Christy good morning,
Radio 4 is still my main driving companion but on the website today is this story of the Chernobyl horror.
FAREWELL TO PRIPYAT
It was a Friday in April 1986,
The day that the nightmare began…..this song is a haunting reminder of its dangers, but a fine song at that.
It was just after midnight. Iryna Stetsenko had finished doing her nails for her wedding, opened the balcony door and was battling her nerves to get to sleep.
In a nearby apartment packed with guests, her fiancé Serhiy Lobanov was asleep on a mattress in the kitchen.
Then a “rumble” disturbed the quiet, says Iryna. “It was as if a lot of planes were flying overhead, everything was humming and the glass in the windows shook.”
Serhiy says he “felt a shake, as if some kind of wave passed”, wondered if it was a mild earthquake, and fell back to sleep.
The 19-year-old trainee teacher and power plant engineer, who was 25, were looking forward to married life in the newly built Soviet city of Pripyat. They had no idea that the world’s worst ever nuclear accident was unfolding less than 2.5 miles (4km) away.
on the morning of 26 April 1986, Serhiy remembers waking around 6am, full of excitement, to find his wedding day had dawned gloriously sunny.
He had errands to do – bed linen to take to a friend’s apartment where he and Iryna planned to sleep that night, and flowers to buy.
He says he saw soldiers in gas masks outside, and men washing the street with a foamy solution. Some men he knew from his work at the nuclear plant told him they had been called in urgently because “something happened”, but they did not know what.
Rory ( i remember delivering leaflets in the chernobyl rain……but the sheep don’t watch tv)
C, I find I can get plenty on the BBC still, all online, in spite of Brexit and us outside the empire and various reasons. Hurrah for the Beeb.
Mary A, that all looks rather interesting, am going to look.
Hi Christy, looking forward to another round of NCH gigs. Listening to John O’Dreams from the pink CD on a mild April evening in Kinsale. See you from the back of the hall on the 24th
Fran
What’s the craic Christy, been a while since I said hello to ya. Hope all’s well…looking forward to the NCH gigs more and more…when do you open the requests book? I’m new to that concept, I’d like to throw in a request for the missus and meself.
Unrelated, recently came across Continental Céilidh and that’s my current song obsession, it’s so different to most that you’ve put out. After thorough experiments, safe to say it’s a good song for the sesh.
I saw you said you’re touching up on Dunnes stores, great to see it’s making a revival. Still hoping the Hiroshima revival is on the table!
Take care
Following on from Christy’s comment about problems accessing the BBC, I am aware of a workaround that should enable people to access the BBC outside the UK (I have BBC access so I don’t use this workaround myself). When your computer connects to the internet it gets a digital (IP) address and this string of numbers provides information including the country where you are connecting to the internet. The BBC can therefore use IP information to block access to computers outside the UK. However, you can use a service called a VPN (virtual private network), which through a bit of software or an app can connect you to a server that you choose for in the country of interest where you want access, say a server in the UK for BBC access. Then if you have logged into the VPN, your IP address should appear to be in the UK and you should be able to access the BBC. Employees or individuals working abroad often use a VPN so their computer can still maintain an IP address corresponding to their home country. I don’t use a VPN myself so can’t recommend a VPN provider but if you Google something like VPN for BBC access outside the UK you can find more information about VPN options. Good luck! Don’t know where I would be without BBC Radio 4.
Hi Christy, hope the prep for upcoming gigs is enjoyable.. will miss the Cabhán gig as we take Leo on his first holiday to Spain for a few days.. but hope to get to some in and around then.. Thanks to Patsy Mc for his help in making the Tuar Ard Arts Centre gig happen..it is a beautiful theatre, and we were bowled over by the warm welcome.. In doing some research about Moate last Monday eve, having never been, I had a picture in my head.. I sat down on Tuesday with the guitar and a melody appeared.. come Thursday I was nervous about some of the places etc I had mentioned in the song.. but gave it a go and was given the all clear after the gig.. phew!!
The encouragement, camaraderie and engagement from yourself and the good people on here that brings great inspiration.. so thanks one and all..
Will be heading over to Canada in October to play some shows with HSP.. I believe there are some 4711ers hanging out yonder.. Ron Hynes country..
Buzzing from an unusual and ace gig…Unusual,that I didn’t know much about ‘The Haar ‘in advance…based on a reliable tip,website and YouTube,I set off for my fab local venue…The Waterside,Sale.
What a musical and visual feast…Molly Donnery (Co Laois) charismatic,swooping vocals,Cormac Byrne (Co Waterford) maestro of bodhran,Adam Summerhayes,stunning violin and viola (and album art),Murray Grainger (Stockport guy!) subtle,clever accordions … Sound textures,light and shade in abundance..
Molly,dressed in white. Guys dressed in black…lots of music interplay.accordion and bodhran as drone,rhythm,as vocals and fiddle fly…great interaction by the players as they spark off each other.
Many of the songs are standards…in title,but not in arrangement…before last night,I never expected to be fully engaged in versions of Wild Rover or Whiskey in the jar. But,played after researching sources,treated as edgy,big ballads,their power was put on show. No surprise that The Haar members have impressive CVs and lots of side projects to check out. Good lines in banter with the audience…great contrast with musical intensity…
After being mesmerised by his playing in the first half,I had a great half time chat with Cormac…as a student,he lived here and played in many sessions…no surprise,he’s a mucker of Mike McGoldrick et al…he enjoyed my version of your times here,getting ‘ the start’ via the Hardings…( Don’t think I mangled it) He’s a big admirer of yours and hopes paths will cross eventually…
Time for a cuppa and diving into my souvenir CDs…website and YouTube are good to check out the band.,..also,terrific bodhran geek stuff ..Cormac’s info at
Hi. It sounds like a great gig in Moate, the HSP are certainly on a roll with several international tours in 2026. The power of a good role model is amazing, I ‘ve noticesd how supportive you have been Christy of so many young people on this guestbook. I feel that Kevin has benefited from your feedback and encouragements, so here he is now composing songs in honour of Moate ! I think he has also seen your excellent stagecraft in action and drawn inspiration from that. The future of Folk songs and music feels fairly secure. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Hi Christy,
Looking forward to getting back to HQ on Sunday night — your support for these ladies never wanes, and it’s always appreciated.
We had the Highstool Prophets here in Tuar Ard last night. It was so refreshing to see a group of musicians performing with such freedom, and like yourself, letting the listeners shape the gig… and not an iPad in sight.
Kevin surprised us all with a brand‑new song he wrote this week about Moate. He’s the talk of the town today — nothing but positive feedback. Hopefully you’ll get to hear it soon.
Ride on.
Best Regards,
Patsy
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for your kind reply. I hope it’s a corker on Sunday.
Here’s something interesting https://oursubversivevoice.com/
Our Subversive Voice · The history and politics of the English protest song
It’s all fingerpicking practice here. I play dadgad. The c chord is taking me a long time. Fingers like spaghetti! Theres an easier one but this one sounds really lovely. So this one it’s going to be.
How are you Christy.
I picked up your songbook yesterday and read through a few of my favourites, and the great stories with it.
As much as I have been expanding my musical knowledge, exploring new genres, going up the fretboard playing the guitars, mandolins and beating the bodhrán, I always end up back at my roots playing Bright Blue Rose for my aunt, The Town I Loved so Well for granda, England’s Motorway for Uncle and recently Mary’s Pub by Amble.
I’m loving the writing and new tunes, learning more about music all the time, but as I saw the tribute album on its way for Shane, I recalled in Lyrath the whole crowd singing fairytale, one of my favourite live moments in music. I hope that was a good memory for yourself as it was for me.
-Matty
Christy's reply
lovely to read of your progress in song
great that you are “going up the fretboard”
after 65 years on the guitar I’ve yet to venture up the dusty end
I’m still firmly rooted ( and limited) with 9 chords and a good capo
Shane’s lyrics and the soulfullness of his singing have stirred the emotions of many….any time I sing one of his songs ( (his & Jem Finer’s) I can sense the love emanating from the listeners
Hello Christy,
I’ve been thinking about what you said about writing songs about the women in your family.
It led me back to trying to write a song about my Uncle John and what happened to him during the war. The feelings it unearthed, the responsibility to i felt to people still living, and those gone before.
How SCARY it was.
And as a youngish person i found that I didn’t have the bravery to face so much vulnerability in so much open, public space.
Then I thought about Joni Mitchell’s Magdalene Laundries. And how she helped the listener face all of this by putting herself in the centre of it. “Joni was an unmarried girl…”
Anyway, after all that wandering about, what I wanted to say is that I think you are exactly the right person to write these songs about your relatives. The thought of hearing what comes out of you excites me and i am trying not to anticipate it too much. I hope you do it and I wish you so well with it. I’d say. “Good Luck!”, but it’s the years and the life and the practice that you’ve already got that’s the real thing.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I set out each day intending to write new verses….invariably I end up playing and rehearsing old ones…
at the moment I am relearning Sandra Kerr’s song “Dunne’s Stores” for the upcoming Women’s Aid gig this week
42 years ago, Mary Manning and her comrades made a stand which resulted in them losing their jobs,…this in turn led to a protest that lasted 14 months…Sandra Kerr wrote and shared this song in support of their anti-apartheid stance….
Hi Christy
I hope you re connect with the Beeb and have a great gig tonight.
Nic Jones ‘Canad ee I o…starting the day. Masterful – and one of the finest guitar intros ever…
Have a good day
Dave
Christy good morning,
Radio 4 is still my main driving companion but on the website today is this story of the Chernobyl horror.
FAREWELL TO PRIPYAT
It was a Friday in April 1986,
The day that the nightmare began…..this song is a haunting reminder of its dangers, but a fine song at that.
It was just after midnight. Iryna Stetsenko had finished doing her nails for her wedding, opened the balcony door and was battling her nerves to get to sleep.
In a nearby apartment packed with guests, her fiancé Serhiy Lobanov was asleep on a mattress in the kitchen.
Then a “rumble” disturbed the quiet, says Iryna. “It was as if a lot of planes were flying overhead, everything was humming and the glass in the windows shook.”
Serhiy says he “felt a shake, as if some kind of wave passed”, wondered if it was a mild earthquake, and fell back to sleep.
The 19-year-old trainee teacher and power plant engineer, who was 25, were looking forward to married life in the newly built Soviet city of Pripyat. They had no idea that the world’s worst ever nuclear accident was unfolding less than 2.5 miles (4km) away.
on the morning of 26 April 1986, Serhiy remembers waking around 6am, full of excitement, to find his wedding day had dawned gloriously sunny.
He had errands to do – bed linen to take to a friend’s apartment where he and Iryna planned to sleep that night, and flowers to buy.
He says he saw soldiers in gas masks outside, and men washing the street with a foamy solution. Some men he knew from his work at the nuclear plant told him they had been called in urgently because “something happened”, but they did not know what.
Rory ( i remember delivering leaflets in the chernobyl rain……but the sheep don’t watch tv)
C, I find I can get plenty on the BBC still, all online, in spite of Brexit and us outside the empire and various reasons. Hurrah for the Beeb.
Mary A, that all looks rather interesting, am going to look.
Going to read some of these comments. Will be back fairly soon.
Hi Christy, looking forward to another round of NCH gigs. Listening to John O’Dreams from the pink CD on a mild April evening in Kinsale. See you from the back of the hall on the 24th
Fran
What’s the craic Christy, been a while since I said hello to ya. Hope all’s well…looking forward to the NCH gigs more and more…when do you open the requests book? I’m new to that concept, I’d like to throw in a request for the missus and meself.
Unrelated, recently came across Continental Céilidh and that’s my current song obsession, it’s so different to most that you’ve put out. After thorough experiments, safe to say it’s a good song for the sesh.
I saw you said you’re touching up on Dunnes stores, great to see it’s making a revival. Still hoping the Hiroshima revival is on the table!
Take care
Following on from Christy’s comment about problems accessing the BBC, I am aware of a workaround that should enable people to access the BBC outside the UK (I have BBC access so I don’t use this workaround myself). When your computer connects to the internet it gets a digital (IP) address and this string of numbers provides information including the country where you are connecting to the internet. The BBC can therefore use IP information to block access to computers outside the UK. However, you can use a service called a VPN (virtual private network), which through a bit of software or an app can connect you to a server that you choose for in the country of interest where you want access, say a server in the UK for BBC access. Then if you have logged into the VPN, your IP address should appear to be in the UK and you should be able to access the BBC. Employees or individuals working abroad often use a VPN so their computer can still maintain an IP address corresponding to their home country. I don’t use a VPN myself so can’t recommend a VPN provider but if you Google something like VPN for BBC access outside the UK you can find more information about VPN options. Good luck! Don’t know where I would be without BBC Radio 4.
Hi Christy
A morning out of the cold…in company of great CD albums and info at…www.thehaar.ie
D
Hi Christy, hope the prep for upcoming gigs is enjoyable.. will miss the Cabhán gig as we take Leo on his first holiday to Spain for a few days.. but hope to get to some in and around then.. Thanks to Patsy Mc for his help in making the Tuar Ard Arts Centre gig happen..it is a beautiful theatre, and we were bowled over by the warm welcome.. In doing some research about Moate last Monday eve, having never been, I had a picture in my head.. I sat down on Tuesday with the guitar and a melody appeared.. come Thursday I was nervous about some of the places etc I had mentioned in the song.. but gave it a go and was given the all clear after the gig.. phew!!
The encouragement, camaraderie and engagement from yourself and the good people on here that brings great inspiration.. so thanks one and all..
Will be heading over to Canada in October to play some shows with HSP.. I believe there are some 4711ers hanging out yonder.. Ron Hynes country..
Hi Christy
Buzzing from an unusual and ace gig…Unusual,that I didn’t know much about ‘The Haar ‘in advance…based on a reliable tip,website and YouTube,I set off for my fab local venue…The Waterside,Sale.
What a musical and visual feast…Molly Donnery (Co Laois) charismatic,swooping vocals,Cormac Byrne (Co Waterford) maestro of bodhran,Adam Summerhayes,stunning violin and viola (and album art),Murray Grainger (Stockport guy!) subtle,clever accordions … Sound textures,light and shade in abundance..
Molly,dressed in white. Guys dressed in black…lots of music interplay.accordion and bodhran as drone,rhythm,as vocals and fiddle fly…great interaction by the players as they spark off each other.
Many of the songs are standards…in title,but not in arrangement…before last night,I never expected to be fully engaged in versions of Wild Rover or Whiskey in the jar. But,played after researching sources,treated as edgy,big ballads,their power was put on show. No surprise that The Haar members have impressive CVs and lots of side projects to check out. Good lines in banter with the audience…great contrast with musical intensity…
After being mesmerised by his playing in the first half,I had a great half time chat with Cormac…as a student,he lived here and played in many sessions…no surprise,he’s a mucker of Mike McGoldrick et al…he enjoyed my version of your times here,getting ‘ the start’ via the Hardings…( Don’t think I mangled it) He’s a big admirer of yours and hopes paths will cross eventually…
Time for a cuppa and diving into my souvenir CDs…website and YouTube are good to check out the band.,..also,terrific bodhran geek stuff ..Cormac’s info at
http://www.boddrums.co.uk
Viva top gigs.. enjoy tomorrow. Fair play to all involved ..
Dave
Hi. It sounds like a great gig in Moate, the HSP are certainly on a roll with several international tours in 2026. The power of a good role model is amazing, I ‘ve noticesd how supportive you have been Christy of so many young people on this guestbook. I feel that Kevin has benefited from your feedback and encouragements, so here he is now composing songs in honour of Moate ! I think he has also seen your excellent stagecraft in action and drawn inspiration from that. The future of Folk songs and music feels fairly secure. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Hi Christy,
Looking forward to getting back to HQ on Sunday night — your support for these ladies never wanes, and it’s always appreciated.
We had the Highstool Prophets here in Tuar Ard last night. It was so refreshing to see a group of musicians performing with such freedom, and like yourself, letting the listeners shape the gig… and not an iPad in sight.
Kevin surprised us all with a brand‑new song he wrote this week about Moate. He’s the talk of the town today — nothing but positive feedback. Hopefully you’ll get to hear it soon.
Ride on.
Best Regards,
Patsy
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for your kind reply. I hope it’s a corker on Sunday.
Here’s something interesting
https://oursubversivevoice.com/
Our Subversive Voice · The history and politics of the English protest song
It’s all fingerpicking practice here. I play dadgad. The c chord is taking me a long time. Fingers like spaghetti! Theres an easier one but this one sounds really lovely. So this one it’s going to be.
Rebecca
Hi Christy
A pox on Bre*it and it’s dodgy actions…
I often play ‘Dunnes stores’…great that’s on the set list…’avalanche of suits’ is a brilliant description of management in a panic.
Enjoy the work room day
Dave
Hi Christy
Robbert Plant….relaxed,wide ranging chat and tracks played on BBC Dradio six….with Huw Stephens,just after 6 pm on Tues 14/4/26
D
since Brexit we no longer have easy access to BBC Radio….I miss Radio 4 and World Service
How are you Christy.
I picked up your songbook yesterday and read through a few of my favourites, and the great stories with it.
As much as I have been expanding my musical knowledge, exploring new genres, going up the fretboard playing the guitars, mandolins and beating the bodhrán, I always end up back at my roots playing Bright Blue Rose for my aunt, The Town I Loved so Well for granda, England’s Motorway for Uncle and recently Mary’s Pub by Amble.
I’m loving the writing and new tunes, learning more about music all the time, but as I saw the tribute album on its way for Shane, I recalled in Lyrath the whole crowd singing fairytale, one of my favourite live moments in music. I hope that was a good memory for yourself as it was for me.
-Matty
lovely to read of your progress in song
great that you are “going up the fretboard”
after 65 years on the guitar I’ve yet to venture up the dusty end
I’m still firmly rooted ( and limited) with 9 chords and a good capo
Shane’s lyrics and the soulfullness of his singing have stirred the emotions of many….any time I sing one of his songs ( (his & Jem Finer’s) I can sense the love emanating from the listeners
I wish you continued joy in your music making
Hello Christy,
I’ve been thinking about what you said about writing songs about the women in your family.
It led me back to trying to write a song about my Uncle John and what happened to him during the war. The feelings it unearthed, the responsibility to i felt to people still living, and those gone before.
How SCARY it was.
And as a youngish person i found that I didn’t have the bravery to face so much vulnerability in so much open, public space.
Then I thought about Joni Mitchell’s Magdalene Laundries. And how she helped the listener face all of this by putting herself in the centre of it. “Joni was an unmarried girl…”
Anyway, after all that wandering about, what I wanted to say is that I think you are exactly the right person to write these songs about your relatives. The thought of hearing what comes out of you excites me and i am trying not to anticipate it too much. I hope you do it and I wish you so well with it. I’d say. “Good Luck!”, but it’s the years and the life and the practice that you’ve already got that’s the real thing.
Rebecca
I set out each day intending to write new verses….invariably I end up playing and rehearsing old ones…
at the moment I am relearning Sandra Kerr’s song “Dunne’s Stores” for the upcoming Women’s Aid gig this week
42 years ago, Mary Manning and her comrades made a stand which resulted in them losing their jobs,…this in turn led to a protest that lasted 14 months…Sandra Kerr wrote and shared this song in support of their anti-apartheid stance….