was listening to your song ” I hate politicans” reminds me of my brother..he has a thing about “roundabouts” he hates them..came home all upset one day from ballina.declaring never going to town again..they have installed another roundabout….now driving with a few pints of guinness…potholes….not signaling don’t bother him…if he sees a roundabout his day is ruined.. I think he hates politicans too..doesn’t everyone..hope your packing them in my friend .martin.
Christy's reply
“Lingo Politico” was written by Longford exile Pat Quinn who moved to Inisheer and put down roots where the North Atlantic Drifts..he has written a number of classic ballads and I was very fortunate to get the chance to cover this song…
twas Donal Lunny himself that gave me the nod about Pat’s songs..
I understand your brothers reticence towards roundabouts…an all time deep rooted resentment of mine is fuelled by the lack of footpaths on Irish Roads… people struggling home with shopping….others walking to work….some trying to go for a ramble …its simply terrifying as cars buses vans and lorries whizz inches away from our scandalously neglected pedestrians…drivers tearing around like selfish lunatics many of them absorbed with phoning / texting and oblivious to pedestrians and cyclists….our Ministers, deputies, councilors,planners and NRA ( collectively) show no concern for pedestrians….
I sometimes imagine them all sitting around a big table and shrugging in unison as they concur…”Feck them walkers, theres no money in that caper, no road tax, diesel tax, vehicle tax, Vat., tarmac, heavy plant hire, feck the lot of ’em”
Hi Christy,
I’m a long time fan. I never realised you had website with a guestbook. Fair play to you for taking the time to read & reply to the comments.
I was just listening to a podcast of your 2007 desert island discs. It’s a fascinating interview. I’ve always loved the way you talk so passionately about the songs in your repetoire – and the stories behind them.
If you don’t mind, I’d love to share one of my own songs with you. It’s called Smile. Hope you like it.
Smile
It’s been a while since you went away
And I can’t describe how it made me feel
To say goodbye
I tried to keep the best side out
While others cried
When you floated off into the night
It gets easier
Time passes by
Now when I think about you
You know it makes me want to smile
Smile, smile… It makes me smile
It was your time
We all knew you fought the fight
While you remained so adored and dignified
It gets easier
Time passes by
Now when I think about you
You know it makes me want to smile
Smile, smile… It makes me smile
Silver Ronson lighter
20 Players in your pocket
Manhattan ready salted
And a pint of plain
Now we all feel your legacy
The twinkle in your eye
Remains with us eternally
It gets easier
Time passes by
Now when I think about you
You know it makes me want to smile
Smile, smile… It makes me smile
Christy's reply
Thanks for sharing your song Mark…did not realise 11 years had past since my visit to Desert Island…
Nice gig in new bridge on August 2nd in Roy’s or in Whelans 31st July or even d’ Barras of clon on the 3rd August…THE OLLLAM…doing some nice music – my lad is on the guitar!
Christy's reply
Just Been listening to “The Ollam”…thanks for the tip..gonna try and catch them…
Roy’s is 30 feet from the house where I spent my first 17 years in Newbridge..Back then it was run by Mrs. McKenna and was called The Grand Hotel…on Curragh Race Days it would be thronged with “Racing Crowd”..Jockeys, Trainers, Owners, Models home from London… TP Burns was a regular as were Jimmy Eddery, PJ Prendergast (and his Father Paddy who used to visit my Grandmother who harboured a long devotion to Lester) saw Prince Monolulu there once and The Aga Khan with Rita Hayworth
Hey Dylan,
Really like this….keep doin what you’re doin..thanks for sharing..
great to see ye in Carrickdale….that room we sat in ..the border runs right thru it..when we spoke we were having a cross border conversation…same on stage.. Declan Jimmy and I were playing Free State while Cathal was playing in Norn Iron…pure fusion crossover rock trad folk world handbag garridge comhaltas horslips Maggie Barry ..
we’re all getting ready for the Pope here..the feckin Papal Nuncio has my heart scalded trying to convince me to play for his holiness..promising all sorts of indulgences and remission from Hell Limbo and Purgatory..tellin me I’d go straight to Heaven if I would sing a few bars of Casey in Croker for the Pontiff,
I kissed his ring and said “Newbridge or Nowhere”
Now I may have backed myself in to a Sul-de-Cac for the Bishop of Kildare was spotted yesterday petitioning the GAA for a papal gig in St Conleth’s Park (the pitch in dear old Newbridge)….so my bluff may yet be called
however I have a trick up my sleeve, I am currently auditioning tribute acts should the gig go ahead… saw a very convincing baldy sweaty chubby auld girner yesterday, his guitar playing may be too good to cod the Pontiff who, (I’ve been told this in confidence ) fancies himself as a bit of a balladeer… apparently he practices with nuns late at night in the Vatican and has been known to reduce holy sisters to tears with his version of Bright Blue Rose (Tommy Fleming Arrangement)
anyways Dylan, enough auld guff for one day…I gotta go and prepare myself..
safe and happy travels,
great performance on that vid..love the local shots too…Adelante !
Hi Christy it’s been 5 years since you rubbed my wife Dana’s big bump you did some great magic that night her name is Lucy and she’s changed my life in almost every way . Her music taste is fantastic her fav is planxty reels etc . Your huge in the music scene you might not know how big you are but it’s f&@kn big . I have to ask again any follow up to the album the traveler it’s a fantastic lp .sorry had to ask and I’m a crap banjo player trued but it’s in a bar so least can I say .all the best from us
Christy's reply
Thank you for sharing….the very thought of Lucy listening to Planxty Music at such a young age is heartwarming… most weeks, I sit for a while and listen to the music of Liam Óg O’Flynn…..his was the sound that defined our Band….
Good fun to watch ‘cliffs of dooneen’ win at the curragh kildare this afternoon. Would have preferred to watch on course, but the tv will do. Are there many other songs that have horses named the same ,that you perform? An extra hour theme of the tour of 50 perhaps.
Of a type i suppose derby day, ruby walsh, galway races ….
Christy's reply
After 50 years of singing the “Cliffs Of Dooneen” I finally stood beneath them last week….everyone has a “Cliffs” in their life…that special place locked in perpetuity.. a dream place picture carried to wherever we land… for some it could be the quiet corner of a field, a river bank, a street scene, up a tree, a distant plain, a furze bush, a cinema, a memory carried lifelong of a special place….always remembered, lingered after, connected by invisible cawl…
for some it may even be an imaginary scene gleaned fro dreamtime….
thanks christy…I felt oblidged to write and share the wee song..known someone apprecates it makes it worth while..also reminds me of dad, He was a salmon, lobster fisherman….your banter took me back for sure… they don’t make men like that anymore…martin.
Christy's reply
The world changes every waking hour….still great men and women in our communities,in our midst..but as the world gets noisier, greedier and more crowded, they may be harder to notice or to find….
Keep truckin,pluckin and singin Murt….let the music keep our spirits high
Just got back from your gig in the old Dreamland ballroom in Athy.
What an incredible atmosphere ! The ghosts of showband’s past almost came through as Declan did his magic on the guitar. The old building has not seen such a crowd since those heady days gone by. The four of you rocked the place to its foundations with Hiroshima Nagasaki and I don’t think I have ever heard that number sound so good !
The haunting strains of Cathal and his Violin created an old world feel to the whole scene and in the more livelier numbers Jimmy ‘s drumming gave great power to the songs.
The craic between yourself and Declan was gas and gave us all a great laugh.
For me the song of the night was “The Cliffs of Dooneen” .
A fine and worthy tribute to the late Liam O Flynn . I happened to be one of those sitting behind Liam’s wife Jane and as you finished the song, those of us lucky enough witnessed the moment you looked to her .Respect and great sadness in your eyes for your fallen friend.
I have been at many of your gigs but this one will stand out for me.
Thank you Christy
Barney
Christy's reply
Barney, twas a very special night for me, for a host of reasons, mixed up emotions brought on by memories that came flooding back from distant nights, waiting for the Leinster Leader to see who was coming to play in Dreamland, then seeking the wherewithall, when John Flood got a Mini, the first one of us to have a car, the excitement of the anticipation, the trip across the Curragh and on out through Suncroft, seeing Brendan Bowyer, him driving us wild with his Hucklebuck, the slow dances, love in the heart (but murder in the trousars,) I looked out from the stage last night at the faces of so many listeners, thoughts of the thousands that thronged that venue 60 years ago…. of old buddies long since gone…
Thanks for posting Barney, you captured the very essence of last night’s fun
christy i hope you don’t mind but i would like to put in a wee shout for our live music festival in august in hawick, scottish borders,scotland.
myself and three pals are putting on our second annual music festival, and i would urge readers to check it out with website address hawickfest.scot or hawickfest.com
most of the shows are free and everyone from everywhere is welcome (except trump).
the festival has a range of great music in the wonderful town of hawick, once visited you will know why us locals proclaim that ‘a day out of hawick is a day wasted’.
the only thing lacking is an irish singer….what a great place for one of those fifty hours in 2019?
anyway,thanks for allowing me to hijack the guestbook.
Christy's reply
Sound Rory,
Thank you the invite, regrets….
But I’ve no doubt that Hawick
will shake,rattle and roll,
will shimmy and shammy,
will boogie the night away
beneath the chandelier of feeling ..
Hi Christy , hope all is well. great to see you are doing the gig in Bray at the mermaid centre, lovely venue saw Declan and Vickie there a few years ago was a great gig, Liam clancy played a gig there i think in 2008 did not get to it..
been listing to the burning times album this evening , love listing to it.
any chance hearing motherland or mercy at Athy on Thursday
its a great song
See you in Dreamland
Adam
Christy's reply
“Motherland” got a run out in Ballabunnon…..”Mercy” is a song I obsessed upon when learning, arranging and recording….yet it never transferred to the live set..I may have gigged it once or twice but it died on me in the live setting. I might get it out again..
That said,there is a lot going on here in the workroom at the moment..
I’m looking forward to “Dreamland”…it was the “Barrowland ” of my youth..there I heard Johnny Cash, Brendan Bowyer, Dominic Behan, Prince Vince, The Dixies,The Freshmen,Paragon 7,
we used to cycle from Newbridge to Athy, we’d dance, fantasise, fall in love, get stood up,..I recall riding home across the Curragh on my old Rudge (with 3 speed and dynamo) as the Sun rose from The East….more then once with a passenger on the bar of my bike..
see you in Athy Adam….
When I was about 11 or 12 years old, I started to dig into my fathers records. I very quickly devoured the Kingston Trio, the Tarriers, the Dubliners, Archie Fisher, the Corries, Ryan’s Fancy, the Bothy Band, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee. Two acts that always stood out were the Weavers, and Woody Guthrie. I kept going back to the Weavers and Woody.
The summer before I left for college, I went with my parents to see Pete Seeger at the Lowell Folk Festival. I was in awe. One man with a banjo, in front of 2,000 raptured people. After the show I was with my parents behind the stage. Toshi saw my mother and ran over to give her a hug, followed by my hero, Pete. That night I got to carry Pete’s 12-string to his Subaru.
Years later, I was on a tour of Ireland with my father. I asked him about his time in New York. One story had me in tears. In or about 1966, CBTM were at the height of their popularity. Woody Guthrie was dying of Huntington’s Chorea in a hospital in New Jersey. He had heard about the boys but had never met them. Pete was visiting Woody, and he asked about CBTM. A few days later, Pete asked my father if they would come out to the hospital to see Woody.
The next day, Tom, Paddy, Liam, and my father, all piled into Pete’s car and drove out to the hospital in New Jersey. They spent hours singing songs for Woody.
In a hospital room in New Jersey in 1966. It was just Pete Seeger, Tom Clancy, Paddy Clancy, Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem, singing songs for Woody Guthrie.
Amazing.
Christy's reply
Thanks for posting this lovely reflection from Rory Makem….it stirs some personal memories of my own with CBTM,also of a comm I once recieved from Pete Seeger
Many thanks for the link to what Scotland thinks of the eejit wall builder, who thinks he is ‘scotch’.
Charlie was on the protest in Glasgow against his visit, proud of my lad.
America you gave us the hamburger president, america you know where you can shove your hamburger president.
Ah the protest song, such a fine medium.
All the best from scotchland
I always figured you were playing some drop down tuning..now it all makes sense.. a friend of mine plays with her hand on the top of the neck and the guitar backwards..blew my nogging first time I saw it…it works for her…for me I regret I never learned lead guitar, .. like you, too late to change niw.
Christy's reply
Richie Havens favoured the thumb too…of course, young Jimi bate all….
playing bodhrán can influence rhythm guitar playing..
Hi christy…just wondering out loud..if you were to start it all over in the music business would you still have done it the same way.. .and keeping in mind not too many artists will record unsolicited material…where does a songwriter go with his material….I’m not looking for contacts just some good old christy moore advise…murt
Christy's reply
I really dont know..
I’ve never considered myself as a “songwriter”…more as a singer who wrote a few songs…in 50 years I have written maybe as many songs….far as I know, there have been a few covers but I never sought them…
If I was to start all over again I would change but one thing…I’d learn to tune my guitar properly from the outset..tuning the 6th to F (accidentally) set me off on a false tack that I have never managed to correct
i hope the lilywhites do the job for you today.
my pal cammy sent me the link to spancil hill on youtube, you and shane, special stuff ,and even though i had viewed it several times before, magical moments like that still send a tingle up the spine, let us hope for some on the park today.
Christy's reply
Monaghan beat us in a slippery tussle
Limerick beat Kilkenny in a classic game of hurling
Kerry and Galway are at it now
as are Croatia and France
Over that last few days on Facebook I had to pick one album and one artist that changed my life….. I could of pick 10 Christy moore albums that would of done that!!!!!!!!
. So tonight I’m listening to smoke and strong whiskey..
I remember this album being released as a 11 year old and my uncle Kevin playing in it in his mini as we Spun around the town…
This album is heading towards 30 years old and still sounds fresh and a lot of these songs still make the set list!!! I don’t have a favourite album But this is one of the special ones!!!!
The production on this album was second to none…
Christy's reply
the process of making that album proved difficult,there were hard decisions along the way but,as you rightly say, many of the songs have stood the test of time…must give it a listen sometime…..I’ve always liked the sleeve….
Never played the j 43, …kinda rare guitars…if you ever get to play a 1968 Alvarez yairi it’s a great sounding guitar.all handmade natural real wood no laminent…but your right ,can’t beat the takamine as a workhorse…
Christy's reply
I think I’ve given up the search..when a man has more guitars then chords its time to re-access…I bought an ocarina at Dublin Zoo last year
Then we shall come to you…boo hoo! My 3 babies are 13, 15, 27 now…time to show them their roots…take them back to the Cathedral in Galway where we were married maybe catch a Christy Concert..I’ll plan it around your schedule!! It’s time! I write music as well maybe I’ll post you sometime…lol..we are listening to you now dancing in the kitchen! Viva LA Quinta!!! Cheers!
was listening to your song ” I hate politicans” reminds me of my brother..he has a thing about “roundabouts” he hates them..came home all upset one day from ballina.declaring never going to town again..they have installed another roundabout….now driving with a few pints of guinness…potholes….not signaling don’t bother him…if he sees a roundabout his day is ruined.. I think he hates politicans too..doesn’t everyone..hope your packing them in my friend .martin.
“Lingo Politico” was written by Longford exile Pat Quinn who moved to Inisheer and put down roots where the North Atlantic Drifts..he has written a number of classic ballads and I was very fortunate to get the chance to cover this song…
twas Donal Lunny himself that gave me the nod about Pat’s songs..
I understand your brothers reticence towards roundabouts…an all time deep rooted resentment of mine is fuelled by the lack of footpaths on Irish Roads… people struggling home with shopping….others walking to work….some trying to go for a ramble …its simply terrifying as cars buses vans and lorries whizz inches away from our scandalously neglected pedestrians…drivers tearing around like selfish lunatics many of them absorbed with phoning / texting and oblivious to pedestrians and cyclists….our Ministers, deputies, councilors,planners and NRA ( collectively) show no concern for pedestrians….
I sometimes imagine them all sitting around a big table and shrugging in unison as they concur…”Feck them walkers, theres no money in that caper, no road tax, diesel tax, vehicle tax, Vat., tarmac, heavy plant hire, feck the lot of ’em”
thanks for opening this up
Hi Christy,
I’m a long time fan. I never realised you had website with a guestbook. Fair play to you for taking the time to read & reply to the comments.
I was just listening to a podcast of your 2007 desert island discs. It’s a fascinating interview. I’ve always loved the way you talk so passionately about the songs in your repetoire – and the stories behind them.
If you don’t mind, I’d love to share one of my own songs with you. It’s called Smile. Hope you like it.
Thanks
https://soundcloud.com/mark_whelan/smile
Smile
It’s been a while since you went away
And I can’t describe how it made me feel
To say goodbye
I tried to keep the best side out
While others cried
When you floated off into the night
It gets easier
Time passes by
Now when I think about you
You know it makes me want to smile
Smile, smile… It makes me smile
It was your time
We all knew you fought the fight
While you remained so adored and dignified
It gets easier
Time passes by
Now when I think about you
You know it makes me want to smile
Smile, smile… It makes me smile
Silver Ronson lighter
20 Players in your pocket
Manhattan ready salted
And a pint of plain
Now we all feel your legacy
The twinkle in your eye
Remains with us eternally
It gets easier
Time passes by
Now when I think about you
You know it makes me want to smile
Smile, smile… It makes me smile
Thanks for sharing your song Mark…did not realise 11 years had past since my visit to Desert Island…
Nice gig in new bridge on August 2nd in Roy’s or in Whelans 31st July or even d’ Barras of clon on the 3rd August…THE OLLLAM…doing some nice music – my lad is on the guitar!
Just Been listening to “The Ollam”…thanks for the tip..gonna try and catch them…
Roy’s is 30 feet from the house where I spent my first 17 years in Newbridge..Back then it was run by Mrs. McKenna and was called The Grand Hotel…on Curragh Race Days it would be thronged with “Racing Crowd”..Jockeys, Trainers, Owners, Models home from London… TP Burns was a regular as were Jimmy Eddery, PJ Prendergast (and his Father Paddy who used to visit my Grandmother who harboured a long devotion to Lester) saw Prince Monolulu there once and The Aga Khan with Rita Hayworth
Amazing show in Dundalk!
Here’s a fresh one. ‘Cause I’m brutal at pronouncing the aul words, they added subtitles…
http://nodepression.com/article/video-premiere-death-dance-dylan-walshe
?
Hey Dylan,
Really like this….keep doin what you’re doin..thanks for sharing..
great to see ye in Carrickdale….that room we sat in ..the border runs right thru it..when we spoke we were having a cross border conversation…same on stage.. Declan Jimmy and I were playing Free State while Cathal was playing in Norn Iron…pure fusion crossover rock trad folk world handbag garridge comhaltas horslips Maggie Barry ..
we’re all getting ready for the Pope here..the feckin Papal Nuncio has my heart scalded trying to convince me to play for his holiness..promising all sorts of indulgences and remission from Hell Limbo and Purgatory..tellin me I’d go straight to Heaven if I would sing a few bars of Casey in Croker for the Pontiff,
I kissed his ring and said “Newbridge or Nowhere”
Now I may have backed myself in to a Sul-de-Cac for the Bishop of Kildare was spotted yesterday petitioning the GAA for a papal gig in St Conleth’s Park (the pitch in dear old Newbridge)….so my bluff may yet be called
however I have a trick up my sleeve, I am currently auditioning tribute acts should the gig go ahead… saw a very convincing baldy sweaty chubby auld girner yesterday, his guitar playing may be too good to cod the Pontiff who, (I’ve been told this in confidence ) fancies himself as a bit of a balladeer… apparently he practices with nuns late at night in the Vatican and has been known to reduce holy sisters to tears with his version of Bright Blue Rose (Tommy Fleming Arrangement)
anyways Dylan, enough auld guff for one day…I gotta go and prepare myself..
safe and happy travels,
great performance on that vid..love the local shots too…Adelante !
Hi Christy it’s been 5 years since you rubbed my wife Dana’s big bump you did some great magic that night her name is Lucy and she’s changed my life in almost every way . Her music taste is fantastic her fav is planxty reels etc . Your huge in the music scene you might not know how big you are but it’s f&@kn big . I have to ask again any follow up to the album the traveler it’s a fantastic lp .sorry had to ask and I’m a crap banjo player trued but it’s in a bar so least can I say .all the best from us
Thank you for sharing….the very thought of Lucy listening to Planxty Music at such a young age is heartwarming… most weeks, I sit for a while and listen to the music of Liam Óg O’Flynn…..his was the sound that defined our Band….
Good fun to watch ‘cliffs of dooneen’ win at the curragh kildare this afternoon. Would have preferred to watch on course, but the tv will do. Are there many other songs that have horses named the same ,that you perform? An extra hour theme of the tour of 50 perhaps.
Of a type i suppose derby day, ruby walsh, galway races ….
After 50 years of singing the “Cliffs Of Dooneen” I finally stood beneath them last week….everyone has a “Cliffs” in their life…that special place locked in perpetuity.. a dream place picture carried to wherever we land… for some it could be the quiet corner of a field, a river bank, a street scene, up a tree, a distant plain, a furze bush, a cinema, a memory carried lifelong of a special place….always remembered, lingered after, connected by invisible cawl…
for some it may even be an imaginary scene gleaned fro dreamtime….
thanks christy…I felt oblidged to write and share the wee song..known someone apprecates it makes it worth while..also reminds me of dad, He was a salmon, lobster fisherman….your banter took me back for sure… they don’t make men like that anymore…martin.
The world changes every waking hour….still great men and women in our communities,in our midst..but as the world gets noisier, greedier and more crowded, they may be harder to notice or to find….
Keep truckin,pluckin and singin Murt….let the music keep our spirits high
Dreamers in Dreamland
Just got back from your gig in the old Dreamland ballroom in Athy.
What an incredible atmosphere ! The ghosts of showband’s past almost came through as Declan did his magic on the guitar. The old building has not seen such a crowd since those heady days gone by. The four of you rocked the place to its foundations with Hiroshima Nagasaki and I don’t think I have ever heard that number sound so good !
The haunting strains of Cathal and his Violin created an old world feel to the whole scene and in the more livelier numbers Jimmy ‘s drumming gave great power to the songs.
The craic between yourself and Declan was gas and gave us all a great laugh.
For me the song of the night was “The Cliffs of Dooneen” .
A fine and worthy tribute to the late Liam O Flynn . I happened to be one of those sitting behind Liam’s wife Jane and as you finished the song, those of us lucky enough witnessed the moment you looked to her .Respect and great sadness in your eyes for your fallen friend.
I have been at many of your gigs but this one will stand out for me.
Thank you Christy
Barney
Barney, twas a very special night for me, for a host of reasons, mixed up emotions brought on by memories that came flooding back from distant nights, waiting for the Leinster Leader to see who was coming to play in Dreamland, then seeking the wherewithall, when John Flood got a Mini, the first one of us to have a car, the excitement of the anticipation, the trip across the Curragh and on out through Suncroft, seeing Brendan Bowyer, him driving us wild with his Hucklebuck, the slow dances, love in the heart (but murder in the trousars,) I looked out from the stage last night at the faces of so many listeners, thoughts of the thousands that thronged that venue 60 years ago…. of old buddies long since gone…
Thanks for posting Barney, you captured the very essence of last night’s fun
https://youtu.be/MjOrkZpsUVQ
if you get a minute give it a gander..martin
Thanks for sharing Martin…gonna try and share your song with John’s family
christy i hope you don’t mind but i would like to put in a wee shout for our live music festival in august in hawick, scottish borders,scotland.
myself and three pals are putting on our second annual music festival, and i would urge readers to check it out with website address hawickfest.scot or hawickfest.com
most of the shows are free and everyone from everywhere is welcome (except trump).
the festival has a range of great music in the wonderful town of hawick, once visited you will know why us locals proclaim that ‘a day out of hawick is a day wasted’.
the only thing lacking is an irish singer….what a great place for one of those fifty hours in 2019?
anyway,thanks for allowing me to hijack the guestbook.
Sound Rory,
Thank you the invite, regrets….
But I’ve no doubt that Hawick
will shake,rattle and roll,
will shimmy and shammy,
will boogie the night away
beneath the chandelier of feeling ..
Hi Christy , hope all is well. great to see you are doing the gig in Bray at the mermaid centre, lovely venue saw Declan and Vickie there a few years ago was a great gig, Liam clancy played a gig there i think in 2008 did not get to it..
been listing to the burning times album this evening , love listing to it.
any chance hearing motherland or mercy at Athy on Thursday
its a great song
See you in Dreamland
Adam
“Motherland” got a run out in Ballabunnon…..”Mercy” is a song I obsessed upon when learning, arranging and recording….yet it never transferred to the live set..I may have gigged it once or twice but it died on me in the live setting. I might get it out again..
That said,there is a lot going on here in the workroom at the moment..
I’m looking forward to “Dreamland”…it was the “Barrowland ” of my youth..there I heard Johnny Cash, Brendan Bowyer, Dominic Behan, Prince Vince, The Dixies,The Freshmen,Paragon 7,
we used to cycle from Newbridge to Athy, we’d dance, fantasise, fall in love, get stood up,..I recall riding home across the Curragh on my old Rudge (with 3 speed and dynamo) as the Sun rose from The East….more then once with a passenger on the bar of my bike..
see you in Athy Adam….
A yarn from Rory Makem…..
When I was about 11 or 12 years old, I started to dig into my fathers records. I very quickly devoured the Kingston Trio, the Tarriers, the Dubliners, Archie Fisher, the Corries, Ryan’s Fancy, the Bothy Band, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee. Two acts that always stood out were the Weavers, and Woody Guthrie. I kept going back to the Weavers and Woody.
The summer before I left for college, I went with my parents to see Pete Seeger at the Lowell Folk Festival. I was in awe. One man with a banjo, in front of 2,000 raptured people. After the show I was with my parents behind the stage. Toshi saw my mother and ran over to give her a hug, followed by my hero, Pete. That night I got to carry Pete’s 12-string to his Subaru.
Years later, I was on a tour of Ireland with my father. I asked him about his time in New York. One story had me in tears. In or about 1966, CBTM were at the height of their popularity. Woody Guthrie was dying of Huntington’s Chorea in a hospital in New Jersey. He had heard about the boys but had never met them. Pete was visiting Woody, and he asked about CBTM. A few days later, Pete asked my father if they would come out to the hospital to see Woody.
The next day, Tom, Paddy, Liam, and my father, all piled into Pete’s car and drove out to the hospital in New Jersey. They spent hours singing songs for Woody.
In a hospital room in New Jersey in 1966. It was just Pete Seeger, Tom Clancy, Paddy Clancy, Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem, singing songs for Woody Guthrie.
Amazing.
Thanks for posting this lovely reflection from Rory Makem….it stirs some personal memories of my own with CBTM,also of a comm I once recieved from Pete Seeger
Many thanks for the link to what Scotland thinks of the eejit wall builder, who thinks he is ‘scotch’.
Charlie was on the protest in Glasgow against his visit, proud of my lad.
America you gave us the hamburger president, america you know where you can shove your hamburger president.
Ah the protest song, such a fine medium.
All the best from scotchland
Now the Lunatics ARE in charge of the Asylum
I always figured you were playing some drop down tuning..now it all makes sense.. a friend of mine plays with her hand on the top of the neck and the guitar backwards..blew my nogging first time I saw it…it works for her…for me I regret I never learned lead guitar, .. like you, too late to change niw.
Richie Havens favoured the thumb too…of course, young Jimi bate all….
playing bodhrán can influence rhythm guitar playing..
Hi christy…just wondering out loud..if you were to start it all over in the music business would you still have done it the same way.. .and keeping in mind not too many artists will record unsolicited material…where does a songwriter go with his material….I’m not looking for contacts just some good old christy moore advise…murt
I really dont know..
I’ve never considered myself as a “songwriter”…more as a singer who wrote a few songs…in 50 years I have written maybe as many songs….far as I know, there have been a few covers but I never sought them…
If I was to start all over again I would change but one thing…I’d learn to tune my guitar properly from the outset..tuning the 6th to F (accidentally) set me off on a false tack that I have never managed to correct
i hope the lilywhites do the job for you today.
my pal cammy sent me the link to spancil hill on youtube, you and shane, special stuff ,and even though i had viewed it several times before, magical moments like that still send a tingle up the spine, let us hope for some on the park today.
Monaghan beat us in a slippery tussle
Limerick beat Kilkenny in a classic game of hurling
Kerry and Galway are at it now
as are Croatia and France
I’m exhausted trying to keep up with it all
https://www.facebook.com/1688775251348402/posts/2604154149810503/
Over that last few days on Facebook I had to pick one album and one artist that changed my life….. I could of pick 10 Christy moore albums that would of done that!!!!!!!!
. So tonight I’m listening to smoke and strong whiskey..
I remember this album being released as a 11 year old and my uncle Kevin playing in it in his mini as we Spun around the town…
This album is heading towards 30 years old and still sounds fresh and a lot of these songs still make the set list!!! I don’t have a favourite album But this is one of the special ones!!!!
The production on this album was second to none…
the process of making that album proved difficult,there were hard decisions along the way but,as you rightly say, many of the songs have stood the test of time…must give it a listen sometime…..I’ve always liked the sleeve….
May our Lily bloom this afternoon in Croke Park
“NEWBRIDGE OR NOWHERE”
Hey Christy. Thanks for the shout out tonight in BallyB. Really special. Fantastic night. Loved uncle Jimmys song- Sail on Christy and thanks again.
Fair play JimBob….Butterfly nearly got away on me
Never played the j 43, …kinda rare guitars…if you ever get to play a 1968 Alvarez yairi it’s a great sounding guitar.all handmade natural real wood no laminent…but your right ,can’t beat the takamine as a workhorse…
I think I’ve given up the search..when a man has more guitars then chords its time to re-access…I bought an ocarina at Dublin Zoo last year
Then we shall come to you…boo hoo! My 3 babies are 13, 15, 27 now…time to show them their roots…take them back to the Cathedral in Galway where we were married maybe catch a Christy Concert..I’ll plan it around your schedule!! It’s time! I write music as well maybe I’ll post you sometime…lol..we are listening to you now dancing in the kitchen! Viva LA Quinta!!! Cheers!
round the floor and mind the dresser