Mighty night in Vicar Street last night…….the Choir in full voice, and the beautiful harmonies from Andy really added to the occasion.
Just wondering Christy what’s the background to ‘ the Gardener’…… As a country lad I really love the sentiments from it’s lyrics?
Ride inn
Patsy
Christy's reply
Feed the ground and water well
planting out, face the South……….
Well Christy. Best of luck for this evening’s show, if ye could get a shout out to Lauren Quinn who is 33 today and seeing yourself as a surprise. All the way from Northampton by way of Glinn, Limerick and Charlestown. Please don’t do a Madonna on me and turn up an hour or so late and play 20 minutes.
Christy's reply
Your last sentence could be taken to suggest an unfamiliarity with our work ethic….come 8’clock we are usually straining at the leash to get crackin….at 113 you will probably be the only one in the room older then myself… hopefully we’ll both make it thru the night
Christy – sad to report the death of my father – Sean Byrne owner of the Baymount in Strandhill a huge supporter of Irish Music and Irish Artists – as you can attest yourself.
BYRNE Seán 11/04/2016 –
“EDELWEISS”, STRANDHILL, CO. SLIGO AND LATE OF THE BAYMOUNT HOTEL AND SILVER SLIPPER BALLROOM, STRANDHILL.
passed away peacefully on April 11th. 2016, at North West Hospice, The Mall, Sligo. Dearly loved husband of Dolores and father of Damian, Paul, Dominic, Gary, Dermot, Lara, Olivia and Aidan, brother of Patsy, Jean Douglas and the late Eileen Connolly. Sadly missed by his loving Wife and family, brother, sister, daughters-in-law Julie and Claudia, in-laws, grandchildren Oisin, Sean, Suza, Lilly and seven month old Megan, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends. Rest in Peace. Reposing at Feehily’s Funeral Home, Cartron Cross, Sligo from 3.00pm on Sunday. Removal at 5.00pm to St. Patrick’s Church, Strandhill arriving at 6.00pm. Mass of the Resurrection at 11.00am on Monday. Private cremation will follow. Family home private please. Family flowers only, donations in lieu if desired to North West Hospice Fund c/o Seán Feehily at Feehily’s Funeral Home, Cartron Cross, Sligo
Christy's reply
Sorry to recieve this sad news.Memories of great nights in Strandhill. Played there and stayed there.Heard Eric Clapton on a windy night in ’76.Rest in Peace Sean.
If you could just take it with you the The Barras for your next gig, then it would have visited all four nations … I doubt it had ever been outside London or the SE, before this month ;~)
Christy's reply
Its a hefty tome to be luggin up the stairs of The Barras…but I’ll hopefully have a verse or two extracted by then….. (April 2017, weather and life permitting)….
” … I blame the CIA MI5 The Pope and Mother Teresa”
FFS, darlin’ man, could you not just blame RTE like the rest of us? ;~)
Sad, the news about Mandy Murphy … those lovely harmonies on The Time Has Come have taken her into some other realm (if there is one, but that’s another matter entirely).
PS When I ripped Ordinary Man, I didn’t notice that the track is called The Red in the Flickering Light :~O))
PPS to offset the sense of sadness, I am glad to have helped the rest of us flounderers watch Journey – luv’n’stuff to all xxxxx
Grateful thanks to Helen Kay for her excellent links – meant I was able to view Journey at last. It is a powerful and emotional show. You are so open and sharing in it Christy and the film makers captured that so well. It was extremely thought provoking (been that sort of a week here too) and to be honest life affirming – gave me that “we’ve come through hard times but we’re still standing” sort of vibe. Brought a bit of hope to the situation. Hopefully the gigs left are nearer to the 1000 than to the 100. Take care Christy.
Christy's reply
Come all you dreamers, hear the sound of The Barras hummin…see you John
Condolences to Mandy Murphy’s family and her music friends.
A great loss – her lovely voice won’t be forgotten.
Dave
Christy's reply
Mandy sang on two albums, “The Time has come” in 1985 and “Burning Times” in 2006..she also joined us for The Late Late Show extravaganza many years ago…Mandy had a heavenly voice and Harmonies came naturally to her…we had some happy times
I’ve loved your music for years as I grew up listening to it, both my parents always had it on, even still some records of you about the house!
You stayed in my house many moons ago, we had petrol pumps outside it in Carrick & your car broke down so you had to get a bed for the night!
This is what I was told yesterday as I’m going to see you tonight in vicer street so my mum told me!
Can’t wait for your gig,
Claire
Christy's reply
the old roads might have been slower but anything could happen as we traversed the Island from singin pub to ballad lounge….I cant imagine gettin the lie down in the Obama Plaza at Moneygall…you can get almost anything at today’s petrol stations…vino, vodka, nylons, shampoo, batterburgers,phensic, hair curlers, The Mirror, shave shite & shampoo but where would you get the lie down and green shield stamps…I rem that break down..I was on the way to Coolara House with Kevin Burke, Jimmy Faulkner and Declan McNelis when the gear box seized on the Datsun100A…it was circa 1974
Christy, firstly wanted to say great documentary over the past few nights…..
Also wanted to know, from the doc I realised you write a lot of songs based on events etc that have touched you or you feel have touched people all over Ireland etc.
Is there a way privately you can be contacted with regards to an idea for a song that is very close to my heart?
Fascinating insights and a very poignant documentary Christy. Thank you. – It made for enriching and sometimes uncomfortable viewing with the political and social issues covered – many of which I lived through up in the North in the 80s. I was struck by the comment that Seamus Heaney once made –that for him, poetry was about using the inside of his head to make sense of what was happening outside it in the world around him–and helping people to reflect and look at things differently. Your songs have played this role for many people in Ireland (North and South of the river) when other voices were deafeningly silent –notably the media and main political parties. The comment about the Stardust song being the only memorial to the victims at the time was bang on –the same might be said for other songs such as The Time Has Come; Minds Locked Shut; Strangeways and of course Middle of the Island (and many others) all of which gave voice to the then voiceless and a public epitaph to those either ignored or vilified by the men in suits and surplices’. –Another poet who was invoking Heaney, said that the best work didn’t just record the events of the time (a point you make in the doc) but actually predicts change and becomes a catalytic presence in achieving it –it gets there before the rest of us. For me this is what your music has been doing and both Strangeways and the earlier Middle of the Island were part of seeing that the dam was breaking and hastening that process along.
Also wanted to thank Helen Arsenaltel and Maryline for the links which worked for me here in Canterbury, so assuming others in the UK and perhaps further afield can watch via this means? Perhaps RTE are still at it with the devilment by making a programme about you and using their iplayer rather than Section 31 to stop us seeing it! –and they were always more partial to the Dangler in any case!
As mentioned below –a great addition to One Voice and while we all know the songs, they are enriched and deepened by understanding some of the wider personal context from which they emerged.
Congratulations again to all concerned in bringing this project to fruition and all connected should be proud of the finished product.
All best to you,
Feargal
Christy's reply
Thanks Feargal….the doc has been quite a journey in itself….starting out in 1962 I never dreamt that such a life of song might emerge. Back then I’d happily have settled for those 3 chords, for “Rosin The Bow” and “The Jug of Punch”.
Watching Mark McLoughlin’s Film was strange. I was apprehensive but he delivered a doc that marks the underbelly of the work as I hoped it would. It was very special to sit and watch it with my family who have lived through all the years of it. The general response so far has been very positive but ,no doubt, there will be more to follow. I suspect that balls of shite may yet be thrown from usual quarters….fágaimíd siúd mar atá síabh
that was my first visit to Canterbury, great venue in a lovely town…did not have time to explore, to visit the Arch-Bishop or drop in on Chaucer….thanks for your feedback
Christy, I don’t know if you heard but we just lost a wonderful singing talent down here, one that had accompanied you in the past. Mandy Murphy passed away, a sweet sweet voice and an amazing accompaniment to any group. Such a sad loss at a young age…
Ar dheie Dé go raibh a anam dhílis
Christy's reply
Yes Jim..Declan called yesterday with the sad news of Mandy’s passing….I will never forget those occasions when we sang together….her beautiful haunting voice
Don’t know if you have ever sang this song but I,m sure you know it .There are many versions of it but I think this is the best .it,s called Peggy -oh by the the Grateful Dead. I would love to hear your version as I think it would suit your style .Anyway hear it is(it takes a few seconds before the picture kicks in so stay with it )All the best Christy …REDD—-http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=peggy+o+grateful+dead&view=detail&mid=148365C1BF8849C4B408148365C1BF8849C4B408&FORM=VIRE
Christy's reply
gonna try and suss it out..thanks
later…just had a listen Redd..thanks for sharing, what a glorious track
Some Journey, Some Programme. Glad it did you justice. Very emotional and poignant at times. I wondered if there were certain things that we would have let slip to the back of our minds at this stage if it weren’t for the songs keeping them alive in our conscience . Hard to express the importance of remembering the bad times that this country had to drag itself out of , for that’s how we learn. I think you said we are not there yet ….so hopefully there’s a few hundred gigs left at least. Journey is a great companion for ” One Voice”,
P.S.
Would you call that a cameo performance by Paddy D. ?
Christy's reply
O how we love the auld kips…..they come in all shapes and sizes ..from the Citadels of Carnegie and Albert to the grunge dens of Barrowland and Kentish Town….from the lofty Opera Houses and Art Centres to The Baggots and Meeting Places….Our Captain bestrides them all, casting all trickies and problems aside he prepares the barren spaces for action…cushions the listeners and cossetts the players..the kettle always boiling..everyone at their station..two bumps Josie and away we go
“Some of them were dreamers, Some of them were fools”
I’ve ‘Journey’ on playing here on my headfones, I hadnt seen it on Monday and Sunday. Thanks to Helen Kay and ‘Projectfreetv’. It’s rather like I imagined it would be overall.
Christy's reply
such foresight…I spent 5 months making it and had no idea what to expect
Hi C.Thank you for agreeing to share your insights, reflections, beliefs, activism, humour and songs through The Journey. Your compassion and humanity shone throughout, the way you engage with people is so genuine and caring and full of integrity. It is uplifting to get further access to your process in a time when spin and image seem to be valued more than truth and substance. I was deeply moved while viewing the programmes and still find myself affected by what I saw. Long may you continue. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
meeting up with Mark McLoughlin was where this Journey began…. he picked the songs, planned the shots….asked the questions..edited it all together…Mark and Dara and Matthew and all there crew along with support team.Paddy, Michael,Davey, Johnny,Dickon, Geoff,Miss Dairy, Paddy C, Robbie, Paul, and then I was surrounded with Declan, Jimmy, Vickie,Mairtín, Cal, Sheamie, everyone weighed in big time…it was a great journey….now having watched it with the family I can say ..twas a job well done, a job well worth doing…..Thanks for your feedback and good juju along the way
It’s a long way from Hamburg to Tullow and Carrick on Shannon – but Uwe and I are determined to make it … Against all odds, because an awful accident some weeks ago almost put an end to our travel plans. No harm done to my ears though, so we are looking forward to the concerts – if you don’t mind my one-hand clapping … Before going to Co Leitrim we will spend some time in Sligo on William Butler Yeats‘ traces.
It was about time for us to catch some of your gigs again, Christy, it’s been too long … Think we won’t recognise the set list with all the new songs – can’t wait to hear Oblivious, Tuam Beat and Wallflower. Anyway, we followed your UK tour in our mind, thanks to Hilary and Adam who so kindly kept us in the loop. We can’t wait to see and hear you again – if all goes well the German audience contingent at your gigs will even be doubled with Traudel and Horst. See you all soooooon !
Christy's reply
sorry to hear of your misfortune ..hope you are on the mend….Shine On Petra
Mighty night in Vicar Street last night…….the Choir in full voice, and the beautiful harmonies from Andy really added to the occasion.
Just wondering Christy what’s the background to ‘ the Gardener’…… As a country lad I really love the sentiments from it’s lyrics?
Ride inn
Patsy
Feed the ground and water well
planting out, face the South……….
Well Christy. Best of luck for this evening’s show, if ye could get a shout out to Lauren Quinn who is 33 today and seeing yourself as a surprise. All the way from Northampton by way of Glinn, Limerick and Charlestown. Please don’t do a Madonna on me and turn up an hour or so late and play 20 minutes.
Your last sentence could be taken to suggest an unfamiliarity with our work ethic….come 8’clock we are usually straining at the leash to get crackin….at 113 you will probably be the only one in the room older then myself… hopefully we’ll both make it thru the night
Christy – sad to report the death of my father – Sean Byrne owner of the Baymount in Strandhill a huge supporter of Irish Music and Irish Artists – as you can attest yourself.
BYRNE Seán 11/04/2016 –
“EDELWEISS”, STRANDHILL, CO. SLIGO AND LATE OF THE BAYMOUNT HOTEL AND SILVER SLIPPER BALLROOM, STRANDHILL.
passed away peacefully on April 11th. 2016, at North West Hospice, The Mall, Sligo. Dearly loved husband of Dolores and father of Damian, Paul, Dominic, Gary, Dermot, Lara, Olivia and Aidan, brother of Patsy, Jean Douglas and the late Eileen Connolly. Sadly missed by his loving Wife and family, brother, sister, daughters-in-law Julie and Claudia, in-laws, grandchildren Oisin, Sean, Suza, Lilly and seven month old Megan, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends. Rest in Peace. Reposing at Feehily’s Funeral Home, Cartron Cross, Sligo from 3.00pm on Sunday. Removal at 5.00pm to St. Patrick’s Church, Strandhill arriving at 6.00pm. Mass of the Resurrection at 11.00am on Monday. Private cremation will follow. Family home private please. Family flowers only, donations in lieu if desired to North West Hospice Fund c/o Seán Feehily at Feehily’s Funeral Home, Cartron Cross, Sligo
Sorry to recieve this sad news.Memories of great nights in Strandhill. Played there and stayed there.Heard Eric Clapton on a windy night in ’76.Rest in Peace Sean.
If you could just take it with you the The Barras for your next gig, then it would have visited all four nations … I doubt it had ever been outside London or the SE, before this month ;~)
Its a hefty tome to be luggin up the stairs of The Barras…but I’ll hopefully have a verse or two extracted by then….. (April 2017, weather and life permitting)….
” … I blame the CIA MI5 The Pope and Mother Teresa”
FFS, darlin’ man, could you not just blame RTE like the rest of us? ;~)
Sad, the news about Mandy Murphy … those lovely harmonies on The Time Has Come have taken her into some other realm (if there is one, but that’s another matter entirely).
PS When I ripped Ordinary Man, I didn’t notice that the track is called The Red in the Flickering Light :~O))
PPS to offset the sense of sadness, I am glad to have helped the rest of us flounderers watch Journey – luv’n’stuff to all xxxxx
still perusing songs from 4 countries
Grateful thanks to Helen Kay for her excellent links – meant I was able to view Journey at last. It is a powerful and emotional show. You are so open and sharing in it Christy and the film makers captured that so well. It was extremely thought provoking (been that sort of a week here too) and to be honest life affirming – gave me that “we’ve come through hard times but we’re still standing” sort of vibe. Brought a bit of hope to the situation. Hopefully the gigs left are nearer to the 1000 than to the 100. Take care Christy.
Come all you dreamers, hear the sound of The Barras hummin…see you John
Condolences to Mandy Murphy’s family and her music friends.
A great loss – her lovely voice won’t be forgotten.
Dave
Mandy sang on two albums, “The Time has come” in 1985 and “Burning Times” in 2006..she also joined us for The Late Late Show extravaganza many years ago…Mandy had a heavenly voice and Harmonies came naturally to her…we had some happy times
I’ve loved your music for years as I grew up listening to it, both my parents always had it on, even still some records of you about the house!
You stayed in my house many moons ago, we had petrol pumps outside it in Carrick & your car broke down so you had to get a bed for the night!
This is what I was told yesterday as I’m going to see you tonight in vicer street so my mum told me!
Can’t wait for your gig,
Claire
the old roads might have been slower but anything could happen as we traversed the Island from singin pub to ballad lounge….I cant imagine gettin the lie down in the Obama Plaza at Moneygall…you can get almost anything at today’s petrol stations…vino, vodka, nylons, shampoo, batterburgers,phensic, hair curlers, The Mirror, shave shite & shampoo but where would you get the lie down and green shield stamps…I rem that break down..I was on the way to Coolara House with Kevin Burke, Jimmy Faulkner and Declan McNelis when the gear box seized on the Datsun100A…it was circa 1974
Christy, firstly wanted to say great documentary over the past few nights…..
Also wanted to know, from the doc I realised you write a lot of songs based on events etc that have touched you or you feel have touched people all over Ireland etc.
Is there a way privately you can be contacted with regards to an idea for a song that is very close to my heart?
Keep up the good work!
Fascinating insights and a very poignant documentary Christy. Thank you. – It made for enriching and sometimes uncomfortable viewing with the political and social issues covered – many of which I lived through up in the North in the 80s. I was struck by the comment that Seamus Heaney once made –that for him, poetry was about using the inside of his head to make sense of what was happening outside it in the world around him–and helping people to reflect and look at things differently. Your songs have played this role for many people in Ireland (North and South of the river) when other voices were deafeningly silent –notably the media and main political parties. The comment about the Stardust song being the only memorial to the victims at the time was bang on –the same might be said for other songs such as The Time Has Come; Minds Locked Shut; Strangeways and of course Middle of the Island (and many others) all of which gave voice to the then voiceless and a public epitaph to those either ignored or vilified by the men in suits and surplices’. –Another poet who was invoking Heaney, said that the best work didn’t just record the events of the time (a point you make in the doc) but actually predicts change and becomes a catalytic presence in achieving it –it gets there before the rest of us. For me this is what your music has been doing and both Strangeways and the earlier Middle of the Island were part of seeing that the dam was breaking and hastening that process along.
Also wanted to thank Helen Arsenaltel and Maryline for the links which worked for me here in Canterbury, so assuming others in the UK and perhaps further afield can watch via this means? Perhaps RTE are still at it with the devilment by making a programme about you and using their iplayer rather than Section 31 to stop us seeing it! –and they were always more partial to the Dangler in any case!
As mentioned below –a great addition to One Voice and while we all know the songs, they are enriched and deepened by understanding some of the wider personal context from which they emerged.
Congratulations again to all concerned in bringing this project to fruition and all connected should be proud of the finished product.
All best to you,
Feargal
Thanks Feargal….the doc has been quite a journey in itself….starting out in 1962 I never dreamt that such a life of song might emerge. Back then I’d happily have settled for those 3 chords, for “Rosin The Bow” and “The Jug of Punch”.
Watching Mark McLoughlin’s Film was strange. I was apprehensive but he delivered a doc that marks the underbelly of the work as I hoped it would. It was very special to sit and watch it with my family who have lived through all the years of it. The general response so far has been very positive but ,no doubt, there will be more to follow. I suspect that balls of shite may yet be thrown from usual quarters….fágaimíd siúd mar atá síabh
that was my first visit to Canterbury, great venue in a lovely town…did not have time to explore, to visit the Arch-Bishop or drop in on Chaucer….thanks for your feedback
Christy, I don’t know if you heard but we just lost a wonderful singing talent down here, one that had accompanied you in the past. Mandy Murphy passed away, a sweet sweet voice and an amazing accompaniment to any group. Such a sad loss at a young age…
Ar dheie Dé go raibh a anam dhílis
Yes Jim..Declan called yesterday with the sad news of Mandy’s passing….I will never forget those occasions when we sang together….her beautiful haunting voice
Don’t know if you have ever sang this song but I,m sure you know it .There are many versions of it but I think this is the best .it,s called Peggy -oh by the the Grateful Dead. I would love to hear your version as I think it would suit your style .Anyway hear it is(it takes a few seconds before the picture kicks in so stay with it )All the best Christy …REDD—-http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=peggy+o+grateful+dead&view=detail&mid=148365C1BF8849C4B408148365C1BF8849C4B408&FORM=VIRE
gonna try and suss it out..thanks
later…just had a listen Redd..thanks for sharing, what a glorious track
Christy, I am looking forward to seeing you in concert in May! I have always been a huge fan and now we get to see you live.
In the Merry Month Of May …..we’ll all sing together
Some Journey, Some Programme. Glad it did you justice. Very emotional and poignant at times. I wondered if there were certain things that we would have let slip to the back of our minds at this stage if it weren’t for the songs keeping them alive in our conscience . Hard to express the importance of remembering the bad times that this country had to drag itself out of , for that’s how we learn. I think you said we are not there yet ….so hopefully there’s a few hundred gigs left at least. Journey is a great companion for ” One Voice”,
P.S.
Would you call that a cameo performance by Paddy D. ?
O how we love the auld kips…..they come in all shapes and sizes ..from the Citadels of Carnegie and Albert to the grunge dens of Barrowland and Kentish Town….from the lofty Opera Houses and Art Centres to The Baggots and Meeting Places….Our Captain bestrides them all, casting all trickies and problems aside he prepares the barren spaces for action…cushions the listeners and cossetts the players..the kettle always boiling..everyone at their station..two bumps Josie and away we go
“Some of them were dreamers, Some of them were fools”
Hey Christy, any news of gig 16th July?
I’ve ‘Journey’ on playing here on my headfones, I hadnt seen it on Monday and Sunday. Thanks to Helen Kay and ‘Projectfreetv’. It’s rather like I imagined it would be overall.
such foresight…I spent 5 months making it and had no idea what to expect
Brilliant bit of TV Christy , tis a pity The Journey was only 2 episodes long. Really enjoyed it
Ballyscullion was lookin good
Sure wish you had a concert near Dingle July 24-30!
me too..feck it
Hi C.Thank you for agreeing to share your insights, reflections, beliefs, activism, humour and songs through The Journey. Your compassion and humanity shone throughout, the way you engage with people is so genuine and caring and full of integrity. It is uplifting to get further access to your process in a time when spin and image seem to be valued more than truth and substance. I was deeply moved while viewing the programmes and still find myself affected by what I saw. Long may you continue. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
meeting up with Mark McLoughlin was where this Journey began…. he picked the songs, planned the shots….asked the questions..edited it all together…Mark and Dara and Matthew and all there crew along with support team.Paddy, Michael,Davey, Johnny,Dickon, Geoff,Miss Dairy, Paddy C, Robbie, Paul, and then I was surrounded with Declan, Jimmy, Vickie,Mairtín, Cal, Sheamie, everyone weighed in big time…it was a great journey….now having watched it with the family I can say ..twas a job well done, a job well worth doing…..Thanks for your feedback and good juju along the way
It’s a long way from Hamburg to Tullow and Carrick on Shannon – but Uwe and I are determined to make it … Against all odds, because an awful accident some weeks ago almost put an end to our travel plans. No harm done to my ears though, so we are looking forward to the concerts – if you don’t mind my one-hand clapping … Before going to Co Leitrim we will spend some time in Sligo on William Butler Yeats‘ traces.
It was about time for us to catch some of your gigs again, Christy, it’s been too long … Think we won’t recognise the set list with all the new songs – can’t wait to hear Oblivious, Tuam Beat and Wallflower. Anyway, we followed your UK tour in our mind, thanks to Hilary and Adam who so kindly kept us in the loop. We can’t wait to see and hear you again – if all goes well the German audience contingent at your gigs will even be doubled with Traudel and Horst. See you all soooooon !
sorry to hear of your misfortune ..hope you are on the mend….Shine On Petra