.
Last Monday,Andy Burnham MP made a keynote speech,as a pitch to be PM. The museum venue. http://www.phm.co.uk. chosen because of its significance for social protest and reform.
Yesterday,it hosted music students from RNCM, performing original compositions linked to ‘ Amplified: Music of Protest’…singers and players in some of the galleries and a larger gig in the main hall,scene of Burnham’s s speech.
In a gallery full of protest banners,words from MacColls ‘Manchezter Rambler’, there’s something heartening to hear words and music (by young musicians) marking The Spanish Civil War,factory conditions in Victorian times etc…an evocative cello,superb singing and a personal highlight-drone of an electronic keyboard underpinning a sax played in a lower register…fair play to tutors for encouraging artists to embrace their student surroundings and history…most of the talented artists would have been born this century.
PHM well worth a visit by intrepid travellers venturing to the Manchester/Salford border.
Time for Woody now….
Have a good day
Dave
Christy's reply
now you’re talkin
Francis
July 4, 2026 at 7:39 pm
Location: Malvern Hills- 33 Years Of State persecution and not out!
Dear Christy,
I love those words that you sung on your Where I come from album.
“Francis fought them every day he lived, and he fought them as he died.”
Different kind of courage I know.
Please remember me If I lose the fight. Keep strumming out the good vibes.
Hugs.
Thanks for the swift reply to my question Christy. I am sure all the guestbook contributors appreciate the time you take out of what must be a very busy schedule to personally answer all our questions & queries. I know a few have asked in the past about a follow up book to One Voice. Have you ever considered a book compiling a list of the best questions (and replies) over the past (almost) 1200 guestbook pages? Questions that true fans wanted answers too, as opposed to those of journalists or professional interviewers. Although I’ve probably already read all 1,195 pages over the years I’d defiantly be up for buying a copy.
Christy's reply
in earlier times I never missed a lock-in
talkin shite all night
stumbling out into the dawn
blinded by the rising sun
this auld caper ‘s more crack altogether
no hangover for starters
tap out a bit of chat on the one finger keyboard
and go back to sleep whack…
I often wonder do many of ye read it all
good man John….your feed back will keep me going
If I wake up
Back home in Kilkenny after a wonderful evening in Drogheda.
In recent years I’ve made a point of trying to see Christy in venues that are new to me. Happy to tick off the Tommy Leddy last night. Feels like a big parish hall.. in a good way.
Those of us lucky enough to see Christy multiple times a year know the standard our man brings night after night. But its the wild card songs that elevate every show to truly magical and last night was a treasure trove:
Deluge – fantastic surprise to open.
Brendan’s Voyage – kid behind me, well below 10 yrs, knew every word.
John O Dreams and Bright Rose – I’ve rarely heard these live and they’ve really stayed with me.
Lawless – Funny the songs that connect for no apparent reason but this in my top five favourites. So much story telling packed into four minutes. I also had a pint in The Yacht, Ringsend recently which probably helped.
Thanks Christy for yet another special night. Already looking at the gig list to see where the next one will take me.
Christy's reply
great acoustics in the TLT…
among my Favourite Venues ….every note sounds good in there
fair play to Tommy and Family….
the road network makes the trip from Kilkenny to Drogheda handy enough
Go back 50 years and it was quite a jaunt…the rolling stock a lot more reliable too….cant recall when I last saw a bonnet raised on the highway….
I’ve arrived at a point on this tour where I’m hoping to reintroduce songs from earlier times…started the process last night and , according to all accounts, it seems to have worked
thanks for feedback…I miss gigging in The Marble City…last few gigs were in The Mart …but they tell me its no longer available…pity that… I really liked it…..
Christy, your talk of folk club tours and railway stations got me thinking about the story of how Paul Simon wrote Homeward Bound whilst “sitting at a railway station” (Widnes) whilst on a folk club tour. I also remember reading that Paul McCartney used to go to bed with a pen and paper because he often woke up with a tune or a lyric in his head. Just wondered how the song writing process works for you, is it regimented where you go into the workshop planning to write a song and if not, where is the strangest place you’ve been when the idea for a tune or lyric have popped into your head and you thought, I need to scribble this down? 2DC John
Christy's reply
no definitive process to describe
very little writing these days
one new song in the past year
some new verses to old ballads
one new song written by Joe Flatley ( really good song from Joe)
reviving some old repertoire
Yellow Furze Woman, Cry Like a man, John Of Dreams ,After The Deluge and Natives last night..like meeting old friends again
Just back in from TLT , Kettle is boiling .
Where does one start ? From the opening chords of Deluge , the music certainly kept the spirits high, there was something for everyone even the politicians, lots of laughs Politicians/ DT’s/Shovel/Cumann Na Mna etc, etc. Then lots of the more serious stuff including Palestine and nice to hear Veronica Guerian and Lyra McKee still remembered for their bravery and Bobby remembered with Mcllhatton and good to hear Brendan’s Voyage and Farmer Michael Hayes being revisited.
Beeswing and Viva La Quina sounded better than ever and a beautiful medley to finish up with and everyone in the house singing along .
Since I came in I dusted down my DVD of
Come All You Dreamers from Barrowlands 2009 that’s 17 years ago now but no let up in the energy still as good tonight as it was then . Long may it continue.
Christy's reply
Is This Terry ??
great to get such an all inclusive response..
it was great to be back Boyneside again
somethin deepdown always responds
roots of The Powers, Sheerans, Gibneys,Brennans, Laffans, Elmes,come calling
long forgotten connections resurface
its an instinctual reaction set off by the unseen,the unknown, the long forgotten
I think of a tree planted
I recall Fr Packy Tully, Peter McDermot,
I rem Conor at Nancy Power’s Funeral
that cross country trip on his beautiful Honda 50
Navan Races, Slane gigs, apple tart in Stackallen
I’m off to the county of Durham. I’ve heard there’s gold in the river at Hill End in Bishop Auckland. Did you like it Oop north playing the folk clubs? What would be your abiding memory? Did it involve panning for gold?
Another question Rosalita and Jack Campbell is so great a song but are the Black Mountains in North Carolina and who are the people with sub machine guns or is the Black Mountains east of Belfast referencing the fast food takeaway because they have great chippers there?
Have a great time in Drogheda. I wish I was there. I am sure you will hit the seam and get the fever! X
Christy's reply
Sure did….
The Marsden Inn nr Southshields with The Marsden Rattlers
The High Level,Newcastle with The Ranters
Prudhoe, Washington, Hebburn, Jarrow, Ashington, Blyth,Hexham,
following The Blue Star in an old beaten up 1956 Blue VW Beetle
if you go to Hartlepool dont mention the hanging monkey
Stockton with The Fettlers
Southbank with Pete Betts
Eston with Vinnie Garbutt
Redcar with John Taylor
every Northern Village seemed to have a Folk Club in that Golden era…met Martin Carthy on a Railway Station platform somewhere up there , toured with John Doonan ,Father of Hedgehog Pie, stayed with Tom Gilfellon and met Cathal McConnell who taught me “Only Our Rivers Run Free”
Great news Gipp, all power to the jukebox.
Dave ,as always, hits the spot…..and knocks in the rebound.
Rory
’twas lovely hurling
“extreme unction” always brings to to mind “capernosity and function” (Brendan Behan – “The Confirmation Suit”)
Anyhow Christy, I finally got around to adding me hard copy of “The Box Set” (credit to Rory) to the juke box! So there she is on shuffle today and out pops “Dunnes Stores”! Powerful! The driving force of it is palpable! The vocal, guitar, bouzouki, bodhran! It stopped me in my tracks and took me back forty years! (Yourself and Donal at your finest)
21 years since that was released….
twas a good project…curated by Michael Traynor, songster extrodinaire….
Michael gathered up everything I had to offer and curated it into 106 CDs from which we chose the 6 CDs that made the cut…..
I thoroughly enjoyed the mixing, mastering, sleeve noting, art work and the eventual release…
There were many shoulders to the wheel before Columbia (@ Sony Ireland) released it ….
The collection retains a feel good factor amongst the archives on my shelf…..
Some long haul listeners still share feedback….
Rory has been a loyal supporter of thon “Box Set 1964-2004” and often points up long forgotten verses
The earliest recordings were done in East County Clare in 1964 by the late Joe McGrath….
I was 19 and working in The National Bank in Tulla…Joe had a small reel to reel….
The recording turned up 30 years later in New York where Joe’s nephew unearthed it and made contact..
I agree with you..that version of “Dunne’s Stores” really ricochets…
We recorded it late one night in a studio somewhere in County Wicklow
Donal Lunny and Myself were fairly flying that night…
And you even have a mention of ‘extreme unction’ in these pages.
extra munkshin
Reading in the guestbook after coming home from a sunday morning walk and having a second breakfast with friends.
I want to express my full support to Dave’s lines.
A unique guestbook.
Thank you, Christy
Günter
Drogheda Set list July 3rd 2026
Deluge
Natives
Go Move Shift
Lingo
Shovel
Yellow Furze Woman
Lawless
Brendan’s Voyage
Johnny Boy
Ride on
DTs
Lyra
Pagan Ritual
Cry Like a man
Farmer Michael Hayes
Chicago
Black & Amber
Stitch in Time
Beeswing
Cumann na Mná
Voyage
McIlhatton
Veronica
Quinte Brigada
Palestine
Lisdoonvarna
(encore)
John Of Dreams
Bright Blue Rosa
Sonny’s Dream
30 songs…I Hour 56 Minutes…
Oxygen Tent….Extreme Unction…Strong Tea…Home
Hello Christy,
I do read every post here. It’s the only place on the internet where I do. I find myself moved in many different ways by the people here. There does feel to be a kind of community here. Even between such a huge range of different people, experiences and places. Open and honest hearts, I guess. I read it because it gives me this. I felt it strongly when I watched the documentary, The Job of Songs. A kinship of unusual people.
Rebecca
Dear Christy,
I hope you will see this and hear this story. Like many people, my life has been touched by your songs and the story’s you tell in them. I am a 28 year old woman and my father is the man who made you one of the most important musicians in my life. I have a very early memory of watching my dad singing Ordinary Man as he drove his jeep. I wondered recently why my young self held onto this moment. I think it’s because I could feel the emotion he felt. He is a farmer and he doesn’t talk about feelings, but when he sings he releases them somehow. Now, that isn’t something I would discuss with him! This is all very Irish I suppose. The story I want to tell you is about love. The love of two brothers. As I have started to become an adult, I respect my elders more and I see them more clearly. I think of who they are to themselves, not to me, it has opened up a world of stories in my mind. My father’s brother was always his best friend. They were eachother’s best men at one another’s weddings. My uncle moved to London in the 80s. He did very well for himself but he never forgot Ireland. My happiest childhood memories are times when he would come home. I think this is because those times were filled with joy and celebration. When two brothers, two best friends were reunited. When an Irish man came home to his farm he grew up on and could be part of it all again. He would always skip his flight home just to stay on a little longer and live the life he had to leave behind. My dad doesn’t go to the pub much, but when his brother was home, they were there every night. There was always laughter, always adventure, with us brats in the back of the jeep, having our own fun, cousins reunited. I realise how loved we were. My uncle would spoil us, arriving with a jeep full of presents, he would book bouncing castles for us even though it was no one’s birthday and we would play and run wild and have as many sweets as we wanted. One time he even picked me up from school in a convertible BMW. I felt so cool. I will never forget those days, I will never forget my uncle. I am sharing this story because I want my uncle to have that happiness again. He is a young man still but he had a heart attack and a stroke two years ago. He is in a nursing home in England with people twice his age. A man comes and plays music on Sundays but it’s music for 90 year olds and my uncle doesn’t like it. He has lost his bubbliness, he has lost his joy. Your song Missing You reminds me of him. Christy, it is a big request but I am wondering if you could sing there. I want to give back to him what he gave to us. I don’t want this to be life, when we all become robotic mobile phone users, numbing the pain, accepting our fate. Your music is the thing that touches the parts of us we suppressed and wakes us up again. I want life to still be beautiful and special. I want him to remember he is still alive and he is loved and there is beauty and joy. If you cannot do such a thing I absolutely understand, but if you can I’ll be in debt to you for all my life. Thank you.
I’d guess that a fair number of us ‘ read it all’…sometimes,a few reads a day…sometimes,a binge after a time away…
It’s an ace forum…thanks to you for the plan and your ongoing rapport…
A rare thing,as fine as a beeswing…
D
http://www.phm.org.uk
For protest info…not stuff about cars!
D
spot on our kid
Hi Christy
Last Monday,Andy Burnham MP made a keynote speech,as a pitch to be PM. The museum venue. http://www.phm.co.uk. chosen because of its significance for social protest and reform.
Yesterday,it hosted music students from RNCM, performing original compositions linked to ‘ Amplified: Music of Protest’…singers and players in some of the galleries and a larger gig in the main hall,scene of Burnham’s s speech.
In a gallery full of protest banners,words from MacColls ‘Manchezter Rambler’, there’s something heartening to hear words and music (by young musicians) marking The Spanish Civil War,factory conditions in Victorian times etc…an evocative cello,superb singing and a personal highlight-drone of an electronic keyboard underpinning a sax played in a lower register…fair play to tutors for encouraging artists to embrace their student surroundings and history…most of the talented artists would have been born this century.
PHM well worth a visit by intrepid travellers venturing to the Manchester/Salford border.
Time for Woody now….
Have a good day
Dave
now you’re talkin
Dear Christy,
I love those words that you sung on your Where I come from album.
“Francis fought them every day he lived, and he fought them as he died.”
Different kind of courage I know.
Please remember me If I lose the fight. Keep strumming out the good vibes.
Hugs.
you can count on it Pronsías
Thanks for the swift reply to my question Christy. I am sure all the guestbook contributors appreciate the time you take out of what must be a very busy schedule to personally answer all our questions & queries. I know a few have asked in the past about a follow up book to One Voice. Have you ever considered a book compiling a list of the best questions (and replies) over the past (almost) 1200 guestbook pages? Questions that true fans wanted answers too, as opposed to those of journalists or professional interviewers. Although I’ve probably already read all 1,195 pages over the years I’d defiantly be up for buying a copy.
in earlier times I never missed a lock-in
talkin shite all night
stumbling out into the dawn
blinded by the rising sun
this auld caper ‘s more crack altogether
no hangover for starters
tap out a bit of chat on the one finger keyboard
and go back to sleep whack…
I often wonder do many of ye read it all
good man John….your feed back will keep me going
If I wake up
Adelante
Back home in Kilkenny after a wonderful evening in Drogheda.
In recent years I’ve made a point of trying to see Christy in venues that are new to me. Happy to tick off the Tommy Leddy last night. Feels like a big parish hall.. in a good way.
Those of us lucky enough to see Christy multiple times a year know the standard our man brings night after night. But its the wild card songs that elevate every show to truly magical and last night was a treasure trove:
Deluge – fantastic surprise to open.
Brendan’s Voyage – kid behind me, well below 10 yrs, knew every word.
John O Dreams and Bright Rose – I’ve rarely heard these live and they’ve really stayed with me.
Lawless – Funny the songs that connect for no apparent reason but this in my top five favourites. So much story telling packed into four minutes. I also had a pint in The Yacht, Ringsend recently which probably helped.
Thanks Christy for yet another special night. Already looking at the gig list to see where the next one will take me.
great acoustics in the TLT…
among my Favourite Venues ….every note sounds good in there
fair play to Tommy and Family….
the road network makes the trip from Kilkenny to Drogheda handy enough
Go back 50 years and it was quite a jaunt…the rolling stock a lot more reliable too….cant recall when I last saw a bonnet raised on the highway….
I’ve arrived at a point on this tour where I’m hoping to reintroduce songs from earlier times…started the process last night and , according to all accounts, it seems to have worked
thanks for feedback…I miss gigging in The Marble City…last few gigs were in The Mart …but they tell me its no longer available…pity that… I really liked it…..
Christy, your talk of folk club tours and railway stations got me thinking about the story of how Paul Simon wrote Homeward Bound whilst “sitting at a railway station” (Widnes) whilst on a folk club tour. I also remember reading that Paul McCartney used to go to bed with a pen and paper because he often woke up with a tune or a lyric in his head. Just wondered how the song writing process works for you, is it regimented where you go into the workshop planning to write a song and if not, where is the strangest place you’ve been when the idea for a tune or lyric have popped into your head and you thought, I need to scribble this down? 2DC John
no definitive process to describe
very little writing these days
one new song in the past year
some new verses to old ballads
one new song written by Joe Flatley ( really good song from Joe)
reviving some old repertoire
Yellow Furze Woman, Cry Like a man, John Of Dreams ,After The Deluge and Natives last night..like meeting old friends again
Terry 👍
Just back in from TLT , Kettle is boiling .
Where does one start ? From the opening chords of Deluge , the music certainly kept the spirits high, there was something for everyone even the politicians, lots of laughs Politicians/ DT’s/Shovel/Cumann Na Mna etc, etc. Then lots of the more serious stuff including Palestine and nice to hear Veronica Guerian and Lyra McKee still remembered for their bravery and Bobby remembered with Mcllhatton and good to hear Brendan’s Voyage and Farmer Michael Hayes being revisited.
Beeswing and Viva La Quina sounded better than ever and a beautiful medley to finish up with and everyone in the house singing along .
Since I came in I dusted down my DVD of
Come All You Dreamers from Barrowlands 2009 that’s 17 years ago now but no let up in the energy still as good tonight as it was then . Long may it continue.
Is This Terry ??
great to get such an all inclusive response..
it was great to be back Boyneside again
somethin deepdown always responds
roots of The Powers, Sheerans, Gibneys,Brennans, Laffans, Elmes,come calling
long forgotten connections resurface
its an instinctual reaction set off by the unseen,the unknown, the long forgotten
I think of a tree planted
I recall Fr Packy Tully, Peter McDermot,
I rem Conor at Nancy Power’s Funeral
that cross country trip on his beautiful Honda 50
Navan Races, Slane gigs, apple tart in Stackallen
I could be here all day
Dear Christy
I’m off to the county of Durham. I’ve heard there’s gold in the river at Hill End in Bishop Auckland. Did you like it Oop north playing the folk clubs? What would be your abiding memory? Did it involve panning for gold?
Another question Rosalita and Jack Campbell is so great a song but are the Black Mountains in North Carolina and who are the people with sub machine guns or is the Black Mountains east of Belfast referencing the fast food takeaway because they have great chippers there?
Have a great time in Drogheda. I wish I was there. I am sure you will hit the seam and get the fever! X
Sure did….
The Marsden Inn nr Southshields with The Marsden Rattlers
The High Level,Newcastle with The Ranters
Prudhoe, Washington, Hebburn, Jarrow, Ashington, Blyth,Hexham,
following The Blue Star in an old beaten up 1956 Blue VW Beetle
if you go to Hartlepool dont mention the hanging monkey
Stockton with The Fettlers
Southbank with Pete Betts
Eston with Vinnie Garbutt
Redcar with John Taylor
every Northern Village seemed to have a Folk Club in that Golden era…met Martin Carthy on a Railway Station platform somewhere up there , toured with John Doonan ,Father of Hedgehog Pie, stayed with Tom Gilfellon and met Cathal McConnell who taught me “Only Our Rivers Run Free”