It’s been announced that 2026 will see the release of a Dick Gaughan box set…1969 – 1983…it follows world wide crowd funding,set up by Belfast’s Colin Harper.
Because of ill health,Dick no longer performs,but the box makes his music accessible . Partly righting the wrongs of some dodgy deals etc..
Any time now,there’s another Gaughan gem due…BBC sessions, from the 1970s…they’ll be fab…viva the mighty Gaughan.
Happy days…
Dave
Christy's reply
first heard Dick back in 1968..he stilled the night
Christy,
Thank you so much for the amazing shout out and wonderful song, the Voyage. It has such special meaning to us, as all couples ride the emotional waves of marriage. We came from Chicago to see you in Belfast in 2023 and now in Dublin on Saturday! You sound better every time! “In the City of Chicago” has such special meaning to us as well and so many Irish immigrants in Chicago; it’s a very tough life at the minute for illegals, as the Irish are very well aware. Your voice and songs comfort and validate so many of our experiences. Thank you for a magical night, as always!
All the best, until we meet again!
The McKillops from Chicago
Hi Christy
For a variety of good reasons,Mike Harding gets mentioned in dispatched here…
The latest newsletter from Manchester’s Portico library features a Mike gig…fund raising for the ace library,Mike is telling tales from the North…Thursday,18 December 6-7 pm…a bargain at £3 a pop…
Back in the day,Mike packed many a folk club…I never missed him play in M20,hence me catching your floor spot at The Golden Lion c 1971…cheers,Mike!
Hi Christy,
We are looking forward to our annual trip to vicar St for your show. Could you please ay Beeswing for my Wife Louise Kelly, she’s been going through a tough time and we weren’t sure if she would even make it to this year. Looking forward to seeing you on the 15th Dec. Good health to ya.
Hi.So Bob is probably on his way home, after leaving us with such great memories. The INEC has hosted some amazing gigs and the gig on Sun last was truly up.there with the best. The band, the sound, Bob was crystal clear and at times his songs seemed joyful ! It was such a surprise to hear Lakes of Ponchartrain I think we were stunned at first but then we joined in. I bet it was the same for Rainy Night, here it is https://youtu.be/XrrYKs8aVVQ?is=jgEbj0JQRxplSf47 We are blessed that our own never ending tour continues. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Hello Christy, Birgit and all,
Not the one you’re looking for I don’t think, Birgit. I t was specifically a Christy recording you were looking for? But it does appear on Liam O’Flynn’s album
The Given Note
The singer is Paul Brady on this version. https://youtu.be/-L31tjTnlQw?si=4Stx_vwVs3S0a8PT
Hi Christy,
sorry for asking, but as I wasn’t successful in scouring my cd collection nor even with the help of google: You quoted the “Rocks of Bawn”. The lyrics are here on your website, so I think you have recorded that song. On which album has it been published? Me being an “Oysterhead” I know that song recorded by John Jones from the Oysterband (a beautiful version in my opinion ).
And now I’m curious about your version. Where can I find/get it?
Thank you in advance
Birgit
P.S. I tried to add a youtube link but failed. So now I try it without the link (hoping that this was the reason for blocking my post 😉 )
Hi Christy, we are coming to see you in Vicar St on 2nd December, we were up in Trim and Kilkenny in recent times. I would love to hear “They never came home”, it is a powerful song that remembers a shameful event for our country. One of our group – Damien – sang this song in 2003 in a school musical competition. After hearing his rendition our late principal (between drags of a cigarette) asked Damien – “is that song not banned”, he replied “it was sir”, the principal fired back “well you should be banned from singing it”!. Looking forward to the show.
Always interesting to read your insights about playing powerful songs..Declan added some canny breaks…
‘nightly moth’ has played a stormer,posting fab quality audio on YouTube…from Dylan’s recent gigs…the latest from last night…a fine tribute to Shane…’a rainy night in Soho’..
Class by a song and dance man,in sync with companeros
Dave
Christy's reply
there were some magic moments last night…
a few times the band took it right down
he whispered
the room fell into uncanny silence
duende
A post Covid Christmas tradition for my family is seeing you in Vicar Street, we’re all really looking forward to the show on 2nd December. It’s my uncle’s 70th birthday next week and the best present would be a hello from you during the show. His name is Noel Joy.
He lived in Australia in the 80s and heard a rumour of your untimely demise. With no internet to check, he spent months in mourning until a friend back in Ireland bumped into you and got your autograph as proof of life!
Your version of ‘I pity the poor immigrant’ stays in mind from a Bridgewater Hall gig over ten years ago…
I hope you and Valerie enjoy the evening with Dylan and companeros.
Dave
Christy's reply
for me…it’s an enormous song…sometimes overwhelming….have not done for many years…used to love Declan’s solo on this one…just like 40 years earlier used to love Liam Óg’s solo …one night , (1978 in Hammersmith Odeon with Planxty ) this lyric left me struggling to continue, Liam took it uip and saved the night, his chanter soared ’til I could breathe again…
Hi Christy. We back from Chicago to see your show tonight. We’re so excited. Hope to hear our favorite “city of Chicago”. Good luck
Christy's reply
in recent times it has been the perfect opening song….listeners open their voice boxes and sing out …last night was extra special…the song was written by my brother Luka Bloom….he wrote for our exiled brother who was at the gig last night…I could hear him singing up in the balcony….
hope you McKillops have a good visit
I bought the tickets before I found out about the age restrictions so I’m not after a freebie I have the two tickets! Slieve Russel says theyre coming from your side not theirs. Is there any give at all with that rule?
Christy's reply
“you gotta take a chance some time
stake it all on a glance some time
let some feeling show
let somebody know”….( Declan Sinnott)
Thoroughly enjoyed last Monday’s gig in Vicar Street. As good as ever and the atmosphere as special as ever. Great to hear some of the old Planxty numbers – Raggle Taggle Gypsy, Sweet Thames etc., and amazing to hear a verse of Mary From Dungloe!
Christy's reply
I gleaned “Mary from Dungloe” from the balladsingers bible in 1963…..Colm O’Lochlaiinn’s book “Irish Street Ballads” was an essential collection to any young revivalist folk singer trying to assemble a repertoire….there was an additional volume ” More Irish Street Ballads” in 1965…both gems printed and published by “The Three Candles” press in Dublin…I still have both original books here at hand…well thumbed and often referenced…..I believe they are still available and would recommend them to any young singer seeking songs to sing…leafing thru this morning I’m reminded how many songs I learned from these precious pages….a quick count revealed 28 precious songs I gathered from Colm O’Lochlainns ….nor was I alone when mining his golden vein
The Murricaune were gangsters in the service of the crown
They murdered Patrick Murphy as he fished on the Mucán
What a great songwriter JS truly is.
Rory
No, no… the alligators will eat them…! 🐊
I guess the Aligators are in the same woods where the Gondolas are being fed ? H
Hi Christy
Good news to start the day…
It’s been announced that 2026 will see the release of a Dick Gaughan box set…1969 – 1983…it follows world wide crowd funding,set up by Belfast’s Colin Harper.
Because of ill health,Dick no longer performs,but the box makes his music accessible . Partly righting the wrongs of some dodgy deals etc..
Any time now,there’s another Gaughan gem due…BBC sessions, from the 1970s…they’ll be fab…viva the mighty Gaughan.
Happy days…
Dave
first heard Dick back in 1968..he stilled the night
Christy,
Thank you so much for the amazing shout out and wonderful song, the Voyage. It has such special meaning to us, as all couples ride the emotional waves of marriage. We came from Chicago to see you in Belfast in 2023 and now in Dublin on Saturday! You sound better every time! “In the City of Chicago” has such special meaning to us as well and so many Irish immigrants in Chicago; it’s a very tough life at the minute for illegals, as the Irish are very well aware. Your voice and songs comfort and validate so many of our experiences. Thank you for a magical night, as always!
All the best, until we meet again!
The McKillops from Chicago
thanks for feed back…safe travels
Hi Christy
For a variety of good reasons,Mike Harding gets mentioned in dispatched here…
The latest newsletter from Manchester’s Portico library features a Mike gig…fund raising for the ace library,Mike is telling tales from the North…Thursday,18 December 6-7 pm…a bargain at £3 a pop…
Back in the day,Mike packed many a folk club…I never missed him play in M20,hence me catching your floor spot at The Golden Lion c 1971…cheers,Mike!
Dave
good to hear about my old mucker
Hi Christy,
We are looking forward to our annual trip to vicar St for your show. Could you please ay Beeswing for my Wife Louise Kelly, she’s been going through a tough time and we weren’t sure if she would even make it to this year. Looking forward to seeing you on the 15th Dec. Good health to ya.
I hope you both have a good one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJqQCYqnO_o
that’s the version I mentioned.
thats a belter
Hi.So Bob is probably on his way home, after leaving us with such great memories. The INEC has hosted some amazing gigs and the gig on Sun last was truly up.there with the best. The band, the sound, Bob was crystal clear and at times his songs seemed joyful ! It was such a surprise to hear Lakes of Ponchartrain I think we were stunned at first but then we joined in. I bet it was the same for Rainy Night, here it is https://youtu.be/XrrYKs8aVVQ?is=jgEbj0JQRxplSf47 We are blessed that our own never ending tour continues. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
if it were’nt for the Alligators
A packed,hushed hall…tight band,subtle playing..no phones…
‘duende’ is spot on,senor
D
shh
Hello Christy, Birgit and all,
Not the one you’re looking for I don’t think, Birgit. I t was specifically a Christy recording you were looking for? But it does appear on Liam O’Flynn’s album
The Given Note
The singer is Paul Brady on this version.
https://youtu.be/-L31tjTnlQw?si=4Stx_vwVs3S0a8PT
Rebecca
fair play
Hi Christy,
sorry for asking, but as I wasn’t successful in scouring my cd collection nor even with the help of google: You quoted the “Rocks of Bawn”. The lyrics are here on your website, so I think you have recorded that song. On which album has it been published? Me being an “Oysterhead” I know that song recorded by John Jones from the Oysterband (a beautiful version in my opinion ).
And now I’m curious about your version. Where can I find/get it?
Thank you in advance
Birgit
P.S. I tried to add a youtube link but failed. So now I try it without the link (hoping that this was the reason for blocking my post 😉 )
I’ve never recorded this great song
Hi Christy, we are coming to see you in Vicar St on 2nd December, we were up in Trim and Kilkenny in recent times. I would love to hear “They never came home”, it is a powerful song that remembers a shameful event for our country. One of our group – Damien – sang this song in 2003 in a school musical competition. After hearing his rendition our late principal (between drags of a cigarette) asked Damien – “is that song not banned”, he replied “it was sir”, the principal fired back “well you should be banned from singing it”!. Looking forward to the show.
thats noted Conor…we’ll do our best
Hi Christy
Always interesting to read your insights about playing powerful songs..Declan added some canny breaks…
‘nightly moth’ has played a stormer,posting fab quality audio on YouTube…from Dylan’s recent gigs…the latest from last night…a fine tribute to Shane…’a rainy night in Soho’..
Class by a song and dance man,in sync with companeros
Dave
there were some magic moments last night…
a few times the band took it right down
he whispered
the room fell into uncanny silence
duende
Hi Christy,
A post Covid Christmas tradition for my family is seeing you in Vicar Street, we’re all really looking forward to the show on 2nd December. It’s my uncle’s 70th birthday next week and the best present would be a hello from you during the show. His name is Noel Joy.
He lived in Australia in the 80s and heard a rumour of your untimely demise. With no internet to check, he spent months in mourning until a friend back in Ireland bumped into you and got your autograph as proof of life!
Míle buíochas,
Mary
I look forward to it myself…
lets rock the joint
You’re quoting from a fine song, Christy
Your version of ‘I pity the poor immigrant’ stays in mind from a Bridgewater Hall gig over ten years ago…
I hope you and Valerie enjoy the evening with Dylan and companeros.
Dave
for me…it’s an enormous song…sometimes overwhelming….have not done for many years…used to love Declan’s solo on this one…just like 40 years earlier used to love Liam Óg’s solo …one night , (1978 in Hammersmith Odeon with Planxty ) this lyric left me struggling to continue, Liam took it uip and saved the night, his chanter soared ’til I could breathe again…
Bob Dylan created many magic moments last night….
Hello Christy,
Some pics gleaned from the Internet. 1970s mainly, I think?
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18M13dKfyt/
Rebecca
no facebook interaction here…the day is too short…but thank you anyway
Hi Christy. We back from Chicago to see your show tonight. We’re so excited. Hope to hear our favorite “city of Chicago”. Good luck
in recent times it has been the perfect opening song….listeners open their voice boxes and sing out …last night was extra special…the song was written by my brother Luka Bloom….he wrote for our exiled brother who was at the gig last night…I could hear him singing up in the balcony….
hope you McKillops have a good visit
I bought the tickets before I found out about the age restrictions so I’m not after a freebie I have the two tickets! Slieve Russel says theyre coming from your side not theirs. Is there any give at all with that rule?
“you gotta take a chance some time
stake it all on a glance some time
let some feeling show
let somebody know”….( Declan Sinnott)
go for it Scart…I’ll whisper in the right ear
Thoroughly enjoyed last Monday’s gig in Vicar Street. As good as ever and the atmosphere as special as ever. Great to hear some of the old Planxty numbers – Raggle Taggle Gypsy, Sweet Thames etc., and amazing to hear a verse of Mary From Dungloe!
I gleaned “Mary from Dungloe” from the balladsingers bible in 1963…..Colm O’Lochlaiinn’s book “Irish Street Ballads” was an essential collection to any young revivalist folk singer trying to assemble a repertoire….there was an additional volume ” More Irish Street Ballads” in 1965…both gems printed and published by “The Three Candles” press in Dublin…I still have both original books here at hand…well thumbed and often referenced…..I believe they are still available and would recommend them to any young singer seeking songs to sing…leafing thru this morning I’m reminded how many songs I learned from these precious pages….a quick count revealed 28 precious songs I gathered from Colm O’Lochlainns ….nor was I alone when mining his golden vein