Hi Christy,
A good friend of mine Charles Kemmy kildare man went and got 18 tickets for your show tonight Friday 9th in killashee hotel naas hoping his friends and family would be over the moon and buy them off him
I said ah no sure I’ve seen Christy before and I’ll miss the late late show !! So if you could give Charles a shout out tonight and his 18 friends (including me I brought one of the 18 dynamic pricing and all that )and Kenny family be appreciated
Thanks Pat
Christy's reply
Morra Pat…
That was some gathering in Naas last night…
I hope Charles and Co had a good night
More hibernation than usual. A great newsletter from Woody Guthrie world led me to have a good dip into http://www.woodyguthrie.org
A mine of info about the maestro,folklorist ,Michael F Scully…and albums by Dropkick Murphys
Something for everyone with time to spare…
Keep warm,all
Dave
Christy's reply
a lot of good stuff goin on here Dave
just had a quick scroll thru the songs that Woody wrote
what a treasure trove
hope all you United City ‘Ragettes are having a peaceful day
gets more difficult with passing time as lunatics take over the asylum
been working on a new song called “Cable Street”
nearly ready to go
The phrase “The Grey Lake of Loughrea” refers to a short story by Seumas O’Kelly, published in his 1917 collection Waysiders, but it’s also a popular song with lyrics by Pádraic Fallon (based on an older folk tune) set to music by others, notably performed by Christy Moore. So, the author depends on whether you mean the short story (O’Kelly) or the song (Fallon for lyrics).
Christy's reply
thats the very reason I started this website all those years back….to facilitate the sharing of songs ,writers, gigs and all the other snippets that land here….thanks FF
Hello Christy, I was down in Laois the other day for an O’Byrne Cup game and I saw some lovely farms and I’m thinking of just taking them and running them for the benefit of the community…after I take my expenses first. Am I wrong, or is that the way the world works now?
“But the dollars like swallows they fly to the South
Where they know they’ve got something to gain
Allende is killed, And the trucks are soon rolling again”
Christy's reply
you put me in mind of John Magnier
that poor cratur below in Coolmore
and him trying to expand his small holding
to grow a few more turnips for his starving mares
Morning Christy well unfortunately I don’t know who wrote the grey lake of loughrea I even rang Fergal Connaire who was Harry’s former principal we played together for donkeys years and he is the only one I know that sings it he makes a good job of it too he thinks it could go way back.
I think at some stage the late Tony Small frim Galway sang it to you first in London.
You have a version of in on the red disc from your box set 1964 to 2004.
I m gigging away taking it handy for January and February then open up the throttle again the Ferguson is ticking over well too its getting a bit shakey on the long haul trips
Face the puck out
The Golden Lion night when I first heard you…a room ,full with c 70 people…good order,so I heard you really well from c 10 feet away…the club was gone by ‘ Nightshift’ days,but we had the buzz of playing many similar rooms…a blessing.
Hi Christy
Great to read your pre gig routine…I often wonder about such processes.
Most of my gig times were spent with my good companero,Fred…great comparability,even through tortuous process of me tuning dulcimer and mandolin!
In semi pro world,it was a buzz to see familiar faces/ early arrivals…often by audients who’d made a real effort to be at the gig.! For folk clubs,there was rarely a PA,nor a need for one..kick into a song,hit the rhythm and pitch the sound by the volume off the room’s back wall…I’m sure you relate to that process.
Fair play to Harry…he’ll enjoy the ride ..he’s off to a great start.
All the best
Dave
Christy's reply
back in the 1960s some of us dreaded Folk Clubs that had microphones and speakers…no one knew anything about PA systems….most clubs had no stage or platform…we stood amongst and beside the listeners, no divisions, intimate settings…I was 6 years on the road before I encountered a very modest PA system with Planxty…..another year before we began working with a Sound Engineer
Hi Christy. I’m 14 now. When did you find your own style? I’m find I’m picking songs from everywhere. I find ones like fisherman’s blues and this is the life work great in a busy pub, especially with the drums. But I also love a good slow one like the town I lived so well or even Iris. My style has been influenced a lot my parents’ music taste. My dad’s a big fan of oasis, Bruce Springsteen and even Roy Orbison while moms into softer stuff like David gray and Ed Sheeran. They’re both into Irish music aswell especially your stuff. Mom said she first saw you live at the point in the 90s. Thanks Christy, Harry
Christy's reply
thats a great mix you got goin there Harry…you are certainly on the right track….keep up the good work…you have a lot of different influences swirling around….keep listening and learning and practicing and enjoying the process…at 14 I had never even seen a guitar…I was playing piano but not really enjoying it….I was starting to hear early Rock & Roll on the Wireless….I was singing in a choir in school, before my voice “broke” I’d been a fairly good Boy Soprano and sang a few local concerts….all changed when I heard the early Clancy Brothers songs…
It took years and years of gigging and recording before I found my own way of doing it….starting to write really helped….hearing Ewan MacColl songs, Woody Guthrie songs gave me the idea of trying to write……(not everyone gets to write…many great singers never wrote a song )
Keep doin what you’re doin Harry….enjoy the process and dont be in too much of a hurry .
“let the music keep your spirits high” a line from Jackson Brown’s song “After The Deluge” … I sang it with a band called Moving Hearts in the 1980s….I do another song of his these days called “How Long”
Hi All. That was a great start to season 60 and 2026 in Mullingar, almost in the middle of the Island. A great setlist and a room full of people of all ages eager and willing to engage with the songs. Some people there in remembrance, some out to hear their favourite song or shout out a request I think all of use left in good form after being entertained and maybe even uplifted !! A song for the day that’s in it Nollaig na mBan https://youtu.be/6SN3XN_85C0?si=Gv3qh857-RRUAyqV Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
got there at 14.30… met a few early arrivals ( ie 1 !)…. up to the room, unpack and get into the routine… get a salad at 3..start to run thru some songs that might need attention, …make a few notes…5 o’clock meet the crew who have been setting it up since 11 am.,.. chat with the promoter….stage bullt, PA & Lights in place, stage laid out precisely , screeens installed….seating carefully arranged for maximum sighlines..come 5.30 and everyone ready for a good sound check…I’ve been having some hearing problems,we work toget the stage monitor sound in order…3 guitars ready to go, Bodhrán perfectly tensioned….back to the room for the final countdown….45 minutes stretching and voice warming….Michael gives me the 20 mins and 5 mins countdown….into the black clobber…Michael checks me for correct glasses, correct hearing aids, that I have’nt got the clobber on back to front…down to the back stage area, the sound of a pre gig audience still excites and focuses, Johnny rigs up my Microphone, David starts to announce , the lights go down….. Dear Mother, come out here with me one more time….first gig of 2026 and away we go….
60 years ago a different story….just me,guitar,sleeping bag and a bunch of songs,back then the train driver was my roadcrew….
Hello Christy. Good to see the gigs in 2026 began great. But what a coincidence, Eric Bibb was mentioned here yesterday. Last night I was listening to a Lunasa album. There’s a track on it with Bibb a guest singer.
All the best
Günter
Hi Christy,
Thank you so much for the wonderful mention of Jamie and dedication of Beeswing to him in your Mullingar gig. It brought us all to tears and if Jamie was in the room he’d have been beaming with joy. It meant so much to us, we’ll never forget it, or the fantastic show you put on for the evening!
Míle buíochas ó chroí,
Donna Colbourne
A freezing night…warmed by Cerys Matthews,blues on the radio and chat with maestro,Eric Bibb.
Great conversation and music…talk of Dylan and his love of the blues.Bibb recalled meeting Dylan at a party organised by Bibb senior…Eric was 11,Dylan 22…recently arrived in New York.Big excitement in the room when Dylan arrived. The young lad started talking to Bob about guitar playing.Bibb credits Dylan with advice that he followed,and still does…
‘keep it simple,man’
Fair enough.
Dave
Christy's reply
I spoke with Cerys about 20 years ago on the Beeb…great woman, engaging interviewer..myself and Declan Sinnott were charmed
Hi Christy the gig was great. I’m playing mix of stuff to be honest. I do a bit of Irish traditional stuff and then I have a go at rock and pop and all that. I definitely play more older stuff than new anyways. I mostly busk in Galway as it has a massive busking culture but I do charity busks in loughrea at Christmas. My grandad has Parkinson’s so I’ve been busking to raise money for them for the last four years I think. They’re a great charity so it’s great to do my bit for them. I’ve heard the grey lake of Loughrea a fair bit but I’ve never actually sang it myself. I was actually down in one of the local pubs over the Christmas and my old principal from primary school played it. I think he played before you years ago with iggy. His names Fegal Connaire. Did you write the grey lake of Loughrea and if not who did? Thanks Christy and well done on last night, Harry
Christy's reply
begod and theres great communications goin on here between The Grey Lake and The Black Lagoon….I dont recall who wrote that song but I’d say Iggy probably knows..
what age are you now Harry ? sounds like you are pluggin in to different genres and styles of music….good way to proceed…we keep going at it and then one day we find we have developed our own way of doin it….for me it was a mixture of my Mother’s songs, Elvis, Buddy, The Clancy’s,Luke, Beach Boys, Ewan MacColl, Woody, Bob, The Watersons, Frank Harte, John Reilly, The Grehan Sisters, Wally Page, Johnny Mulhearn,Hamish Imlach, Donal Lunny, Declan Sinnott, borrowing a bit here , a bit there, writing a bit , but singing and playing each and every day….then I woke up one day and thought:
“anyone for the last few choc ices”
Fair play Christy for a great start to the New year you were in flying form you had the whole place in the palm of your hand nice to hear January man and Rosilita and Jack Campbell we sailed on with Jimmy drove around the place on a honda 50 and youfinished us off with Ordinary man a great night from an amazing man long may you rein face the puck out
Christy's reply
I feckin well stumbled on the last verse of Rosalita….I was inwardly raging with myself…
such a great song,seldom if ever requested..I’ll have to get it into the set more often
always a pleasure to hear from you Iggy…
are you gigging much these days…hope the Ferguson is tickin over nicely
Hi Christy,
Great Gig last night, we really enjoyed it.
My dad (Tony Holleran) raved about your gig in Court Hotel that he was at a few years ago.
I left his cd that he made before he died with one of the guys in your merchandise shop. If you didnt get and your interested I can send younone for a listen.
Thanks
Shay
Christy's reply
Morra Shay,..I rem that night well… we had a grand chat after the gig…. always remember his smile..his love of songs and music..going way back… Tony always remembered
Well Christy is there any chance of Mcillhatton on Friday in Naas for Síle Murray who will have travelled all the way from Glenravels Glen.
Thank you.
Christy's reply
written in Long Kesh University by the late Bobby Sands M.P. of Twinbrook and Rathcoole
its such a well written and colourful song about then life and times of Mickey McIlhatton
the lyric came to me on a smuggled comm but the original tune, written by Bik McFarlane, did not survive the journey
Donal Lunny worked with me and produced a tune that carries the song perfecly..
I never tire of singing this song…there is a purity in the lyric that always excites..
we’ll give it a whirl in Cnoc na Sí come Friday Night
Safe Journey
Hi Christy,
Super start to year 60. Am I correct in saying it’s some years now since new year Gigs started outside of HQ. Now there are those who would think that traveling to our Lake County in early January is not the best idea in the world 😂….. However the weather Gods were kind tonight as we just got a Dusting of Frost. Plenty of heat in that big Room though, you had it hopping from the get go. Well done and thanks Christy.
Ride on.
Patsy.
Christy's reply
Thats the year well kicked off
you were in great voice last night Patsy
I heard your sweet harmonies
for a while there we sounded like The Three Tenors..
Hi Christy,
A good friend of mine Charles Kemmy kildare man went and got 18 tickets for your show tonight Friday 9th in killashee hotel naas hoping his friends and family would be over the moon and buy them off him
I said ah no sure I’ve seen Christy before and I’ll miss the late late show !! So if you could give Charles a shout out tonight and his 18 friends (including me I brought one of the 18 dynamic pricing and all that )and Kenny family be appreciated
Thanks Pat
Morra Pat…
That was some gathering in Naas last night…
I hope Charles and Co had a good night
Hi Christy
More hibernation than usual. A great newsletter from Woody Guthrie world led me to have a good dip into
http://www.woodyguthrie.org
A mine of info about the maestro,folklorist ,Michael F Scully…and albums by Dropkick Murphys
Something for everyone with time to spare…
Keep warm,all
Dave
a lot of good stuff goin on here Dave
just had a quick scroll thru the songs that Woody wrote
what a treasure trove
hope all you United City ‘Ragettes are having a peaceful day
gets more difficult with passing time as lunatics take over the asylum
been working on a new song called “Cable Street”
nearly ready to go
Thank you Fulforward everyday is a school day fair play
For IGGYB:
The phrase “The Grey Lake of Loughrea” refers to a short story by Seumas O’Kelly, published in his 1917 collection Waysiders, but it’s also a popular song with lyrics by Pádraic Fallon (based on an older folk tune) set to music by others, notably performed by Christy Moore. So, the author depends on whether you mean the short story (O’Kelly) or the song (Fallon for lyrics).
thats the very reason I started this website all those years back….to facilitate the sharing of songs ,writers, gigs and all the other snippets that land here….thanks FF
Hi Christy
Thinking of Syd Barrett who would have hit 80…
As good a reason as any to play your brilliant version…for a ‘crazy diamond’..love his music and art.
Dave
when I hear his name I always think of him walking home to Cambridge from London
Hello Christy, I was down in Laois the other day for an O’Byrne Cup game and I saw some lovely farms and I’m thinking of just taking them and running them for the benefit of the community…after I take my expenses first. Am I wrong, or is that the way the world works now?
“But the dollars like swallows they fly to the South
Where they know they’ve got something to gain
Allende is killed, And the trucks are soon rolling again”
you put me in mind of John Magnier
that poor cratur below in Coolmore
and him trying to expand his small holding
to grow a few more turnips for his starving mares
Morning Christy well unfortunately I don’t know who wrote the grey lake of loughrea I even rang Fergal Connaire who was Harry’s former principal we played together for donkeys years and he is the only one I know that sings it he makes a good job of it too he thinks it could go way back.
I think at some stage the late Tony Small frim Galway sang it to you first in London.
You have a version of in on the red disc from your box set 1964 to 2004.
I m gigging away taking it handy for January and February then open up the throttle again the Ferguson is ticking over well too its getting a bit shakey on the long haul trips
Face the puck out
see FullForward’s post today
It’s well named,Christy
The Golden Lion night when I first heard you…a room ,full with c 70 people…good order,so I heard you really well from c 10 feet away…the club was gone by ‘ Nightshift’ days,but we had the buzz of playing many similar rooms…a blessing.
Happy days
Dave
Harris & Appleton made it all happen
Hi Christy
Great to read your pre gig routine…I often wonder about such processes.
Most of my gig times were spent with my good companero,Fred…great comparability,even through tortuous process of me tuning dulcimer and mandolin!
In semi pro world,it was a buzz to see familiar faces/ early arrivals…often by audients who’d made a real effort to be at the gig.! For folk clubs,there was rarely a PA,nor a need for one..kick into a song,hit the rhythm and pitch the sound by the volume off the room’s back wall…I’m sure you relate to that process.
Fair play to Harry…he’ll enjoy the ride ..he’s off to a great start.
All the best
Dave
back in the 1960s some of us dreaded Folk Clubs that had microphones and speakers…no one knew anything about PA systems….most clubs had no stage or platform…we stood amongst and beside the listeners, no divisions, intimate settings…I was 6 years on the road before I encountered a very modest PA system with Planxty…..another year before we began working with a Sound Engineer
Hi Christy. I’m 14 now. When did you find your own style? I’m find I’m picking songs from everywhere. I find ones like fisherman’s blues and this is the life work great in a busy pub, especially with the drums. But I also love a good slow one like the town I lived so well or even Iris. My style has been influenced a lot my parents’ music taste. My dad’s a big fan of oasis, Bruce Springsteen and even Roy Orbison while moms into softer stuff like David gray and Ed Sheeran. They’re both into Irish music aswell especially your stuff. Mom said she first saw you live at the point in the 90s. Thanks Christy, Harry
thats a great mix you got goin there Harry…you are certainly on the right track….keep up the good work…you have a lot of different influences swirling around….keep listening and learning and practicing and enjoying the process…at 14 I had never even seen a guitar…I was playing piano but not really enjoying it….I was starting to hear early Rock & Roll on the Wireless….I was singing in a choir in school, before my voice “broke” I’d been a fairly good Boy Soprano and sang a few local concerts….all changed when I heard the early Clancy Brothers songs…
It took years and years of gigging and recording before I found my own way of doing it….starting to write really helped….hearing Ewan MacColl songs, Woody Guthrie songs gave me the idea of trying to write……(not everyone gets to write…many great singers never wrote a song )
Keep doin what you’re doin Harry….enjoy the process and dont be in too much of a hurry .
“let the music keep your spirits high” a line from Jackson Brown’s song “After The Deluge” … I sang it with a band called Moving Hearts in the 1980s….I do another song of his these days called “How Long”
Hi All. That was a great start to season 60 and 2026 in Mullingar, almost in the middle of the Island. A great setlist and a room full of people of all ages eager and willing to engage with the songs. Some people there in remembrance, some out to hear their favourite song or shout out a request I think all of use left in good form after being entertained and maybe even uplifted !! A song for the day that’s in it Nollaig na mBan https://youtu.be/6SN3XN_85C0?si=Gv3qh857-RRUAyqV Beir bua agus beannacht. H
got there at 14.30… met a few early arrivals ( ie 1 !)…. up to the room, unpack and get into the routine… get a salad at 3..start to run thru some songs that might need attention, …make a few notes…5 o’clock meet the crew who have been setting it up since 11 am.,.. chat with the promoter….stage bullt, PA & Lights in place, stage laid out precisely , screeens installed….seating carefully arranged for maximum sighlines..come 5.30 and everyone ready for a good sound check…I’ve been having some hearing problems,we work toget the stage monitor sound in order…3 guitars ready to go, Bodhrán perfectly tensioned….back to the room for the final countdown….45 minutes stretching and voice warming….Michael gives me the 20 mins and 5 mins countdown….into the black clobber…Michael checks me for correct glasses, correct hearing aids, that I have’nt got the clobber on back to front…down to the back stage area, the sound of a pre gig audience still excites and focuses, Johnny rigs up my Microphone, David starts to announce , the lights go down….. Dear Mother, come out here with me one more time….first gig of 2026 and away we go….
60 years ago a different story….just me,guitar,sleeping bag and a bunch of songs,back then the train driver was my roadcrew….
Hello Christy. Good to see the gigs in 2026 began great. But what a coincidence, Eric Bibb was mentioned here yesterday. Last night I was listening to a Lunasa album. There’s a track on it with Bibb a guest singer.
All the best
Günter
Hi Christy,
Thank you so much for the wonderful mention of Jamie and dedication of Beeswing to him in your Mullingar gig. It brought us all to tears and if Jamie was in the room he’d have been beaming with joy. It meant so much to us, we’ll never forget it, or the fantastic show you put on for the evening!
Míle buíochas ó chroí,
Donna Colbourne
http://www.ericbibb.com
Fascinating info about his father,Martin Luther King and Civil Rights..plus lots of blues!
Nothing fancy…as per Bob Dylan!
Keep warm,all
Dave
met Eric Bibb backstage at Glastonbury one of the years…seemed a good man
Hi Christy
A freezing night…warmed by Cerys Matthews,blues on the radio and chat with maestro,Eric Bibb.
Great conversation and music…talk of Dylan and his love of the blues.Bibb recalled meeting Dylan at a party organised by Bibb senior…Eric was 11,Dylan 22…recently arrived in New York.Big excitement in the room when Dylan arrived. The young lad started talking to Bob about guitar playing.Bibb credits Dylan with advice that he followed,and still does…
‘keep it simple,man’
Fair enough.
Dave
I spoke with Cerys about 20 years ago on the Beeb…great woman, engaging interviewer..myself and Declan Sinnott were charmed
Hi Christy the gig was great. I’m playing mix of stuff to be honest. I do a bit of Irish traditional stuff and then I have a go at rock and pop and all that. I definitely play more older stuff than new anyways. I mostly busk in Galway as it has a massive busking culture but I do charity busks in loughrea at Christmas. My grandad has Parkinson’s so I’ve been busking to raise money for them for the last four years I think. They’re a great charity so it’s great to do my bit for them. I’ve heard the grey lake of Loughrea a fair bit but I’ve never actually sang it myself. I was actually down in one of the local pubs over the Christmas and my old principal from primary school played it. I think he played before you years ago with iggy. His names Fegal Connaire. Did you write the grey lake of Loughrea and if not who did? Thanks Christy and well done on last night, Harry
begod and theres great communications goin on here between The Grey Lake and The Black Lagoon….I dont recall who wrote that song but I’d say Iggy probably knows..
what age are you now Harry ? sounds like you are pluggin in to different genres and styles of music….good way to proceed…we keep going at it and then one day we find we have developed our own way of doin it….for me it was a mixture of my Mother’s songs, Elvis, Buddy, The Clancy’s,Luke, Beach Boys, Ewan MacColl, Woody, Bob, The Watersons, Frank Harte, John Reilly, The Grehan Sisters, Wally Page, Johnny Mulhearn,Hamish Imlach, Donal Lunny, Declan Sinnott, borrowing a bit here , a bit there, writing a bit , but singing and playing each and every day….then I woke up one day and thought:
“anyone for the last few choc ices”
Fair play Christy for a great start to the New year you were in flying form you had the whole place in the palm of your hand nice to hear January man and Rosilita and Jack Campbell we sailed on with Jimmy drove around the place on a honda 50 and youfinished us off with Ordinary man a great night from an amazing man long may you rein face the puck out
I feckin well stumbled on the last verse of Rosalita….I was inwardly raging with myself…
such a great song,seldom if ever requested..I’ll have to get it into the set more often
always a pleasure to hear from you Iggy…
are you gigging much these days…hope the Ferguson is tickin over nicely
Hi Christy,
Great Gig last night, we really enjoyed it.
My dad (Tony Holleran) raved about your gig in Court Hotel that he was at a few years ago.
I left his cd that he made before he died with one of the guys in your merchandise shop. If you didnt get and your interested I can send younone for a listen.
Thanks
Shay
Morra Shay,..I rem that night well… we had a grand chat after the gig…. always remember his smile..his love of songs and music..going way back… Tony always remembered
Well Christy is there any chance of Mcillhatton on Friday in Naas for Síle Murray who will have travelled all the way from Glenravels Glen.
Thank you.
written in Long Kesh University by the late Bobby Sands M.P. of Twinbrook and Rathcoole
its such a well written and colourful song about then life and times of Mickey McIlhatton
the lyric came to me on a smuggled comm but the original tune, written by Bik McFarlane, did not survive the journey
Donal Lunny worked with me and produced a tune that carries the song perfecly..
I never tire of singing this song…there is a purity in the lyric that always excites..
we’ll give it a whirl in Cnoc na Sí come Friday Night
Safe Journey
Hi Christy,
Super start to year 60. Am I correct in saying it’s some years now since new year Gigs started outside of HQ. Now there are those who would think that traveling to our Lake County in early January is not the best idea in the world 😂….. However the weather Gods were kind tonight as we just got a Dusting of Frost. Plenty of heat in that big Room though, you had it hopping from the get go. Well done and thanks Christy.
Ride on.
Patsy.
Thats the year well kicked off
you were in great voice last night Patsy
I heard your sweet harmonies
for a while there we sounded like The Three Tenors..