In 1969/1970, I spend one year in Rotherham as a french assistant in Thoma Rotherham college, and I used to spend very good times listening to you in pubs in R’ham, Sheffield end Doncaster. I have the LP “Paddy on the road” dedicated by you. I’ve got lots of your records as a friend of mine lives in Ireland. What good memories of so many evenings spent with you (I also remember the English singer,Tony Capsticks). I often listen to your songs with great pleasure… (so do my daughter and her husband). I also have two photos of you (long-haired) singing in Doncaster on july 6th 1970.
I wish you a very happy New Year 2018.
Christy's reply
I still remember most of the Folk Clubs that ran in South Yorkshire in the late 60s early 70s….made many good friends back then… rolled my sleeping bag out on many welcoming floors
“Been thru Sheffield Lanes at night ’twere just like being in Hell
Furnaces thrust out tongues of flame that roared like wind o’er The Fell
I sammed up coal in Barnsley pit with muck up to my knee
From Hull and Halifax and Hell Good Lord deliver me”
from The Dalesman’s Litany as sung to me by Alastair Cameron at Causeway Foot, Halifax, Yorkshire in 1968.I first heard him sing it at The Bradshaw Tavern Folk Club
Any plans to do any gigs in or around London this year? It would be great to see you live again. Seen you in the Southbank Centre a while back. Amazing.
Christy's reply
Spring of 2019 is on the cards for London..if all goes well
Just before ‘Beeswingzzzz’ last night in Vicar, the woman shouted out ‘you’re gorgeous Christy’..in fairness , you do look great…:-)
The sound was great through the new mic…congratulations to you all on another great run..front and back and side of house…so far so good like…
Setting up here for the bro, Luka is with us tonight in Booterstown…pedal on
I just finished reading a 220 page report on the site of The Mother and Baby Home in Tuam commissioned by Minister Katherine Zappone. I received the link from Catherine Corless who I have been in close contact with for some time now. The main commission of inquiry is to deliver its final report in 2019. Until then it is so important to keep up public awareness of the situation in Tuam so it does not fall into forgetfulness and the Commission of Inquiry and Galway Co.Co as the stakeholders are aware there is major public interest in the outcome of their report.
„ What we ( Catherine, survivors of the Mother and Baby Home and her support group ) need is peoples power and media attention to keep up public awareness so the children and babies buried there receive full justice. After reading the report I wrote the following poem.
„ Remember “
Call in the verses that rave and that rant
Call on the voices that charter and chant
Call on sweet glory with its petals of gold
To harvest compassion for those innocent souls
Call on the bards with their voices so fine
Musicians and poets and masters of rhythm
Call on the stars and the moon and the sun
Bestowing the right for the wrong that was done
Cast out the shade and the shadows of night
Into the darkness send wands of pure light
Call on the oceans of love and goodwill
That the tide and the tides keep returning until
The sound of the waters that murmur along
Carry the heart and the soul of their song
Resting by a dusty mill
A traveller with his sleepy stick
Content to never have a friend
Is talking to himself again
Place a thought upon that stream
Let it climb the great oak wheel
Round and round and moving on
Flowing makes the heart grow strong
Gazing at the moon at night
Fills the soul with strange delight
You wise old fool your time is spent
The only thing you have is words
But what if they just up and went
Would you go searching for to find
To fill the emptiness they left
Those strange companions of the mind
The glorious sound of love and light
Came shining in from there
Be patient now and dry your tears
It’s you we’re ranting for my dears
and for that reason I am at the pen.
I would like to ask you to help promote public awareness by singing your song about the Magdalene Laundries at a gig or two and dedicate it to Catherine for her relentless work and dedication in striving to bring justice for the Tuam babies ?.
You are a man of great power and when that voice of yours ( which I feel is getting better all the time ) takes to flight, you capture the heart and soul of the lot, young and old, ladies and gentlemen, rich and poor. (not forgetting rowdy Ruddy)
Thank you so much.
John
Christy's reply
Dear John,
Good to hear from you…just had one read of your new work..I will return to it presently and spend some time with it….
There was a radio discussion this week about the development of a site in Sean McDermott Street Dublin where once stood a Magdalen Laundry….it was heartbreaking and anger inducing to hear what went on…..Church and State complicit in the kidnapping,torture and slave trade of poor misfortunates…..all of this in living memory as we cowtowed to a Catholic Church that masterminded the whole despicable system….and its still running….the graves of our unknown innocents to be bulldozed to oblivion as holy sisters sell off ill gotten land to developers
These past nights Joni’s “Magdalen Laundry” has returned to the set fully imbued with the emotion engendered by these recent revelations
“these bloodless brides of Jesus,
if they could just once glimpse their groom
they’d drop the stones concealed behind their rosaries
They wilt the grass they walk upon
they leech the light right out of a room
they’d like to wash those girls down the drains of The Magdalen Laundry”
……..
Survivors still live in the aftermath of the horrors endured….some homeless,some broken in alcoholism and addiction as they seek to cope ….
Catherine Corless continues to shine badly-needed light into some of our darkest corners….
while certain of our “Little Sisters” and their Vatican fathers continue to hide the proceeds of their kidnapping and slave trade..
Hi Christy,
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for playing St.Brendan’s Voyage for Ed last night in Vicar Street – was absolutely magic! He was speechless. And thanks Iggy for the prompt – we were all singing along in our heads!! We thoroughly enjoyed the gig – and can safely say the crowd were loving every second too.
We spent the rest of the evening hearing of the day you spent in Murphy’s on the pier in Brandon 40 years ago, from the nuns, to the ticking tractor outside, and the craic from start to end!!
Thanks again, looking forward to the next gig already 🙂
Regards,
Kate Fitz
Christy's reply
it was one of those days, it was one of those nights, myself and Tom McCarthy were on the lash, when we arrived into Murphy’s on the pier twas around the mid-day Angelus….there was one local man at the bar and one Continental tourist who happened to have a guitar…..after a few calming bottles of stout I asked the lad would he play a song and that was the start of it……
Hello Christy,
A bit late but I wish you only the very best for 2018 – May the new year be a peaceful, healthy and happy one for you, the band and all the crew!
We are missing Vicar St this January but hope to see you again when the springtime comes.
I’m delighted that you still remember the Scala and cake!!!
(a brief hint for Uwe from Bavaria: Christy played Scala/Ludwigsburg in Jan 1992 and in Feb 1994)
Good Luck, Traudel
Christy's reply
they were great tours….great gigs in far flung German cities….Koln, Heidelburg,Munich,Munster,Stumpf, Coddle,Munchegladbach,Grossen, Totenhosen, Ausfahrt,Appelkorn,Strudel,Essen,Messin,……..we crisscrossed autobahns as our promoter threw random darts at the German map and sent us up and down a hundred autobahns like blue arsed flies….on manys the trip I met myself coming the other way ( like Matty and his Dark Familiar)…manys the late night in the early morning houses of Hamburg Market….we lowered it up with Dieter,Hans, Gudrun and Pascal from The Falls who lost his dentures in The Rhine
HI Christy back home again after Vicar st the Massey is running like a dream thanks for a mighty night top drawer stuff from you and the orchestra thanks for playing the Cliffs wasn’t sure you heard the call out and I hope I didn’t jump in too quick with the prompt for the Brendan voyage I thought by the look in your eyes even though they were closed that the words weren’t going to come
Thanks again for a fantastic night face the puck out
Christy's reply
I did’nt realise twas yourself that gave me the prompt….twas spot on Iggy, perfectly timed,appropriate, gratefully recieved and life -saving…..
so twas also yourself that asked for The Cliffs..really glad now that I played it…..
Having the Motorway running from Vicar St to Bullaune takes the pain out of nighttime travellin….back in the Planxty van twas some haul from The Hanger back to Dubh Linn but we always had plenty of passtimes in the wagon…hope we meet for a chat in 2018…hope you and your Band have a good year..maybe catch up in Salthill…Shine On Iggy Broderick
Hi Christy, looking forward to your Vicar Street show Thursday tomorrow night.. My dad Frank Donaghy is looking forward to seeing you again this year for his birthday, to celebrate beating the state earlier last year in the Jobstown Trial! He will be in one of the front rows and I’m sure he’d love to hear oblivious again if it’s on your set list! ?
Christy's reply
we’ll do our best Anna Mary..hope ye have a good night
Would it be fair to say that you’re a modest man and praise does not sit easy? Either way please don’t shoot the messenger! I listened to a local radio article over the festive season about Fairy Tale of New York and the various covers of it (a spin out from the show). The presenter likened Shane’s song to a listed building: planning permission required to cover. Some got slated but you got the bouquet… in that ‘anything you sing/cover stands up…your experience and pathos shines through’ and last but not lease ‘you’re a musician’s musician!’ Shane is a cracking songwriter…as someone who aspires to be a poet…he’s among the measure of my dreams! Plum pudding with a fry is gorgeous…sure why not? Have a wonderful night in Sráid Thomáis. Mary
Christy's reply
I’ll always take a good review over a bad one….Shane’s songs are such a joy to sing….with layer upon layer of emotion, meaning, description,possible interpretation …..
with regard to Fairytale. It was originally presented as a duet by Shane and Kirsty… I took a chance by covering it with one voice … this required realigning some of Shane’s original lyric….turning it from conversation with two voices into a solo statement
The original version is THE version..no cover comes near
Christy, happy new year and what a year. I loved the Late Late with Ryan but more so the bit with Sean O’ Rourke. I listen to Sean everyday, albeit at least 5 hours behind, I have not heard him enjoy himself so much on his own show ever. He loved every minute of it and the research was spot on, the history accurate and the music (past and present) superb. I’m trying now to “jimmy rig” the rte player to see the documentary about Fairy-tale but failing so far! I saw the Pouges in the Top Hat in DunLaoighre in 1986 a year before Fairy Tale, I also saw them in Saint Francis Xavier Hall in 1985, twas half empty ! Saw them here in New York too, bunch of times Oh well. Lastly I’m trying to get your calendar and mine to collide again in the very near future. Best regards, Brian.
Christy's reply
Morra Brian….greetings to New York…The Top Hat long since toppled to become a hape of flats….across the road The Purty Kitchen still stands and has occasional gigs up the stairs….had some good nights The Francis Xavier way back…most memorable (for me) was a Moving Hearts gig which was part of the Free Nicky Kelly Campaign
Both the Sean O’Rourke and Ryan Tubridy interviews went well…..Sean attended a Vicar St gig in the run-up and I had a sit down with Ryan in advance of our TV chat…..
Shane hit the 60 mark and is to be honoured with a Gala Concert in The National Concert Hall…..Hope he has a great night
“The rain was lashin,the Sun was risin, the wind was whippin thru the trees”
this line from Shane’s “Aisling” perfectly describes the weather here this morning
Hi Christy, I was back home in Dublin for my brother in-law Vinny’s 60th on New Years Eve. What a blast it was at the Bell in Blanchardstown and then back at his house for the ‘Sing Song’.With folk there back from the USA, Australia and myself from London we sang our hearts out and paid tribute to you with a few of your classics! I was hoping to get to see you in Vickers Street whilst I was there but couldn’t get a ticket as all sold out. I see you have some dates pencilled in for Liverpool, Birmingham and York but I wondering if you were planning
to do any gigs in London on this tour? Take care and keep Gigging,….
Brian George
Christy's reply
nothing confirmed for London this year, far as I know it will be Springtime 2019 before we hit The Big Smoke again …..if all goes well
Hello Christy,
I always enjoy a good way with words. I have had the sincere happiness of listening to your songs. It is great, how the singer can give out such a wonderful message. I have galloped privately in a slow way, using ski-type equipment. When I have accompanied a fair horse I have travelled at a very slow quantity of speed. Your songs have made me leave horsemanship to the others. I have turned to music for my improvement and I wish to make a grand album from my songs. I am allowed to make songs like you. Others are not quite there yet. I wish you the very best. If you could offer me a way into the music industry, I would be very, very pleased. It’s a bonnie day when Christy plays. Here is my collection of songs, which await a fabulous manager to help me with them. https://soundcloud.com/alexanderjgodman .
Hi christy hope ur keepin well if u think of bringin the honda with u tomorrow night will u give a shout out to my daughter sophie ive just added another one to the fan club it be her first gig and she loves that tom touhy tune all the best christy ..keep her going
Christy's reply
I’ll have to book it in for the NCT in the morning…if we’re both passed I’ll give it a few revs tomorrow night
Well Christy the Massey passed the NCT so tomorrow I ‘ll hit for Vicar St looking forward to it its been awhile face the puck out
Watch Micko last night on RTE 1 great programme truly a sporting legend
Christy's reply
if you’re pulling in to Mother Hubbards watch out for that leaking slurry transporter…
have a good trip and we’ll raise the roof in Thomas St tomorrow night
Anyway , a long standing tradition here on New Years Day is an evening in the local pub for a darts tourney which is sometimes followed by a sing song in the bar into the early hours…… so I happened to find myself in the midst……. and in the company of lads and lasssies much less weathered than me , wasn’t sure how the songs would run but they let loose with Spancil Hill, then came Nancy Spain and then a young fella of bout 22 gave a grand auld rattle to Beeswing….. sweet stuff to the ears of an auld 4711er….. so we kept with it and before we got ejected we managed to squeeze in The January Man and The Time Has Come and The Raggle Taggle Gypsy. Amazing how much the songs have crossed the generations.
Christy's reply
Music to my ears Marty…brings me right back to my own teens, singing Rosin The Bow,The Bard of Armagh, Beside The Anner,The Jug of Punch….
that early repertoire when the whole country was becoming aware of the beauty and excitement of “The Ballads”
Jack White singing a Nation Once Again in Neesons Lounge at Easter 1966, Kevin Prendergast and Austin O’Donnell singing in Frank Kellys “of THe Lock”, then all back to “The Red Lad”& Angela’s for Ballads Porter and Courtin….Paddy Power singing The Patriot Game in the Sergeant’s Mess Curragh Camp on Good Friday 1964..
“O love is pleasin and Love is teasin,
and love is a pleasure when first its new”
……….great to hear its all still going on as younger generations pick up the songs and run with them
Hi Christy, Do you plan on adding any more dates in the fall? I plan on returning to Ireland in October and would love to catch a gig. By the way, we’ve got the same Birthday — you, me, and the sinking of the Lusitania all on the 7th of May. Now that’s a story just begging to be told in song! All the best, Milo
Christy's reply
As long as the voice holds up and as long as the body can carry it, we’ll be adding dates…..
Keep in touch Milo
Hi Christy,
i just wanted to thank you for the gig last Wednesday in Vicar Street !
I’m Angelika’s husband and she absolutely surprised me with the tickets for your concert. It was the best 50th birthday(present) i could have imagined !!
First time i saw you live was in the end of 80th beginning of 90th in Ludwigsburg (near Stuttgart) in the SCALA Theater. Since then i love your music and your songs.
It was an absolute privilege for me to see you now again in DUBLIN. And thanks for you mentioning us during the concert ! I guess you could’nt see us. We were on the balkony on the right.
I love Ireland and i will return again in middle of June this year. We’re celebrating our 25th anniversary of our studies at the RTC Sligo. You’re playing in Sligo 1 week before we are there 🙁
I wish you all the best and many, many more years on the stage.
Stay healthy !!
Christy's reply
I remember that lovely old Cinema in Ludwigsburg……I was given a beautifully prepared cake..Keep singing Uwe
Yes the show did definitely go on, Christopher!! You claimed that Charlie had been doing unimaginable things in Kinsealy to have had the power cut!! You weren’t too far from the truth, methinks!! You set up a platform/stage in the middle of the audience & you made sure that everyone on all sides of that stage got your attention for the duration of each song!! It was one of the most memorable concerts that I’ve ever attended!! I can’t quite remember the date…but twas a long time ago & here you still are today, making fantabulous memories for me…with my son!!
Many’s the set I’ve danced here in Clare & beyond! I think I’ll give one of your songs a go this year at a set dancing weekend I run every year, in The Bellbridge in March for Alzheimer’s…2018 is off to a fine start!! Tis a beautiful day here in West Clare…frosty, crisp, cold & the sun beating down!! A walk by the ocean is imminent, I reckon!! Bain taitneamh mór as an lá…slán tamaill.
Christy's reply
I reckon twas March 1988..
Good luck in The Bellbridge
In 1969/1970, I spend one year in Rotherham as a french assistant in Thoma Rotherham college, and I used to spend very good times listening to you in pubs in R’ham, Sheffield end Doncaster. I have the LP “Paddy on the road” dedicated by you. I’ve got lots of your records as a friend of mine lives in Ireland. What good memories of so many evenings spent with you (I also remember the English singer,Tony Capsticks). I often listen to your songs with great pleasure… (so do my daughter and her husband). I also have two photos of you (long-haired) singing in Doncaster on july 6th 1970.
I wish you a very happy New Year 2018.
I still remember most of the Folk Clubs that ran in South Yorkshire in the late 60s early 70s….made many good friends back then… rolled my sleeping bag out on many welcoming floors
“Been thru Sheffield Lanes at night ’twere just like being in Hell
Furnaces thrust out tongues of flame that roared like wind o’er The Fell
I sammed up coal in Barnsley pit with muck up to my knee
From Hull and Halifax and Hell Good Lord deliver me”
from The Dalesman’s Litany as sung to me by Alastair Cameron at Causeway Foot, Halifax, Yorkshire in 1968.I first heard him sing it at The Bradshaw Tavern Folk Club
Christy,
Any plans to do any gigs in or around London this year? It would be great to see you live again. Seen you in the Southbank Centre a while back. Amazing.
Spring of 2019 is on the cards for London..if all goes well
Just before ‘Beeswingzzzz’ last night in Vicar, the woman shouted out ‘you’re gorgeous Christy’..in fairness , you do look great…:-)
The sound was great through the new mic…congratulations to you all on another great run..front and back and side of house…so far so good like…
Setting up here for the bro, Luka is with us tonight in Booterstown…pedal on
Whallup there Lar…
Dear Christy, A very good morning to you.
I just finished reading a 220 page report on the site of The Mother and Baby Home in Tuam commissioned by Minister Katherine Zappone. I received the link from Catherine Corless who I have been in close contact with for some time now. The main commission of inquiry is to deliver its final report in 2019. Until then it is so important to keep up public awareness of the situation in Tuam so it does not fall into forgetfulness and the Commission of Inquiry and Galway Co.Co as the stakeholders are aware there is major public interest in the outcome of their report.
„ What we ( Catherine, survivors of the Mother and Baby Home and her support group ) need is peoples power and media attention to keep up public awareness so the children and babies buried there receive full justice. After reading the report I wrote the following poem.
„ Remember “
Call in the verses that rave and that rant
Call on the voices that charter and chant
Call on sweet glory with its petals of gold
To harvest compassion for those innocent souls
Call on the bards with their voices so fine
Musicians and poets and masters of rhythm
Call on the stars and the moon and the sun
Bestowing the right for the wrong that was done
Cast out the shade and the shadows of night
Into the darkness send wands of pure light
Call on the oceans of love and goodwill
That the tide and the tides keep returning until
The sound of the waters that murmur along
Carry the heart and the soul of their song
Resting by a dusty mill
A traveller with his sleepy stick
Content to never have a friend
Is talking to himself again
Place a thought upon that stream
Let it climb the great oak wheel
Round and round and moving on
Flowing makes the heart grow strong
Gazing at the moon at night
Fills the soul with strange delight
You wise old fool your time is spent
The only thing you have is words
But what if they just up and went
Would you go searching for to find
To fill the emptiness they left
Those strange companions of the mind
The glorious sound of love and light
Came shining in from there
Be patient now and dry your tears
It’s you we’re ranting for my dears
and for that reason I am at the pen.
I would like to ask you to help promote public awareness by singing your song about the Magdalene Laundries at a gig or two and dedicate it to Catherine for her relentless work and dedication in striving to bring justice for the Tuam babies ?.
You are a man of great power and when that voice of yours ( which I feel is getting better all the time ) takes to flight, you capture the heart and soul of the lot, young and old, ladies and gentlemen, rich and poor. (not forgetting rowdy Ruddy)
Thank you so much.
John
Dear John,
Good to hear from you…just had one read of your new work..I will return to it presently and spend some time with it….
There was a radio discussion this week about the development of a site in Sean McDermott Street Dublin where once stood a Magdalen Laundry….it was heartbreaking and anger inducing to hear what went on…..Church and State complicit in the kidnapping,torture and slave trade of poor misfortunates…..all of this in living memory as we cowtowed to a Catholic Church that masterminded the whole despicable system….and its still running….the graves of our unknown innocents to be bulldozed to oblivion as holy sisters sell off ill gotten land to developers
These past nights Joni’s “Magdalen Laundry” has returned to the set fully imbued with the emotion engendered by these recent revelations
“these bloodless brides of Jesus,
if they could just once glimpse their groom
they’d drop the stones concealed behind their rosaries
They wilt the grass they walk upon
they leech the light right out of a room
they’d like to wash those girls down the drains of The Magdalen Laundry”
……..
Survivors still live in the aftermath of the horrors endured….some homeless,some broken in alcoholism and addiction as they seek to cope ….
Catherine Corless continues to shine badly-needed light into some of our darkest corners….
while certain of our “Little Sisters” and their Vatican fathers continue to hide the proceeds of their kidnapping and slave trade..
Thanks for sharing John
Thanks for the shout out Christy…gig was brilliant as usual!..really enjoyed the night? ???
sound
Hi Christy,
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for playing St.Brendan’s Voyage for Ed last night in Vicar Street – was absolutely magic! He was speechless. And thanks Iggy for the prompt – we were all singing along in our heads!! We thoroughly enjoyed the gig – and can safely say the crowd were loving every second too.
We spent the rest of the evening hearing of the day you spent in Murphy’s on the pier in Brandon 40 years ago, from the nuns, to the ticking tractor outside, and the craic from start to end!!
Thanks again, looking forward to the next gig already 🙂
Regards,
Kate Fitz
it was one of those days, it was one of those nights, myself and Tom McCarthy were on the lash, when we arrived into Murphy’s on the pier twas around the mid-day Angelus….there was one local man at the bar and one Continental tourist who happened to have a guitar…..after a few calming bottles of stout I asked the lad would he play a song and that was the start of it……
Hello Christy,
A bit late but I wish you only the very best for 2018 – May the new year be a peaceful, healthy and happy one for you, the band and all the crew!
We are missing Vicar St this January but hope to see you again when the springtime comes.
I’m delighted that you still remember the Scala and cake!!!
(a brief hint for Uwe from Bavaria: Christy played Scala/Ludwigsburg in Jan 1992 and in Feb 1994)
Good Luck, Traudel
they were great tours….great gigs in far flung German cities….Koln, Heidelburg,Munich,Munster,Stumpf, Coddle,Munchegladbach,Grossen, Totenhosen, Ausfahrt,Appelkorn,Strudel,Essen,Messin,……..we crisscrossed autobahns as our promoter threw random darts at the German map and sent us up and down a hundred autobahns like blue arsed flies….on manys the trip I met myself coming the other way ( like Matty and his Dark Familiar)…manys the late night in the early morning houses of Hamburg Market….we lowered it up with Dieter,Hans, Gudrun and Pascal from The Falls who lost his dentures in The Rhine
HI Christy back home again after Vicar st the Massey is running like a dream thanks for a mighty night top drawer stuff from you and the orchestra thanks for playing the Cliffs wasn’t sure you heard the call out and I hope I didn’t jump in too quick with the prompt for the Brendan voyage I thought by the look in your eyes even though they were closed that the words weren’t going to come
Thanks again for a fantastic night face the puck out
I did’nt realise twas yourself that gave me the prompt….twas spot on Iggy, perfectly timed,appropriate, gratefully recieved and life -saving…..
so twas also yourself that asked for The Cliffs..really glad now that I played it…..
Having the Motorway running from Vicar St to Bullaune takes the pain out of nighttime travellin….back in the Planxty van twas some haul from The Hanger back to Dubh Linn but we always had plenty of passtimes in the wagon…hope we meet for a chat in 2018…hope you and your Band have a good year..maybe catch up in Salthill…Shine On Iggy Broderick
Hi Christy, looking forward to your Vicar Street show Thursday tomorrow night.. My dad Frank Donaghy is looking forward to seeing you again this year for his birthday, to celebrate beating the state earlier last year in the Jobstown Trial! He will be in one of the front rows and I’m sure he’d love to hear oblivious again if it’s on your set list! ?
we’ll do our best Anna Mary..hope ye have a good night
Would it be fair to say that you’re a modest man and praise does not sit easy? Either way please don’t shoot the messenger! I listened to a local radio article over the festive season about Fairy Tale of New York and the various covers of it (a spin out from the show). The presenter likened Shane’s song to a listed building: planning permission required to cover. Some got slated but you got the bouquet… in that ‘anything you sing/cover stands up…your experience and pathos shines through’ and last but not lease ‘you’re a musician’s musician!’ Shane is a cracking songwriter…as someone who aspires to be a poet…he’s among the measure of my dreams! Plum pudding with a fry is gorgeous…sure why not? Have a wonderful night in Sráid Thomáis. Mary
I’ll always take a good review over a bad one….Shane’s songs are such a joy to sing….with layer upon layer of emotion, meaning, description,possible interpretation …..
with regard to Fairytale. It was originally presented as a duet by Shane and Kirsty… I took a chance by covering it with one voice … this required realigning some of Shane’s original lyric….turning it from conversation with two voices into a solo statement
The original version is THE version..no cover comes near
Christy, happy new year and what a year. I loved the Late Late with Ryan but more so the bit with Sean O’ Rourke. I listen to Sean everyday, albeit at least 5 hours behind, I have not heard him enjoy himself so much on his own show ever. He loved every minute of it and the research was spot on, the history accurate and the music (past and present) superb. I’m trying now to “jimmy rig” the rte player to see the documentary about Fairy-tale but failing so far! I saw the Pouges in the Top Hat in DunLaoighre in 1986 a year before Fairy Tale, I also saw them in Saint Francis Xavier Hall in 1985, twas half empty ! Saw them here in New York too, bunch of times Oh well. Lastly I’m trying to get your calendar and mine to collide again in the very near future. Best regards, Brian.
Morra Brian….greetings to New York…The Top Hat long since toppled to become a hape of flats….across the road The Purty Kitchen still stands and has occasional gigs up the stairs….had some good nights The Francis Xavier way back…most memorable (for me) was a Moving Hearts gig which was part of the Free Nicky Kelly Campaign
Both the Sean O’Rourke and Ryan Tubridy interviews went well…..Sean attended a Vicar St gig in the run-up and I had a sit down with Ryan in advance of our TV chat…..
Shane hit the 60 mark and is to be honoured with a Gala Concert in The National Concert Hall…..Hope he has a great night
“The rain was lashin,the Sun was risin, the wind was whippin thru the trees”
this line from Shane’s “Aisling” perfectly describes the weather here this morning
Hi Christy, I was back home in Dublin for my brother in-law Vinny’s 60th on New Years Eve. What a blast it was at the Bell in Blanchardstown and then back at his house for the ‘Sing Song’.With folk there back from the USA, Australia and myself from London we sang our hearts out and paid tribute to you with a few of your classics! I was hoping to get to see you in Vickers Street whilst I was there but couldn’t get a ticket as all sold out. I see you have some dates pencilled in for Liverpool, Birmingham and York but I wondering if you were planning
to do any gigs in London on this tour? Take care and keep Gigging,….
Brian George
nothing confirmed for London this year, far as I know it will be Springtime 2019 before we hit The Big Smoke again …..if all goes well
Hello Christy,
I always enjoy a good way with words. I have had the sincere happiness of listening to your songs. It is great, how the singer can give out such a wonderful message. I have galloped privately in a slow way, using ski-type equipment. When I have accompanied a fair horse I have travelled at a very slow quantity of speed. Your songs have made me leave horsemanship to the others. I have turned to music for my improvement and I wish to make a grand album from my songs. I am allowed to make songs like you. Others are not quite there yet. I wish you the very best. If you could offer me a way into the music industry, I would be very, very pleased. It’s a bonnie day when Christy plays. Here is my collection of songs, which await a fabulous manager to help me with them. https://soundcloud.com/alexanderjgodman .
And I too wish you the very best……
Hi christy hope ur keepin well if u think of bringin the honda with u tomorrow night will u give a shout out to my daughter sophie ive just added another one to the fan club it be her first gig and she loves that tom touhy tune all the best christy ..keep her going
I’ll have to book it in for the NCT in the morning…if we’re both passed I’ll give it a few revs tomorrow night
Well Christy the Massey passed the NCT so tomorrow I ‘ll hit for Vicar St looking forward to it its been awhile face the puck out
Watch Micko last night on RTE 1 great programme truly a sporting legend
if you’re pulling in to Mother Hubbards watch out for that leaking slurry transporter…
have a good trip and we’ll raise the roof in Thomas St tomorrow night
Anyway , a long standing tradition here on New Years Day is an evening in the local pub for a darts tourney which is sometimes followed by a sing song in the bar into the early hours…… so I happened to find myself in the midst……. and in the company of lads and lasssies much less weathered than me , wasn’t sure how the songs would run but they let loose with Spancil Hill, then came Nancy Spain and then a young fella of bout 22 gave a grand auld rattle to Beeswing….. sweet stuff to the ears of an auld 4711er….. so we kept with it and before we got ejected we managed to squeeze in The January Man and The Time Has Come and The Raggle Taggle Gypsy. Amazing how much the songs have crossed the generations.
Music to my ears Marty…brings me right back to my own teens, singing Rosin The Bow,The Bard of Armagh, Beside The Anner,The Jug of Punch….
that early repertoire when the whole country was becoming aware of the beauty and excitement of “The Ballads”
Jack White singing a Nation Once Again in Neesons Lounge at Easter 1966, Kevin Prendergast and Austin O’Donnell singing in Frank Kellys “of THe Lock”, then all back to “The Red Lad”& Angela’s for Ballads Porter and Courtin….Paddy Power singing The Patriot Game in the Sergeant’s Mess Curragh Camp on Good Friday 1964..
“O love is pleasin and Love is teasin,
and love is a pleasure when first its new”
……….great to hear its all still going on as younger generations pick up the songs and run with them
Hi Christy, Do you plan on adding any more dates in the fall? I plan on returning to Ireland in October and would love to catch a gig. By the way, we’ve got the same Birthday — you, me, and the sinking of the Lusitania all on the 7th of May. Now that’s a story just begging to be told in song! All the best, Milo
As long as the voice holds up and as long as the body can carry it, we’ll be adding dates…..
Keep in touch Milo
Hi Christy,
i just wanted to thank you for the gig last Wednesday in Vicar Street !
I’m Angelika’s husband and she absolutely surprised me with the tickets for your concert. It was the best 50th birthday(present) i could have imagined !!
First time i saw you live was in the end of 80th beginning of 90th in Ludwigsburg (near Stuttgart) in the SCALA Theater. Since then i love your music and your songs.
It was an absolute privilege for me to see you now again in DUBLIN. And thanks for you mentioning us during the concert ! I guess you could’nt see us. We were on the balkony on the right.
I love Ireland and i will return again in middle of June this year. We’re celebrating our 25th anniversary of our studies at the RTC Sligo. You’re playing in Sligo 1 week before we are there 🙁
I wish you all the best and many, many more years on the stage.
Stay healthy !!
I remember that lovely old Cinema in Ludwigsburg……I was given a beautifully prepared cake..Keep singing Uwe
Hi Hilary, a great tune and a great post, thanks for the link. the wise and holy woman had a never ending dream……
Yes the show did definitely go on, Christopher!! You claimed that Charlie had been doing unimaginable things in Kinsealy to have had the power cut!! You weren’t too far from the truth, methinks!! You set up a platform/stage in the middle of the audience & you made sure that everyone on all sides of that stage got your attention for the duration of each song!! It was one of the most memorable concerts that I’ve ever attended!! I can’t quite remember the date…but twas a long time ago & here you still are today, making fantabulous memories for me…with my son!!
Many’s the set I’ve danced here in Clare & beyond! I think I’ll give one of your songs a go this year at a set dancing weekend I run every year, in The Bellbridge in March for Alzheimer’s…2018 is off to a fine start!! Tis a beautiful day here in West Clare…frosty, crisp, cold & the sun beating down!! A walk by the ocean is imminent, I reckon!! Bain taitneamh mór as an lá…slán tamaill.
I reckon twas March 1988..
Good luck in The Bellbridge