A full chronological, no breaks, recording of the Planxty 1983 National Stadium gig has just appeared on YouTube Christy! I thought I’d remembered all from it, however, on the intro to “Pity the Poor Immigrant”, you credit Jimmy Faulkner that introduced you to it! Never knew that! And the Stadium only a stones throw from the Barn! G’wan Jimmy ye ledge!
Christy's reply
have not been able to access as described …but no problem…I’m working towards the next release, lots to do….
had a lovely gig last Sunday up in Carlingford with John McIntyre and Zoe Conway….we covered a lot of old Planxty material….first time to sing some of the songs since the last Planxty gig in London in 2005….that was the finale, our last hurrah….Liam gone on since RIP….a memorial to be unveiled to him in the coming months
Hi Christy
Thanks for your post calling on the central bank not to renew Israeli war bonds. It prompted me to send a letter of protest – it’s almost unbearable to see how the Palestinian people are being treated and the suffering they are having to endure.
It also prompted a memory of you telling the story (I think it was way back in Festival Hall) of how you gave up working in the bank to go on the road. It was only many years later that your Mammy said ‘well Christy, perhaps you made the right decision’. It resonated as my own Mammy was very upset when I left the Bank of Ireland, moved to England and ended up in Kilburn – listening to Christy Moore whenever I got the chance.
PS Did you get Michael D’s book of poetry that I sent via The Keenan Hotel (10th May concert) for your birthday . I was delighted with the dedication he wrote to you in it.
Let the music keep your spirits high. .
Such a sound of you in that voice there.
And thoughts of brown bread and good butter here. It’s not easy to find in the UK.
Thankyou for the tip about The Tailor and Ansty. A copy is on its way here. Did you go into any of those arches that the monks used at Gougane Barra? The space feels lovely in there.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
them is The Lads that set the ball rolling
threw in the sliotar
some of us have been hurling ever since
forever facing the puc-out
Hi Christy
Yesterday in the car i was listening, as i often do, to thhe gorgeous sound of my cd of seamus heaney reading his poems.
I must have listened to both Requiem for the Croppies and to the song Sunflowers that you recorded on Terrible Beauty.
It was only yesterday that i ,at last, heard the symmetry between them.
It was worth the wait, even if the similarity is mainly about what grows out of the pockets of the slain.
Great beauty in both performances.
Rory
Christy's reply
Seamus resounds this morning….
Bellaghy ,Ballyscullion, Tamlaghtduff,….
Morra Christy, Just landed back in Yankee land , Doolin Festival went very well, stayed with Ann up at the Spa , what a lovely and welcoming woman. I left something for you and I hope it makes you smile. Taylor had a lovely time with me on this trip, played Clare, Athlone and Kildare, Singing The song I wrote about Palestine was a highlight for me along with Nancy Spain at the Motorcycle festival was very special, a young man approached me after the gig and shook my hand and said thank you , truly meant the world to me that it touched him. Played a few tunes with Katie Theasby which was a treat, I love her playing and a beautiful voice. Sending hugs and love Fin
Christy's reply
Good on You Fin….
Sorry I missed you …but happy to read that you and Taylor had a good visit home to the auld sod
“the lilys of the short grass comin home again ”
I agree with you about Katie Theasby, sounds like you had a fulfilling set of gigs…I’ve not been to The Royal Spa for yonks ..it remains one of my favourite spots to play & stay…Anne Doherty is a wonderful “Ban an Tí”
Been busy here…played a gig on Falls Rd, a benefit for two Women’s Refuges, one on The Falls Rd and one on The Shankhill Rd….both came together for a lovely concert as part of Féile an Phobal…
Today I’m doing a gig in Carlingford with Zoe Conway & John McIntyre…they run a Festival every Summer here in County Louth….Val and I visited their home on Friday and we had a lovely rehearsal up in The Cooley Hills..
So we’re both batin-out-the-ballads Fin…thanks for keeping in touch… hopefully we’ll catch up next time…Up The Lily Whites
Hi Christy, I’m travelling to Ireland from Sept 4-11 and will see you in Galway on the 5th. This will be my 4th concert in 2 years and I am bringing along 6 members of my family for this trip. We have a seasonal direct flight on now from St. John’s to Dublin which makes it easy travelling. My brother Stan had his 65th birthday in July a shout out to him would be great, he’s a big fan. Maybe Sonny’s Dream.
Looking forward to seeing you.
All the best,
Stella.
Christy's reply
we’ll be watching the waves gently wash on to the shore
Hello Christy,
Back home from West Cork and we had such a great time. Totally converted to b&bs. They’re so good in Ireland. You get to be looked after in a lovely house by a loving Irish Mammy who knows how to cook a good breakfast. Even vegetarian!
We visited Gougane Barra and Drombeg stone circle. There’s a matching neolithic house next to the circle. What a place to live. Rolling fields, running water, sea views, peace. It must have been a real des res when they built it. Cosy too with its huge thick walls.
I stood outside the circle and walked slowly in. It felt like going through a door. I took a panorama shot of the circle in its surroundings. Going to try and get it printed today.
It’s 7 weeks to when I retire. Trying to get spaces in my house all ready. I have a music nook at the end of the kitchen, where I practice. That’s all set up and ready. I’m turning the conservatory into a work room with a desk, loads of song books that I’ve collected over the years and a little electric piano. Waiting for a big braided jute rug to arrive to put in there.
Hope everyone here is well and happy. It’s a beautiful day.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Sounds like you are preparing for the next leg of your journey…
years ago we went to see a performance of “The Tailor & Ansty” in a marquee at Gougane Barra….what a night that was…beautiful perfomance by Nuala Hayes & Ronan Wilmot….the play based on the Book of the same name…well worth a read
Hello from the Isle of Wight. Just wanted to mention – on 12th Sept I’m heading by car and ferry over to Ireland from the south coast of England – more specifically to Sligo for your gig on the 18th of September (with a few days in Dublin en-route).
My travel companion for this journey? My son – Christy!
I was 7 months pregnant when I saw you at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 1997 – and decided boy or girl – the baby would be called Christy. And so he is.
We’ve said for years that he should see you in concert and finally we’re doing it. I’m a big fan of Yeats – so Sligo is a perfect location and the concert is on my late mother’s birthday. Love it when all the stars align.
Very excited for the whole trip. Family favourite? As we have a boat and we live by the sea – it’s got to be The Voyage.
Hi Christy
Great news and reviews by the ace,roving reporter from Essen….always a fab read.
Interesting radio last night…BBC Folk Show/radio 2…first time I’ve heard a song from recently released…Woody Guthrie – Home recordings.
Fascinating to hear the maestro feeling his way into ‘This Land…’,via a home tape recorder and destined for a publisher. Several different lines from the ‘classic’ song. Made me realise the hard graft that goes into writing,then performing songs. None arrive fully formed but evolve over time.
Hopefully,there’s online info…I’m going to try to find a CD version. Based on the magic of one song,some gems to be unearthed.
Hi Christy, i was listening again to The Time Has Come album and had almost forgotten how wonderful a song Faithful Departed is.
Philip Chevron’s masterpiece is jammed packed with phenomenal lyrics ( like his Thousands are Sailing).
What a miss he is, solo, Pogues, Radiators etc.
Would love to hear it reach the set again sometime, who knows maybe it has………….There is no pain that can’t be eased,
By the devil’s holy water and the rosary beads.
Rory
Christy's reply
a few Chevron tales…
when he was a young lad at school, still called Philip Ryan, he booked Planxty to play a lunch time gig in O’Connell Schools….it was 1972 and the Band was just starting out…Philip was 15….he organised the gig himself, sold the tickets and paid us £30, all in silver coin….I have a lovely memory of the day….I never heard from him again UNTIL I met Phil Chevron, than playing with “Radiators from Space” ..it was 1982 and Philip did a solo gig with Moving Hearts in The Natioanl Stadium Dublin..he had Agnes Bernelle guesting….I went to London the following year and we hooked up to try and write a few songs..nothing came from it but we established a friendship that remained….I did a tribute gig to Philip in Whelan’s Dublin and recieved a beautiful letter from him shortly before he died
Phil Chevron was the real deal….rest in peace good companero
Hi Christy and Dave (who has asked for this 😉), back from a great, entertaining and emotional weekend in Shrewsbury. There were a few “first times” and a few “last times” for me. First time in Shrewsbury, which is a nice town. First time at that folk festival, which was well organised and had a very relaxed and (family) friendly atmosphere. The weather was great which made it impossible not to have a good time☀️.
Music wise I listened among others to Dougie MacLean, the Henry Girls, the Rainbow Girls, the really funny Spanish band El Pony Pisador, who celebrated a party on stage and made the whole audience dance, jump and do long conga lines, having a wall of folk etc, and of course the Oysterband whose last gig in England made me go there. First and last time for me to see them playing a Ceilidh gig, which is where they originally come from. Although being to Ireland and England quite a few times I missed that up to now. So a whole new experience for me to see people of all ages dancing together in a mostly structured, sometimes confusing way, but all having fun which is the main thing 😉. The Oysters’ former band member Chopper aka Ray Cooper joined them on the cello for that gig already. And on Sunday their longterm drummer Lee was back again for support, too. For some songs June Tabor with whom they’d sang many times before came on stage. I had never seen her live before. She still has a strong voice and sang a great duet with JJ.
At the end of the gig this time literally the lights were “put out”. This moment was very emotional for both the band and the audience.
Apart from the gigs on the stages I enjoyed the variety of the smaller events on the festival grounds as well. A group of youngsters singing and playing beautiful songs, Morris and Molly dance groups, different kind of workshops for different instruments, singing session etc. (Too) many things to do and choose😉.
Before heading back home I spent a few hours in Birmingham seeing the Black Sabbath Bridge, an exhibition of Ozzy (not planned, just stumbled into it while walking around the city) and many other interesting sites.
So definitely a weekend to be well remembered.
There were live streams of the three main stages on the Shrewsbury youtube channel. Currently I can’t find them anymore, but I do hope that the organisers only split them up into the single gigs and publish them again (as they have done with other gigs from the last years). Would be a good opportunity to relive the gig later on and watch some of those gigs I have missed as three stages and a few tents were played at the same time.
Now I’m looking forward to the Trim gigs with the first one only four weeks to go😀.
Enjoy the gigs in Galway and Sligo in between, Christy!
All the best
Birgit
Christy's reply
Birgit…thank you for that great report on Shrewsbury Festival…you certainly availed fully of the music …you paint a beaufiful picture of what sounds like a great line up….hearing June Tabor and going home across Ozzy’s bridge….
Hi Christy,
Today i visited a prison ( in one of my roles) , and it gave me hope. Decent relationships between jailed and jailors, decent facilities, decen range of support.
I stuck on Nicky Kelly/Wicklow Boy as i got back in the car, a man and song with a vastly different experience. Good to hear it again.
Rory
Christy's reply
Did many prison visits in earlier years….always very glad to get back out…its 25 years since…met rough screws in the Blocks…unfriendly gougers…..down south the atmosphere was different in most cases …gigged all the jails down here, some good memories from the various jails…the Blocks was a very different story…families of Republican POWs got rough treatment …
I met Nicky the night of his release…first thing he told me was that he was a Wexford Boy …..
Hi Christy,could you please explain to me what the last sentence of you answer to my guestbookpost means? Apparently I don’t know enough English. It was something about a herrin….
Christy's reply
a friend from Wexford told me that when he was a wee boy growing up in that beautiful town sometimes him and his pals would “go down the quay to feck a herrin” …perhaps to purchase/rob/find/gain/score a herring from a fishing trawler…those days of innocence in the 1950s when we ran free thru the fields on down to the River to gambol, gamble and play game ball
There’s a coincidence for you Christy! You know the way the Council’s in Dublin are commisiong artists to paint murals and artwork on the control boxes at junctions! There I was cruising into Chapelizod this afternoon when I spotted this. Don’t know if you’ve seen it but it looks great, let me know if the link doesn’t work and I can email it to you!
Great to see Frank being recognised in his own village! Gave me a nice little lift of a Monday afternoon.
Thanks for the prompt that sent me on an hour of great memories…the key was your quote of Harte gems…
They reminded me of some epic nights in the company of a Meath mate,now departed. His mostly true tales were punctuated with oaths,blasphemy and a liberal,much admired use of the term ‘bollix’…some readers may search here for deeper meanings of music and song. They’re frequently available,but now and again there’s an unexpected detour that’s just as rich in content!
I wish I’d heard/known Frank Harte.
Thanks
Dave
Christy's reply
with cudgels stout we’d roam about in search of the Dreolin
we’d leap for joy beneath the sky from Leitir to Dooneen
Hello Christy,
Talking of luck, we heard a piper last night called Jane Walls, a glorious player from Antrim and not an octopus in sight. Everything was beautifully balanced, resonators, drone and chanter behaving perfectly for her.
She played these two last night, the video is from a previous gig https://youtu.be/fO1fuzzBZ0E?si=BNQJcSdZW1oOi7o1
Also some others so beautifully, including a slow air full of hills, glens and wistful longing. I’ve lost its name.
We met a musical handbag, the shruti box that was the third member of Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary’s duo. She introduced it as a musical handbag, never to be forgotten!
They did an evocative version of The Bonny Green Tree that whisked us all away.
Hoped we might see you at the festival, I can understand why you return to it. Amazing guys and people.
Phone rings
its Harte
“Moore ye bollix, get up off you’re arse and we’ll go to Mullaghbawn and sing a few songs”
phone rings late
its Frank
“give us that one about the Beeswing”
phone rings
“lets go and hear Karen Casey”
I loved getting those Frank Harte phone calls
I remember the last Planxty gig in Dublin…I could see him in the 3rd row…. I dedicated a song to him…. that big beautiful Frank Harte smile beamed up at us…we were so lucky and happy to have had him as a friend,mentor, craic merchant
A full chronological, no breaks, recording of the Planxty 1983 National Stadium gig has just appeared on YouTube Christy! I thought I’d remembered all from it, however, on the intro to “Pity the Poor Immigrant”, you credit Jimmy Faulkner that introduced you to it! Never knew that! And the Stadium only a stones throw from the Barn! G’wan Jimmy ye ledge!
have not been able to access as described …but no problem…I’m working towards the next release, lots to do….
had a lovely gig last Sunday up in Carlingford with John McIntyre and Zoe Conway….we covered a lot of old Planxty material….first time to sing some of the songs since the last Planxty gig in London in 2005….that was the finale, our last hurrah….Liam gone on since RIP….a memorial to be unveiled to him in the coming months
Hi Christy
Thanks for your post calling on the central bank not to renew Israeli war bonds. It prompted me to send a letter of protest – it’s almost unbearable to see how the Palestinian people are being treated and the suffering they are having to endure.
It also prompted a memory of you telling the story (I think it was way back in Festival Hall) of how you gave up working in the bank to go on the road. It was only many years later that your Mammy said ‘well Christy, perhaps you made the right decision’. It resonated as my own Mammy was very upset when I left the Bank of Ireland, moved to England and ended up in Kilburn – listening to Christy Moore whenever I got the chance.
PS Did you get Michael D’s book of poetry that I sent via The Keenan Hotel (10th May concert) for your birthday . I was delighted with the dedication he wrote to you in it.
Let the music keep your spirits high. .
Hello Christy,
Thanks to Rory’s comments I set off to
Bless the wind that shakes the barley
Shane McGowan
And landed here
https://youtu.be/GA_L2AuGkB0?si=7cVu9kp7CzEy_Kww
Such a sound of you in that voice there.
And thoughts of brown bread and good butter here. It’s not easy to find in the UK.
Thankyou for the tip about The Tailor and Ansty. A copy is on its way here. Did you go into any of those arches that the monks used at Gougane Barra? The space feels lovely in there.
Rebecca
them is The Lads that set the ball rolling
threw in the sliotar
some of us have been hurling ever since
forever facing the puc-out
Hi Christy
Yesterday in the car i was listening, as i often do, to thhe gorgeous sound of my cd of seamus heaney reading his poems.
I must have listened to both Requiem for the Croppies and to the song Sunflowers that you recorded on Terrible Beauty.
It was only yesterday that i ,at last, heard the symmetry between them.
It was worth the wait, even if the similarity is mainly about what grows out of the pockets of the slain.
Great beauty in both performances.
Rory
Seamus resounds this morning….
Bellaghy ,Ballyscullion, Tamlaghtduff,….
Morra Christy, Just landed back in Yankee land , Doolin Festival went very well, stayed with Ann up at the Spa , what a lovely and welcoming woman. I left something for you and I hope it makes you smile. Taylor had a lovely time with me on this trip, played Clare, Athlone and Kildare, Singing The song I wrote about Palestine was a highlight for me along with Nancy Spain at the Motorcycle festival was very special, a young man approached me after the gig and shook my hand and said thank you , truly meant the world to me that it touched him. Played a few tunes with Katie Theasby which was a treat, I love her playing and a beautiful voice. Sending hugs and love Fin
Good on You Fin….
Sorry I missed you …but happy to read that you and Taylor had a good visit home to the auld sod
“the lilys of the short grass comin home again ”
I agree with you about Katie Theasby, sounds like you had a fulfilling set of gigs…I’ve not been to The Royal Spa for yonks ..it remains one of my favourite spots to play & stay…Anne Doherty is a wonderful “Ban an Tí”
Been busy here…played a gig on Falls Rd, a benefit for two Women’s Refuges, one on The Falls Rd and one on The Shankhill Rd….both came together for a lovely concert as part of Féile an Phobal…
Today I’m doing a gig in Carlingford with Zoe Conway & John McIntyre…they run a Festival every Summer here in County Louth….Val and I visited their home on Friday and we had a lovely rehearsal up in The Cooley Hills..
So we’re both batin-out-the-ballads Fin…thanks for keeping in touch… hopefully we’ll catch up next time…Up The Lily Whites
Christy how do I get 2 tickets for any of your upcoming gigs
some dates will soon be announced here on the gig page
if you wish you could sign in for advance notification (see notice above)
Hi Christy, I’m travelling to Ireland from Sept 4-11 and will see you in Galway on the 5th. This will be my 4th concert in 2 years and I am bringing along 6 members of my family for this trip. We have a seasonal direct flight on now from St. John’s to Dublin which makes it easy travelling. My brother Stan had his 65th birthday in July a shout out to him would be great, he’s a big fan. Maybe Sonny’s Dream.
Looking forward to seeing you.
All the best,
Stella.
we’ll be watching the waves gently wash on to the shore
Hello Christy,
Back home from West Cork and we had such a great time. Totally converted to b&bs. They’re so good in Ireland. You get to be looked after in a lovely house by a loving Irish Mammy who knows how to cook a good breakfast. Even vegetarian!
We visited Gougane Barra and Drombeg stone circle. There’s a matching neolithic house next to the circle. What a place to live. Rolling fields, running water, sea views, peace. It must have been a real des res when they built it. Cosy too with its huge thick walls.
I stood outside the circle and walked slowly in. It felt like going through a door. I took a panorama shot of the circle in its surroundings. Going to try and get it printed today.
It’s 7 weeks to when I retire. Trying to get spaces in my house all ready. I have a music nook at the end of the kitchen, where I practice. That’s all set up and ready. I’m turning the conservatory into a work room with a desk, loads of song books that I’ve collected over the years and a little electric piano. Waiting for a big braided jute rug to arrive to put in there.
Hope everyone here is well and happy. It’s a beautiful day.
Rebecca
Sounds like you are preparing for the next leg of your journey…
years ago we went to see a performance of “The Tailor & Ansty” in a marquee at Gougane Barra….what a night that was…beautiful perfomance by Nuala Hayes & Ronan Wilmot….the play based on the Book of the same name…well worth a read
Hello from the Isle of Wight. Just wanted to mention – on 12th Sept I’m heading by car and ferry over to Ireland from the south coast of England – more specifically to Sligo for your gig on the 18th of September (with a few days in Dublin en-route).
My travel companion for this journey? My son – Christy!
I was 7 months pregnant when I saw you at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 1997 – and decided boy or girl – the baby would be called Christy. And so he is.
We’ve said for years that he should see you in concert and finally we’re doing it. I’m a big fan of Yeats – so Sligo is a perfect location and the concert is on my late mother’s birthday. Love it when all the stars align.
Very excited for the whole trip. Family favourite? As we have a boat and we live by the sea – it’s got to be The Voyage.
sorted..safe travels
Hi Christy
Great news and reviews by the ace,roving reporter from Essen….always a fab read.
Interesting radio last night…BBC Folk Show/radio 2…first time I’ve heard a song from recently released…Woody Guthrie – Home recordings.
Fascinating to hear the maestro feeling his way into ‘This Land…’,via a home tape recorder and destined for a publisher. Several different lines from the ‘classic’ song. Made me realise the hard graft that goes into writing,then performing songs. None arrive fully formed but evolve over time.
Hopefully,there’s online info…I’m going to try to find a CD version. Based on the magic of one song,some gems to be unearthed.
All the best
Dave
Good man Dave
Hi Christy, i was listening again to The Time Has Come album and had almost forgotten how wonderful a song Faithful Departed is.
Philip Chevron’s masterpiece is jammed packed with phenomenal lyrics ( like his Thousands are Sailing).
What a miss he is, solo, Pogues, Radiators etc.
Would love to hear it reach the set again sometime, who knows maybe it has………….There is no pain that can’t be eased,
By the devil’s holy water and the rosary beads.
Rory
a few Chevron tales…
when he was a young lad at school, still called Philip Ryan, he booked Planxty to play a lunch time gig in O’Connell Schools….it was 1972 and the Band was just starting out…Philip was 15….he organised the gig himself, sold the tickets and paid us £30, all in silver coin….I have a lovely memory of the day….I never heard from him again UNTIL I met Phil Chevron, than playing with “Radiators from Space” ..it was 1982 and Philip did a solo gig with Moving Hearts in The Natioanl Stadium Dublin..he had Agnes Bernelle guesting….I went to London the following year and we hooked up to try and write a few songs..nothing came from it but we established a friendship that remained….I did a tribute gig to Philip in Whelan’s Dublin and recieved a beautiful letter from him shortly before he died
Phil Chevron was the real deal….rest in peace good companero
Hi Christy and Dave (who has asked for this 😉), back from a great, entertaining and emotional weekend in Shrewsbury. There were a few “first times” and a few “last times” for me. First time in Shrewsbury, which is a nice town. First time at that folk festival, which was well organised and had a very relaxed and (family) friendly atmosphere. The weather was great which made it impossible not to have a good time☀️.
Music wise I listened among others to Dougie MacLean, the Henry Girls, the Rainbow Girls, the really funny Spanish band El Pony Pisador, who celebrated a party on stage and made the whole audience dance, jump and do long conga lines, having a wall of folk etc, and of course the Oysterband whose last gig in England made me go there. First and last time for me to see them playing a Ceilidh gig, which is where they originally come from. Although being to Ireland and England quite a few times I missed that up to now. So a whole new experience for me to see people of all ages dancing together in a mostly structured, sometimes confusing way, but all having fun which is the main thing 😉. The Oysters’ former band member Chopper aka Ray Cooper joined them on the cello for that gig already. And on Sunday their longterm drummer Lee was back again for support, too. For some songs June Tabor with whom they’d sang many times before came on stage. I had never seen her live before. She still has a strong voice and sang a great duet with JJ.
At the end of the gig this time literally the lights were “put out”. This moment was very emotional for both the band and the audience.
Apart from the gigs on the stages I enjoyed the variety of the smaller events on the festival grounds as well. A group of youngsters singing and playing beautiful songs, Morris and Molly dance groups, different kind of workshops for different instruments, singing session etc. (Too) many things to do and choose😉.
Before heading back home I spent a few hours in Birmingham seeing the Black Sabbath Bridge, an exhibition of Ozzy (not planned, just stumbled into it while walking around the city) and many other interesting sites.
So definitely a weekend to be well remembered.
There were live streams of the three main stages on the Shrewsbury youtube channel. Currently I can’t find them anymore, but I do hope that the organisers only split them up into the single gigs and publish them again (as they have done with other gigs from the last years). Would be a good opportunity to relive the gig later on and watch some of those gigs I have missed as three stages and a few tents were played at the same time.
Now I’m looking forward to the Trim gigs with the first one only four weeks to go😀.
Enjoy the gigs in Galway and Sligo in between, Christy!
All the best
Birgit
Birgit…thank you for that great report on Shrewsbury Festival…you certainly availed fully of the music …you paint a beaufiful picture of what sounds like a great line up….hearing June Tabor and going home across Ozzy’s bridge….
Hi Christy,
He got out. Didn’t he ?
Just saying like …
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
He stepped out
and I stepped in again
Hi Christy,
Today i visited a prison ( in one of my roles) , and it gave me hope. Decent relationships between jailed and jailors, decent facilities, decen range of support.
I stuck on Nicky Kelly/Wicklow Boy as i got back in the car, a man and song with a vastly different experience. Good to hear it again.
Rory
Did many prison visits in earlier years….always very glad to get back out…its 25 years since…met rough screws in the Blocks…unfriendly gougers…..down south the atmosphere was different in most cases …gigged all the jails down here, some good memories from the various jails…the Blocks was a very different story…families of Republican POWs got rough treatment …
I met Nicky the night of his release…first thing he told me was that he was a Wexford Boy …..
Hi Christy,could you please explain to me what the last sentence of you answer to my guestbookpost means? Apparently I don’t know enough English. It was something about a herrin….
a friend from Wexford told me that when he was a wee boy growing up in that beautiful town sometimes him and his pals would “go down the quay to feck a herrin” …perhaps to purchase/rob/find/gain/score a herring from a fishing trawler…those days of innocence in the 1950s when we ran free thru the fields on down to the River to gambol, gamble and play game ball
There’s a coincidence for you Christy! You know the way the Council’s in Dublin are commisiong artists to paint murals and artwork on the control boxes at junctions! There I was cruising into Chapelizod this afternoon when I spotted this. Don’t know if you’ve seen it but it looks great, let me know if the link doesn’t work and I can email it to you!
Great to see Frank being recognised in his own village! Gave me a nice little lift of a Monday afternoon.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_AWbXhMDbn/?img_index=1
what a sight to happen upon…Frank would have a song for it
Hi Christy
Thanks for the prompt that sent me on an hour of great memories…the key was your quote of Harte gems…
They reminded me of some epic nights in the company of a Meath mate,now departed. His mostly true tales were punctuated with oaths,blasphemy and a liberal,much admired use of the term ‘bollix’…some readers may search here for deeper meanings of music and song. They’re frequently available,but now and again there’s an unexpected detour that’s just as rich in content!
I wish I’d heard/known Frank Harte.
Thanks
Dave
with cudgels stout we’d roam about in search of the Dreolin
we’d leap for joy beneath the sky from Leitir to Dooneen
Oops. Amazing gigs
so I’m not the only one who re-reads my earlier posts !
Hello Christy,
Talking of luck, we heard a piper last night called Jane Walls, a glorious player from Antrim and not an octopus in sight. Everything was beautifully balanced, resonators, drone and chanter behaving perfectly for her.
She played these two last night, the video is from a previous gig
https://youtu.be/fO1fuzzBZ0E?si=BNQJcSdZW1oOi7o1
Also some others so beautifully, including a slow air full of hills, glens and wistful longing. I’ve lost its name.
We met a musical handbag, the shruti box that was the third member of Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary’s duo. She introduced it as a musical handbag, never to be forgotten!
They did an evocative version of The Bonny Green Tree that whisked us all away.
Hoped we might see you at the festival, I can understand why you return to it. Amazing guys and people.
Rebecca
The Bantry Girl’s Lament….a grand old tune
There’ll only be ever one Frank Harte! Here with Donal in their pomp! And me lucky to be a Cabra man!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1UeVFruXaa0
Phone rings
its Harte
“Moore ye bollix, get up off you’re arse and we’ll go to Mullaghbawn and sing a few songs”
phone rings late
its Frank
“give us that one about the Beeswing”
phone rings
“lets go and hear Karen Casey”
I loved getting those Frank Harte phone calls
I remember the last Planxty gig in Dublin…I could see him in the 3rd row…. I dedicated a song to him…. that big beautiful Frank Harte smile beamed up at us…we were so lucky and happy to have had him as a friend,mentor, craic merchant