Hi Christy
After your gig in Sheffield I reminded you of the times you played at my student club at The Grapes just behind City Hall in the late ’60s. You said I should have contacted you before the gig so we could have said hello. This time you have me travelling to York to see you ~ maybe we can say hello there?
Ian
Christy's reply
Ian….after the York gig we’ll be making a dash for Holyhead and the 2am boat for Dublin…..I have to be home in time to milk the goat
Traudel
April 9, 2018 at 8:05 pm
Location: where Fuchsias showing first tiny leaves and Yellow Furze is in full bloom now
Hello dear Christy,
Hope you are well. We got enthusiastic reports about your last two gigs from Petra. Great to hear a brand-new song has turned up! I’m curious if it maybe will appear in Westport or Cavan …
We also love to listen to your “old” songs, this time we have “Live at Vicar Street” (among others) in our luggage and played this brilliant CD a lot of times during the last two weeks. As there was talk of those who departed this world recently we also remembered Noel Brazil though we never met him. I don’t think I’ve ever told you that he once stayed here many moons ago, our late friend had hosted him in one of his cottages. So “Metropolitan Avenue” fits very well in this place – at our green jewel. It would be nice if this beautiful song could enter your set list again.
Best wishes from Beara!
See you soon, Traudel
Christy's reply
I’ll set the Satnav for Metro Ave and see where the road leads
Hi All. So the mighty run of gigs continues whether its solo or duos or quartets,,, always different,,, always something new,,, long may it all last,,. There are small gaggles at every gig,,, and there is often talk of the wish for another bigger gaggle. There is a programme on radio tomorrow night,, ” Still Believing : The Songs of Thom Moore ” on RTE Radio 1 at 10pm on Tues April 10th it’s a special programme of a recording of a gig from 2013. which may be of interest ? Midnight Well and Pumkinhead were certainly part of the soundtrack of my teenage years ,,, the songs captured the vibe of the 70s and 80s,,, “gone alas like our youth too soon “. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
You remind me of our first meeting with Thom Moore. Planxty were just taking off and were booked to play a Concert in Sligo circa 1973…. Pumkinhead were also on the bill..I stood sidestage as Tom & Kathy Moore, Rick Epping & Sandy Miller played their unique and lovely music…it went on late into the night…. Thom Moore, always remembered
Thank you Christy for another wonderful night in the Clanree – the audience certainly came to sing and you had them in your palm from the start. Loved the new Pagan Ritual /Sail on Jimmy song- as Marty says it was great to hear the audience running with the chorus. Great to meet up with some of the gang too – from long time German listeners to 80 year old newbies. It’s wonderful to see the songs and music shared across generations and continents. Keep well Christy and see you along the way.
Christy's reply
Morra John….Clanree rocked the poor spiders out of the chandeliers…we were buzzin for hours after….always extra excitement around Letterkenny…whether its the light,the hills or something in the water….something wild and wonderful invariably happens up there
Dear Christy, thank you and the grand little orchestra for 2 unbelievably good concerts in Letterkenny and Carrick on Shannon – high energy gigs is too weak a word for the vibes at these venues. Violin and banjo are a fantastic addition to the old songs. I would never have thought that the bodhrán on „Well Below The Valley“ can be taken to new heights by a banjo … Micky Mclhatton with a fiddle solo finale sounded like new born … Declan’s extended guitar solos plus Jimmy’s percussion work were pure delight. Our ears are still raving …
We are looking forward to next weekend – see you in Westport and Cavan – take care until then !
Christy's reply
Thank you for your feedback Petra…….
Yes indeed, Cathal Hayden has expanded the sound as our Trio has become a quartet….apart from his prowess on both instruments Cathal possesses great feeling and understanding with Songs. His primary music is Traditional Irish Music but throughout his life he has also played different genres with various Bands….he has recorded many solo albums and guested on numerous albums by other artists.
CM (72)
How are you keeping? Spring is all around .The cow outside the back door finally had her calf.The connemara pony at the gable had a lovely foal.The sheep next door are dropping lambs steady one after the other and one had triplets. Sadly after all the excitement one of the triplets died this morning and makes me wonder why.With all the carry on people coming to see the 3 and next thing you know there was only two.
Still lots of haylage to feed them.no grass growing yet unfortunately.
I wanted to ask you about a thing called a “Blarge” what kind of knowledge if any do you have on this instrument ?
Sail on CM sail on CM boy
CS (13)
PS I was down with the bard of Tuam last week he runs a great singing session there once a month.Al kinds of carry on there.He has a great song about the GAA being up in the Sky… because it’s on sky TV.
Christy's reply
Here is how I recall it…Donal Lunny was seeking a Bouzouki that could deliver a deeper (more Bass end) sound…he designed such an instrument and had one built to his specifications….that instrument subsequently became known as a “Blarge”…I’m not sure who christened it thus but I suspect it was a Planxty word (Liam Óg perhaps !)…Donal did play it with Planxty way back 40 years ago but no sight nor sound of it in recent decades….
brilliant stuff lads, road trip stories, routefinders without some machine telling you to turn round at the next exit, scots singers karine polwart and hamish imlach, the racing memories are fabulous (i dont bet either i just love the craic and the cork dry washed down with a porter and cheering on ruby), when do you write your real life story christy? am sure hilary and marty ,and one or two more, could help and it would need to be 50 chapters.
we have been lucky enough in hawick to have organised free live music every monday (string theory,check us out) with artists like ivan drever, kieran halpin, rebecca loebe, reece hillis, findlay napier,rab noakes and on monday it is ‘champion’ doug veitch. we were due declan a couple of years ago but there was an error in his flights and we lost him (luckily you and camilla found him again) so do send him across to hawick and we will ply him with haggis neeps and tatties til he can eat no more.
great to hear that the hen do goers are finding a place in their itinerary for your gigs, hoping that they have not mistaken you and the 3 boys for a full monty tribute act.
today has been the lilac cd from the box set, stirring stuff.
all the best . rory
Christy's reply
I recognise 2 in particular from that roster….Rab Noakes from way back in the Torbane days in Fife with Jimmy Hutch and High Speed Grass after The Elbow Room in Kircaldy back in 1968,
Kieran Halpin from The Meeting Place Dublin in the 70s when we held sway there with Red Peters, Jimmy Faulkner, Declan McNelis, Kevin Burke along side the three Spillane brothers..Skinnier, The Badger and Paddy….That Dorset Street pub was the centre of much activity back then… both musical and nefarious…whilst some customers achieved notoriety with their licks and riffs others found fame by other means
The gig room held 120 listeners…I rem a week back in 1978 when Planxty, The BothyBand, De Danann, Clannad, Freddy White, The Floating Dublin Blues Band, Rob Strong, The Tara Band all played that small room…there was a perpetual lock in…the pints were glorious, the grass was sweet, the hash was strong and the Crack was Ninety
and,if you were caught short, there might be a chance of the slate, provided you kept your nose clean
No ferry, just a narrow bridge fit for one way car traffic only, over the river Finn so you won’t get your feet wet. Yeah been to the Jacksons gigs but much too young for the Isaac Butt hall. . . . . Tho I did see Horslips there once near the end of their 10 year reign. The Butt Hall has evolved into the Balor Theatre now. Declan and Vickie played there a while back.
Christy's reply
the advance party has sent back word that Stranorlar is flowing freely today
The Twin Towns are a pure Whore for the tailbacks for sure. You could probably drive from Letterkenny to Limerick now and they are the only real bottleneck town en route. There is a kind of a poor mans loop road…. but it’s a little bit tricky til you get to know it. . . . I’ll show it to ye for next time !!!
Enjoy Carrick , they are in for a treat.
Christy's reply
and also a fierce place for the weddings…played the Isaac Butt there in 1978 and Jacksons too on other occasions…. I’d be more then interested in thon loop road…does it involve a ferry ?
only last week we traversed the twin towns of Enniskeane and Ballineen, a while back we snaked thru Strabane and Lifford,
Fantastic gig in the Clanree tonight, great songs ,great Craic , and a crowd that were in fine voice. Hen party on tour and calling for Black is the Colour ,
Great to hear Oblivious again ( we still claim Mick as a Letterkenny man ) but I think the “new” song on the pagan ritual really caught us all , the audience singing along after hearing the chorus only once was very very special. Thanks Christy, always great to hear the orchestra in Donegal.
Christy's reply
Letterkenny has never let me down….going way back to the Folk Festival in the 70s and The Golden Grill in the 80s ,always been a good turn out..I think tonight topped it all..what a great audience…we had a real good time out there….The Clanree has a topping gig room and the accomodations are first class..lots of listeners from Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, even a few hurlers over from The Antrim Glens…there was a Rose from Tralee and two long hauliers in from Germany….I forgot about Mick Blake being from this town ! I hope he does not hear that I described him as a Leitrim man in his own home town….
we got done for speeding between Ballybofey and Stranorlar…took us an hour to get past McElhinnys…I went in to get measured for a trousar suit..30% off this week so I went the whole hog….
Ill be lookin like Mister Pussy in Carrick tomorrow night…they wont know whether its a stag or a hen thats serenading them in lovely leitrim
The journeys been made early morning ferry from the west coast of Scotland then a drive up the coast and into Letterkenny looking forward to tonight’s gig in the Clanree let the music keep your spirits high
Hopefully the sound checks are done and you’re relaxing before tonight’s gig. Been too long since my last one so looking forward to hearing the songs and falling under the magical spell of a Christy gig. The Winter it has passed and the Summer’s come at last…..even if the weather hasn’t realised it yet. See you soon 🙂
Christy's reply
Relax before a gig !!! such an alien concept….. we do savage relaxtion afterwards but beforehand its a matter of winding up the springs….its a grand soft evening here..the maggots are absailing around the car park
Just thinking about your various performances that I have attended over the years. Whether it was Planxty or you and the band whooping it up or your solo gigs. No gigs in either form were ever the same. I suppose all of your performances are like a living breathing organisms …malleable, affected by venues, audiences and the various wonderful musicans that join you on the way. Hilary thanks for giving us the heads up on Song of Granite as I was able to record it before Easter break. Joe’s story is told through breath taking visual poetry and traditional song. The boy who portrayed the young Joe was wonderful…I can only imagine that you were singing from an early age. Thanks for all the music Christy.
Christy's reply
The “Song of Granite” took a long meaningful look at the life of Joe Heaney…our Colm Seoige did a beautiful job playing the young Joe…Colm is a regular 4711er as is his sister Róisín..they are both enthusiastic songsters and dancers and always attend the Galway gigs with their parents…
Well from Waterford. where can i pick up the planxty live in vicar st would love to get my hands it I still have the first 3 original albums from the early seventies,went to see planxty on a number ocassions in Katie Reillys
Christy's reply
you’ll find it on ebay
…..I played manys the night in Katie’s myself….but never with Liam, Andy and Donal…not that I can recall anyway !!
Good Morning…the great Wally Page plays in The Annesley House, North Strand Rd ,next Friday,13th April. along with Johnny Mulhearn and the band…always a great night..
thank you. L
john o’ dreams left me early today so reading the comments i see good on hilary with her tip for the national, a faller but impressed at the musical and turf info and i just wish we had such a breadth of truly good music on our airwaves here. please be keeping up the info for my four days at punchestown (musical and turf).
anyway as it is 50 years this year since you heard Hamish Imlach sing ‘black is the colour’ in glasgow i wondered if there were any thoughts of adding some of the great man’s songs to a set list 50 glorious years on Christy?
Christy's reply
Last night we heard Karine Polwart play alongside Inge Thompson and Stephen Polwart…it was a most beautiful affair…..its been manys the year since I heard such a spellbinding performance…and tonight they play in The Triskel Arts Centre in Cork City….if you are within an ass’s roar, give them a listen…
no tips for Punchestown yet Rory….I’m not a betting man myself but I’ll put out a few feelers and see if I can gain you some worthwhile information…..many years ago I had a few betting coups…Vic Rose in the last race at the Curragh circa 1960, I was on it at 33/1…Mr.What in The Grand National (came in at 18/1 !! )
Got a double up once at Powerstown Park in 1964..myself and Martin Harney celebrated with steak and brandy…back in 1962 I was at Goodwood when Darky Prendergast had a double and I was on both of them at ( I think)9/2 and 8/1…..myself and Billy Parkinson were at Santa Claus first race as a 2 year old.. we met Billy Burke the night before in The Harp Bar in Kildare Town and he gave us the nod…. we were on it at 14/1 and Billy Burke skated home….we gave it some lash that night…unfortunately Billy lost the ride when it came to the Classics,both Billys long since departed….
Black is The Colour is the only song from Hamish that I have managed to cover….however , every gig I play is influenced by what I learned from him….in particular the skills he displayed when communicating with the listeners….for a short period in the 60s I was his apprentice…..happy to say that I am still in touch with the Imlach family…Hamish’s spirit lives on
April , at last , we await the birds flying in to share the summer.
Reading through the gigs list and seeing a good number of solo gigs on the horizon reminds us of the huge anticipation that used to build up when a Christy Moore gig would be advertised in the Donegal Democrat , for the tour wasn’t as regular or extensive back then . And so Letterkenny awaits , be it one, two , three or four onstage the Clanree will be packed and the atmosphere electric. . . . . And still the fever starts to build .
Our teams will meet again in the league next year albeit in Div 2, could be worse tho for as Joe Brolly says there’s no London in Derry but Derry will be in London next season !!
Christy's reply
we’ll continue to support The Lily Whites no matter what Division …..we’ll be there to the dying breath…its in the DNA…The Shortgrass, The Flourbags…. 1928 since we last lifted The Sam but we live in hope and eternal optimism…we still remember Jimmy Cummins, Paddy Moore, Toss McCarthy, The Ba, Skinner, Fido,Doggy, a few of the stalwarts from our club who played for The County…down the Town, the other crowd had Ray Swan, The Boiler White, Michael Geraghty, Nuxer, Quinner Cash, The Rubber Keogh and Miko Doyle….we followed them as far afield as Maryboro, Tullamore, Carlow, Navan, even Croke Park…we travelled in the back of Begs McCormack’s Bedford Van ( 2 bob a man ) and win, lose or draw there would be a few pints on the way home
Christy, I hope you and yours are well. I’ve attached the link to the Planxty gig review by Robin ‘hard to please’ Denselow of the Guardian at the Barbican in 2005. I feel very fortunate to have attended. To me it seems like just yesterday. Its very cold here with driving rain. Keep well. Xx https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jan/31/popandrock2
Christy why don’t you come and do a show in London? It’s too far to travel with little kids to Manchester/Birmingham/Newcastle. And I’m in Ireland at the wrong times to get to any of those ones. Please add another date in London
Christy's reply
Thank you Catherine….for the past two decades our pattern has been to play various UK cities every 18 months..we hope to return to London next Spring if all goes according to plan…
Hi Christy
After your gig in Sheffield I reminded you of the times you played at my student club at The Grapes just behind City Hall in the late ’60s. You said I should have contacted you before the gig so we could have said hello. This time you have me travelling to York to see you ~ maybe we can say hello there?
Ian
Ian….after the York gig we’ll be making a dash for Holyhead and the 2am boat for Dublin…..I have to be home in time to milk the goat
Hello dear Christy,
Hope you are well. We got enthusiastic reports about your last two gigs from Petra. Great to hear a brand-new song has turned up! I’m curious if it maybe will appear in Westport or Cavan …
We also love to listen to your “old” songs, this time we have “Live at Vicar Street” (among others) in our luggage and played this brilliant CD a lot of times during the last two weeks. As there was talk of those who departed this world recently we also remembered Noel Brazil though we never met him. I don’t think I’ve ever told you that he once stayed here many moons ago, our late friend had hosted him in one of his cottages. So “Metropolitan Avenue” fits very well in this place – at our green jewel. It would be nice if this beautiful song could enter your set list again.
Best wishes from Beara!
See you soon, Traudel
I’ll set the Satnav for Metro Ave and see where the road leads
Hi All. So the mighty run of gigs continues whether its solo or duos or quartets,,, always different,,, always something new,,, long may it all last,,. There are small gaggles at every gig,,, and there is often talk of the wish for another bigger gaggle. There is a programme on radio tomorrow night,, ” Still Believing : The Songs of Thom Moore ” on RTE Radio 1 at 10pm on Tues April 10th it’s a special programme of a recording of a gig from 2013. which may be of interest ? Midnight Well and Pumkinhead were certainly part of the soundtrack of my teenage years ,,, the songs captured the vibe of the 70s and 80s,,, “gone alas like our youth too soon “. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
You remind me of our first meeting with Thom Moore. Planxty were just taking off and were booked to play a Concert in Sligo circa 1973…. Pumkinhead were also on the bill..I stood sidestage as Tom & Kathy Moore, Rick Epping & Sandy Miller played their unique and lovely music…it went on late into the night…. Thom Moore, always remembered
Thank you Christy for another wonderful night in the Clanree – the audience certainly came to sing and you had them in your palm from the start. Loved the new Pagan Ritual /Sail on Jimmy song- as Marty says it was great to hear the audience running with the chorus. Great to meet up with some of the gang too – from long time German listeners to 80 year old newbies. It’s wonderful to see the songs and music shared across generations and continents. Keep well Christy and see you along the way.
Morra John….Clanree rocked the poor spiders out of the chandeliers…we were buzzin for hours after….always extra excitement around Letterkenny…whether its the light,the hills or something in the water….something wild and wonderful invariably happens up there
Dear Christy, thank you and the grand little orchestra for 2 unbelievably good concerts in Letterkenny and Carrick on Shannon – high energy gigs is too weak a word for the vibes at these venues. Violin and banjo are a fantastic addition to the old songs. I would never have thought that the bodhrán on „Well Below The Valley“ can be taken to new heights by a banjo … Micky Mclhatton with a fiddle solo finale sounded like new born … Declan’s extended guitar solos plus Jimmy’s percussion work were pure delight. Our ears are still raving …
We are looking forward to next weekend – see you in Westport and Cavan – take care until then !
Thank you for your feedback Petra…….
Yes indeed, Cathal Hayden has expanded the sound as our Trio has become a quartet….apart from his prowess on both instruments Cathal possesses great feeling and understanding with Songs. His primary music is Traditional Irish Music but throughout his life he has also played different genres with various Bands….he has recorded many solo albums and guested on numerous albums by other artists.
CM (72)
How are you keeping? Spring is all around .The cow outside the back door finally had her calf.The connemara pony at the gable had a lovely foal.The sheep next door are dropping lambs steady one after the other and one had triplets. Sadly after all the excitement one of the triplets died this morning and makes me wonder why.With all the carry on people coming to see the 3 and next thing you know there was only two.
Still lots of haylage to feed them.no grass growing yet unfortunately.
I wanted to ask you about a thing called a “Blarge” what kind of knowledge if any do you have on this instrument ?
Sail on CM sail on CM boy
CS (13)
PS I was down with the bard of Tuam last week he runs a great singing session there once a month.Al kinds of carry on there.He has a great song about the GAA being up in the Sky… because it’s on sky TV.
Here is how I recall it…Donal Lunny was seeking a Bouzouki that could deliver a deeper (more Bass end) sound…he designed such an instrument and had one built to his specifications….that instrument subsequently became known as a “Blarge”…I’m not sure who christened it thus but I suspect it was a Planxty word (Liam Óg perhaps !)…Donal did play it with Planxty way back 40 years ago but no sight nor sound of it in recent decades….
brilliant stuff lads, road trip stories, routefinders without some machine telling you to turn round at the next exit, scots singers karine polwart and hamish imlach, the racing memories are fabulous (i dont bet either i just love the craic and the cork dry washed down with a porter and cheering on ruby), when do you write your real life story christy? am sure hilary and marty ,and one or two more, could help and it would need to be 50 chapters.
we have been lucky enough in hawick to have organised free live music every monday (string theory,check us out) with artists like ivan drever, kieran halpin, rebecca loebe, reece hillis, findlay napier,rab noakes and on monday it is ‘champion’ doug veitch. we were due declan a couple of years ago but there was an error in his flights and we lost him (luckily you and camilla found him again) so do send him across to hawick and we will ply him with haggis neeps and tatties til he can eat no more.
great to hear that the hen do goers are finding a place in their itinerary for your gigs, hoping that they have not mistaken you and the 3 boys for a full monty tribute act.
today has been the lilac cd from the box set, stirring stuff.
all the best . rory
I recognise 2 in particular from that roster….Rab Noakes from way back in the Torbane days in Fife with Jimmy Hutch and High Speed Grass after The Elbow Room in Kircaldy back in 1968,
Kieran Halpin from The Meeting Place Dublin in the 70s when we held sway there with Red Peters, Jimmy Faulkner, Declan McNelis, Kevin Burke along side the three Spillane brothers..Skinnier, The Badger and Paddy….That Dorset Street pub was the centre of much activity back then… both musical and nefarious…whilst some customers achieved notoriety with their licks and riffs others found fame by other means
The gig room held 120 listeners…I rem a week back in 1978 when Planxty, The BothyBand, De Danann, Clannad, Freddy White, The Floating Dublin Blues Band, Rob Strong, The Tara Band all played that small room…there was a perpetual lock in…the pints were glorious, the grass was sweet, the hash was strong and the Crack was Ninety
and,if you were caught short, there might be a chance of the slate, provided you kept your nose clean
No ferry, just a narrow bridge fit for one way car traffic only, over the river Finn so you won’t get your feet wet. Yeah been to the Jacksons gigs but much too young for the Isaac Butt hall. . . . . Tho I did see Horslips there once near the end of their 10 year reign. The Butt Hall has evolved into the Balor Theatre now. Declan and Vickie played there a while back.
the advance party has sent back word that Stranorlar is flowing freely today
The Twin Towns are a pure Whore for the tailbacks for sure. You could probably drive from Letterkenny to Limerick now and they are the only real bottleneck town en route. There is a kind of a poor mans loop road…. but it’s a little bit tricky til you get to know it. . . . I’ll show it to ye for next time !!!
Enjoy Carrick , they are in for a treat.
and also a fierce place for the weddings…played the Isaac Butt there in 1978 and Jacksons too on other occasions…. I’d be more then interested in thon loop road…does it involve a ferry ?
only last week we traversed the twin towns of Enniskeane and Ballineen, a while back we snaked thru Strabane and Lifford,
Fantastic gig in the Clanree tonight, great songs ,great Craic , and a crowd that were in fine voice. Hen party on tour and calling for Black is the Colour ,
Great to hear Oblivious again ( we still claim Mick as a Letterkenny man ) but I think the “new” song on the pagan ritual really caught us all , the audience singing along after hearing the chorus only once was very very special. Thanks Christy, always great to hear the orchestra in Donegal.
Letterkenny has never let me down….going way back to the Folk Festival in the 70s and The Golden Grill in the 80s ,always been a good turn out..I think tonight topped it all..what a great audience…we had a real good time out there….The Clanree has a topping gig room and the accomodations are first class..lots of listeners from Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, even a few hurlers over from The Antrim Glens…there was a Rose from Tralee and two long hauliers in from Germany….I forgot about Mick Blake being from this town ! I hope he does not hear that I described him as a Leitrim man in his own home town….
we got done for speeding between Ballybofey and Stranorlar…took us an hour to get past McElhinnys…I went in to get measured for a trousar suit..30% off this week so I went the whole hog….
Ill be lookin like Mister Pussy in Carrick tomorrow night…they wont know whether its a stag or a hen thats serenading them in lovely leitrim
The journeys been made early morning ferry from the west coast of Scotland then a drive up the coast and into Letterkenny looking forward to tonight’s gig in the Clanree let the music keep your spirits high
Welcome back Doddsy…
Hopefully the sound checks are done and you’re relaxing before tonight’s gig. Been too long since my last one so looking forward to hearing the songs and falling under the magical spell of a Christy gig. The Winter it has passed and the Summer’s come at last…..even if the weather hasn’t realised it yet. See you soon 🙂
Relax before a gig !!! such an alien concept….. we do savage relaxtion afterwards but beforehand its a matter of winding up the springs….its a grand soft evening here..the maggots are absailing around the car park
Just thinking about your various performances that I have attended over the years. Whether it was Planxty or you and the band whooping it up or your solo gigs. No gigs in either form were ever the same. I suppose all of your performances are like a living breathing organisms …malleable, affected by venues, audiences and the various wonderful musicans that join you on the way. Hilary thanks for giving us the heads up on Song of Granite as I was able to record it before Easter break. Joe’s story is told through breath taking visual poetry and traditional song. The boy who portrayed the young Joe was wonderful…I can only imagine that you were singing from an early age. Thanks for all the music Christy.
The “Song of Granite” took a long meaningful look at the life of Joe Heaney…our Colm Seoige did a beautiful job playing the young Joe…Colm is a regular 4711er as is his sister Róisín..they are both enthusiastic songsters and dancers and always attend the Galway gigs with their parents…
Well from Waterford. where can i pick up the planxty live in vicar st would love to get my hands it I still have the first 3 original albums from the early seventies,went to see planxty on a number ocassions in Katie Reillys
you’ll find it on ebay
…..I played manys the night in Katie’s myself….but never with Liam, Andy and Donal…not that I can recall anyway !!
happy hunting
Good Morning…the great Wally Page plays in The Annesley House, North Strand Rd ,next Friday,13th April. along with Johnny Mulhearn and the band…always a great night..
thank you. L
and then off to Hungary
john o’ dreams left me early today so reading the comments i see good on hilary with her tip for the national, a faller but impressed at the musical and turf info and i just wish we had such a breadth of truly good music on our airwaves here. please be keeping up the info for my four days at punchestown (musical and turf).
anyway as it is 50 years this year since you heard Hamish Imlach sing ‘black is the colour’ in glasgow i wondered if there were any thoughts of adding some of the great man’s songs to a set list 50 glorious years on Christy?
Last night we heard Karine Polwart play alongside Inge Thompson and Stephen Polwart…it was a most beautiful affair…..its been manys the year since I heard such a spellbinding performance…and tonight they play in The Triskel Arts Centre in Cork City….if you are within an ass’s roar, give them a listen…
no tips for Punchestown yet Rory….I’m not a betting man myself but I’ll put out a few feelers and see if I can gain you some worthwhile information…..many years ago I had a few betting coups…Vic Rose in the last race at the Curragh circa 1960, I was on it at 33/1…Mr.What in The Grand National (came in at 18/1 !! )
Got a double up once at Powerstown Park in 1964..myself and Martin Harney celebrated with steak and brandy…back in 1962 I was at Goodwood when Darky Prendergast had a double and I was on both of them at ( I think)9/2 and 8/1…..myself and Billy Parkinson were at Santa Claus first race as a 2 year old.. we met Billy Burke the night before in The Harp Bar in Kildare Town and he gave us the nod…. we were on it at 14/1 and Billy Burke skated home….we gave it some lash that night…unfortunately Billy lost the ride when it came to the Classics,both Billys long since departed….
Black is The Colour is the only song from Hamish that I have managed to cover….however , every gig I play is influenced by what I learned from him….in particular the skills he displayed when communicating with the listeners….for a short period in the 60s I was his apprentice…..happy to say that I am still in touch with the Imlach family…Hamish’s spirit lives on
April , at last , we await the birds flying in to share the summer.
Reading through the gigs list and seeing a good number of solo gigs on the horizon reminds us of the huge anticipation that used to build up when a Christy Moore gig would be advertised in the Donegal Democrat , for the tour wasn’t as regular or extensive back then . And so Letterkenny awaits , be it one, two , three or four onstage the Clanree will be packed and the atmosphere electric. . . . . And still the fever starts to build .
Our teams will meet again in the league next year albeit in Div 2, could be worse tho for as Joe Brolly says there’s no London in Derry but Derry will be in London next season !!
we’ll continue to support The Lily Whites no matter what Division …..we’ll be there to the dying breath…its in the DNA…The Shortgrass, The Flourbags…. 1928 since we last lifted The Sam but we live in hope and eternal optimism…we still remember Jimmy Cummins, Paddy Moore, Toss McCarthy, The Ba, Skinner, Fido,Doggy, a few of the stalwarts from our club who played for The County…down the Town, the other crowd had Ray Swan, The Boiler White, Michael Geraghty, Nuxer, Quinner Cash, The Rubber Keogh and Miko Doyle….we followed them as far afield as Maryboro, Tullamore, Carlow, Navan, even Croke Park…we travelled in the back of Begs McCormack’s Bedford Van ( 2 bob a man ) and win, lose or draw there would be a few pints on the way home
Fifty years ago …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srj6DuCK-wM
God Rest His Soul
they’re all dying these days
Christy, I hope you and yours are well. I’ve attached the link to the Planxty gig review by Robin ‘hard to please’ Denselow of the Guardian at the Barbican in 2005. I feel very fortunate to have attended. To me it seems like just yesterday. Its very cold here with driving rain. Keep well. Xx
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jan/31/popandrock2
living in the wellies
Christy why don’t you come and do a show in London? It’s too far to travel with little kids to Manchester/Birmingham/Newcastle. And I’m in Ireland at the wrong times to get to any of those ones. Please add another date in London
Thank you Catherine….for the past two decades our pattern has been to play various UK cities every 18 months..we hope to return to London next Spring if all goes according to plan…