Dear Christy my husband, son and I are coming to see you soon in the Slieve Donard in Newcastle on friday 21st of September. I would like to request a song if I may be so bold! It’s the Reel in the Flickering Light. We have heard you play live many times and it would make my night to hear this. Regards Rosie Campbell.
Christy's reply
“Sez he,does she do her daily duties,you know we might be suited”
Glad to see you’re still selling out gigs. Any chance you can share some light for your London fans on when you’ll be taking a trip back to the big smoke?
Best,
Joe
Christy's reply
Hey Joe!
Thank You…London is scheduled for next May ..cant give dates yet as they are not confirmed but its pending and will be announced here asap…
Greetings, Christy. A quick one. Does ‘The Diamantina Drover’ ever get performed in your live shows these days.
I was hoping against hope for it in Ballybunion in July. Lovely tune.
All the best.
Christy's reply
Quadruple Gulp ….
I’ve just just checked Phil,
its 35 years since I recorded that song…gigged it briefly after its release but its one of the many songs that never took its place in the ongoing repertoire…happens frequently but sometimes songs are resurrected..”Flickering Light” from that album is making a comeback, usually sing “Blantyre” in Scotland…”Ordinary Man” is the only constant from that album, “Matty” has been quiet lately, “St Brendan” has sailed back of late, “Quiet Desperation” gets the occasional spin…”They never came Home” is always there or there abouts..the remaining songs dont get gigged BUT I still sing “Hard Cases” and “Continental Ceili” frequently at home and a Sound Checks…I’d love to gig them again ..time alone will tell
Saw a lovely concert last Sunday in the beautiful theatre in Dublins Liberty Hall. A FairPlé/Rising Tides event, a powerful gig that included Niamh Parsons, Emma Langford, Karen Casey, John Spillane, Donal Lunny, The Friel Sisters, Una Monaghan and many more..currently writing review of gig for next months Irish Music Magazine…it was a great gig…lots of pipes.
Wally still away in Spain, and back in The Annesley in October..hope all is great..L
Christy's reply
The Man from Passage continues to enthrall….his two songs were gems…
I just watched ‘raggle taggle gypsy’ planxty from the national stadium 1973, what a treat, what a line up, what hair!
And all played below a large sign invoking the masses to try the irish sweep for a huge prize of 200k punts! great times , and yet without the hair and with now some idiotic amount available with the euromillions i am sure the gathered tipp rabble will be raggle taggled on saturday , perhaps the galtee mountain boy may make an appearance as he wonderfully did last time i saw you and the lads play clonmel.
Regards rory
Christy's reply
getting ready to saddle up the old grey mare,
ride thru the night without a worry or a care
……….have the Tipp silks laid out ( and The Decies for the night before)…
……….ready for two bumpers
Hi Christy sorry it’s taken so long to thank you for a mighty night in Leisureland you and the band were in flying form fair play long may it continue thanks for the shout out and for playing The Voyage as I ‘ve said before I started going to see you in the early 80s and it was great on the Friday night to have all the family at the gig little did I think when I started I d be bringing my children to see all these years later and you are better than ever thanks again to you and band Paddy and crew and Hilary for making it all possible
Face the puck out
Christy's reply
Pace the fuck out Iggy..
it was a great buzz to see you and crew in the Hanger..
the tour is still running…great memories of our gigs together in CJ’s
lets have a mug a tae next time
Just watched Massacre at Ballymurphy …a powerful and moving documentary. Fair play to Channel 4. It shows a slogan ‘Is there life after death’…painted on a wall on the Falls Road…that wall now encases Coláiste Feirste. More than a ‘pair of brown eyes’ wept at this. Mary
Christy's reply
just watched “I Dolours” and “Black 47”
have “The Ballymurphy Massacre” recorded
CM (73)
The blue tick goes after your name on Facebook and Twitter to verify you are really Christy Moore. This way any imposter attempt will fail because only the real CM has the tick.
The shrews were actualy pygmy shrews.Maybe you saw one ?There was great comotion.I phoned dado and he said if they are mice they wont come out from under the counter for days.
He also said if they are pygmey shrews (that they travel like a train holding onto each others tails!!!) they will be out within 3-4 hours because they die without food.
Sure enough 4 hours later here they were, half dead with the hunger holding onto each others tails making for the door like it was nobodys business.Apparently dadó Barna says there is a larger British version with posionous teeth! But the Irish ones are no harm.!The field mouse is like a mouse but kind of smaller and reddish.The pygmey shrew is called “dallóg fraoigh” and i also heard it called “luch fhèir”
It reminded dado of a song about a shrew that ate a lads clothes! Must be a British shrew! I found his song here. http://old.tg4.ie/ie/programmes/archive/colm-jimmy-ó-curraoin/an-luch-a-ghearr-an-píosa-sean-nós-na-bhfear-2016.html
CS (13)
PS I hope carlow goes well.
I highly recommend the feature film “Black ’47” I saw a preview a few months back.So much fun to be part of it even if the “swineherd” ended up on the editing floor. Slán go fóil
Christy's reply
CS (13)
Thanks for the singing of Jimmy Ó Curraoin……and for all the varieties of shrews and field mice….they must be some sight tearing out the door, head to tail,mad with the hunger…
Yes, we are waiting to see “Black 47″…. also a film called “Dolours”, its about the life of the late Dolours Price,…….
Also good to know that I need not be offended if anyone calls me a blue “thick”..
Carlow went well last night..just tuning up here now to do it all one more time tonight..
Last night the audience were quite restrained at the beginning but loosened up as the gig proceeded..in earlier decades I’d panic if an audience showed signs of restraint but these times I can go with the mood of the night…when I came out for an encore last night I delivered “Magdalen Laundry”,……..at the end there was a lengthy silence..it seemed interminable until I quietly said “thank you” and broke the silence whereupon the audience responded generously….
Such a silence has occurred maybe a dozen times in over 50 years….sometimes at the end of “Anne Lovett”song…. once in Waterford after “Bright Blue Rose”..I always consider these moments to be sacred
(altho a cynical brother-in-law of mine has suggested that the audience might not have liked the particular song… but the same lad would say anything to start an argument)
Thats it for now Mhaicín…..I hope the music is going well for you
I sent on an email yesterday.
My sister in Glasgow has got my Dad tickets for the Concert hall but she was meant to get Barrowland tickets.
These have now sold out.
Can you assist, hes prior arrangements on the night of the concert hall.
Best wishes
Christy's reply
I’m working on it..its not as simple as you might think..I’m only the singer in this outfit, there are managers, agents, promoters, venue staff and ticketing involved in every gig , all different agencies, I’m here trying to practice, to play the guitar, to be ready … if it can be done, I will do it..but I need a time
CM (73)
Just popping by to say COMHAIRDEACHAS OR CONGRATULATIONS on getting verified or more commonly known as “THE BLUE TICK”.
Not only do you have it on twitter but on facebook aswell no less!
So much better than that OBE you mention quite often,
CS(13 8/9)
P.S.
Much excitement in the kitchen last night picking a head of lettuce from the garden seemed to bring in THREE shrews .
They hid under the counter for HOURS ,and finally came out and with much encouragement flipped their legs out the door.
Now I know whats been doing damage in the giant marrow patch.!
Christy's reply
I admire your mighty marrow but I have no idea what a blue tick is …. might it be a Fine Gael flea ?
I’ve heard of shrews but dont know if I have ever seen one..is it a field mouse?
I looked over my shoulder but not for long.
no place to look when your writing a song,
songs have heart,body and soul,
you put one down
and another song is born..
your right, bad spake.think I was just thinking bout new country..you have to admit the three chords and the truth no longer holds true…trouble is I’m frusterated with myself, not a good place to be for any brain… I spent all summer just wandering looking for inspiration and I did find some… it comes in weird and wonderfull ways sometimes…tanks for your candid reply .I do appreciate that….
Christy's reply
3 chords and the truth, assembled and lovingly caressed into verse, into music and song ,will out-trump and outlive most popular songs of the day.
There are ancient songs,some with as few as 2 chords, that have survived a thousand years across the ages..
Hope you regain some peace of mind…there is nothing more valuable…go easy on yourself
hi christy.. I’m back in the land of crocodiles ,sun and weird grass. I was going through all the stuff I’ve written,some slow,some fast,even the odd waltz….I’m beginning to believe I’m missing something, should a song be a story,a political statement,or as is the case with the modern stuff just gibberish with a catchy melody. I’m not having any luck pitching my material, in your infinate wisdom could you tell me what road to take..or not..
Christy's reply
Morra Murt,
I’m afraid theres no infinite wisdom here….
“modern stuff just gibberish” is a fierce spake, ….and you a modern writer,
all we can do is our best, to achieve that we gotta work at it and then work at it some more
its more about writing the song you want to write , need to write
its less about “pitching”
If I’m writing “to Pitch” it means I’m trying to write a song someone else might like……
I prefer to to try and write a song that I believe in, that I like…even if I only sing it to myself
” I looked over my shoulder but not for too long
its no place to look when you’re writing a song….
Songs have heart,body and soul
you put one down and another song is born”
Introduced to your amazing talent by friends while on our first visit to Ireland.
At 70 yrs old I have never written a fan letter but I have a unique twist to my appreciation. Have purchased/downloaded many of your recordings to listen while I enjoy boating around Vancouver Island. This past summer I caught many fish BUT ONLY while listening to your music. No other artist contributed to my fate. ??
Christy's reply
Morra Tazzman,
Welcome aboard…
Sounds like you’re hooked.. I took the bait in 1962 when I first heard Liam Clancy
Boating around Vancouver, rod in hand, reeling them in with a nice burgandy, humming an old Hibernian tune…..sounds like 70 is a good time for you
at 73 I’m still slaving over a hot guitar….feverishly chasing down some new songs..tearing from gig to gig terrified lest I lose my mojo
Arlo Guthrie compares songwriting to fishing downstream from Bob Dylan…Arlo calls out to Bob “Hey Bob, throw the small ones back in”
I loved my two gigs in Vancouver…met some delightful people there ( and a few right loopers !) Played twice in The Commodore….almost met Robert De Niro
Christy , any chance you will be coming to London ?
Christy's reply
hopefully towards the end of next May…
still waiting patiently to get confirmation from our preferred venue..
but patience is wearing thin…
and there are so many fine alternative venues in London..
hope to have definite news soon
Hey Christy, hope all’s good. Two of my many sisters made there way out to Dun Laoghraire last week to see the gig and they really loved it, especially “Sail on Jimmy”, I had been telling them about the song as our dad was Jimmy also…They send me a few whatsapps throughout so I was really there in spirit with them and yourself indeed. Great stuff…
Christy's reply
its a lucky man that has “many” sisters…
Keep on truckin the big apple
Kick on christy ,kick on. You have ridden out your claim a while ago in those handicaps on the pavements ,and deserve the listed and classic venues ( as well as the odd laytown appearance) that you and declan are racing and winning at now. All the best,
Rory
i am heart felt sorry that i wont be joining the kinanes of cashel to see you in clonmel next week ,as they travel from the blue to the cider, have a great gig christy.
returning to an old theme, do you hanker for a wee unanounced pop up appearance on the streets ,with a crowd of the interested, bewildered and gawking all around you? thrashing it out on the pavements of a surprised wee town with only the sound of vapourisers and loose change to accompany the solo guitar.
regards rory
Christy's reply
Rory,
Declan and I will do our very best in Cluan Meala for the Cashel Blue Brigade..
I spent a lot of time in the 1960s thrashing it out upon the streets ( claiming 7lbs apprentice allowance)….forever popping up at gigs hoping for sustenance and shelter…
these are different times…50 years on I have a band and back up team..we work together..we rely upon each other…for decades I “hankered” after what has emerged..I’m gonna try and hold on to it as long as I can..
Hi Christy,
Delighted you are returning to the Park Hotel in Clonmel on the 15th. We are really looking forward to seeing and hearing you again. I know this tour is to promote “On the Road” but is there any chance you might add “Little Musgrave” to your playlist. It’s been years since I heard you giving it the lash. If you do fit it in could you dedicate it to the crew from Ardfinnan. Not to worry if you can’t.
Take care a while..Kindest Regards..John O Neill
Christy's reply
“I’d gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder plain”
Dear Christy my husband, son and I are coming to see you soon in the Slieve Donard in Newcastle on friday 21st of September. I would like to request a song if I may be so bold! It’s the Reel in the Flickering Light. We have heard you play live many times and it would make my night to hear this. Regards Rosie Campbell.
“Sez he,does she do her daily duties,you know we might be suited”
Christy,
Hope things are all well?
Glad to see you’re still selling out gigs. Any chance you can share some light for your London fans on when you’ll be taking a trip back to the big smoke?
Best,
Joe
Hey Joe!
Thank You…London is scheduled for next May ..cant give dates yet as they are not confirmed but its pending and will be announced here asap…
Greetings, Christy. A quick one. Does ‘The Diamantina Drover’ ever get performed in your live shows these days.
I was hoping against hope for it in Ballybunion in July. Lovely tune.
All the best.
Quadruple Gulp ….
I’ve just just checked Phil,
its 35 years since I recorded that song…gigged it briefly after its release but its one of the many songs that never took its place in the ongoing repertoire…happens frequently but sometimes songs are resurrected..”Flickering Light” from that album is making a comeback, usually sing “Blantyre” in Scotland…”Ordinary Man” is the only constant from that album, “Matty” has been quiet lately, “St Brendan” has sailed back of late, “Quiet Desperation” gets the occasional spin…”They never came Home” is always there or there abouts..the remaining songs dont get gigged BUT I still sing “Hard Cases” and “Continental Ceili” frequently at home and a Sound Checks…I’d love to gig them again ..time alone will tell
How’s all…hope OK to post a note here about an upcoming gig in Booterstowns ‘Seaview Sessions’
The Hit Factory himself, John Spillane plays on Thursday 27th Sept.
ticket here:https://www.ticketweb.ie/event/john-spillane-live-in-booterstown-the-seaview-sessions-tickets/8338265
Saw a lovely concert last Sunday in the beautiful theatre in Dublins Liberty Hall. A FairPlé/Rising Tides event, a powerful gig that included Niamh Parsons, Emma Langford, Karen Casey, John Spillane, Donal Lunny, The Friel Sisters, Una Monaghan and many more..currently writing review of gig for next months Irish Music Magazine…it was a great gig…lots of pipes.
Wally still away in Spain, and back in The Annesley in October..hope all is great..L
The Man from Passage continues to enthrall….his two songs were gems…
I just watched ‘raggle taggle gypsy’ planxty from the national stadium 1973, what a treat, what a line up, what hair!
And all played below a large sign invoking the masses to try the irish sweep for a huge prize of 200k punts! great times , and yet without the hair and with now some idiotic amount available with the euromillions i am sure the gathered tipp rabble will be raggle taggled on saturday , perhaps the galtee mountain boy may make an appearance as he wonderfully did last time i saw you and the lads play clonmel.
Regards rory
getting ready to saddle up the old grey mare,
ride thru the night without a worry or a care
……….have the Tipp silks laid out ( and The Decies for the night before)…
……….ready for two bumpers
Hi Christy sorry it’s taken so long to thank you for a mighty night in Leisureland you and the band were in flying form fair play long may it continue thanks for the shout out and for playing The Voyage as I ‘ve said before I started going to see you in the early 80s and it was great on the Friday night to have all the family at the gig little did I think when I started I d be bringing my children to see all these years later and you are better than ever thanks again to you and band Paddy and crew and Hilary for making it all possible
Face the puck out
Pace the fuck out Iggy..
it was a great buzz to see you and crew in the Hanger..
the tour is still running…great memories of our gigs together in CJ’s
lets have a mug a tae next time
(sneaking away from work online to catch upon Christy stuff)…any plans to revisit Downunder Christy?
get back to work there for jasus sake…I hear the economy is going down the tubes up there in Oz and the Summer will soon be batin down on ye
Just watched Massacre at Ballymurphy …a powerful and moving documentary. Fair play to Channel 4. It shows a slogan ‘Is there life after death’…painted on a wall on the Falls Road…that wall now encases Coláiste Feirste. More than a ‘pair of brown eyes’ wept at this. Mary
just watched “I Dolours” and “Black 47”
have “The Ballymurphy Massacre” recorded
CM (73)
The blue tick goes after your name on Facebook and Twitter to verify you are really Christy Moore. This way any imposter attempt will fail because only the real CM has the tick.
The shrews were actualy pygmy shrews.Maybe you saw one ?There was great comotion.I phoned dado and he said if they are mice they wont come out from under the counter for days.
He also said if they are pygmey shrews (that they travel like a train holding onto each others tails!!!) they will be out within 3-4 hours because they die without food.
Sure enough 4 hours later here they were, half dead with the hunger holding onto each others tails making for the door like it was nobodys business.Apparently dadó Barna says there is a larger British version with posionous teeth! But the Irish ones are no harm.!The field mouse is like a mouse but kind of smaller and reddish.The pygmey shrew is called “dallóg fraoigh” and i also heard it called “luch fhèir”
It reminded dado of a song about a shrew that ate a lads clothes! Must be a British shrew! I found his song here.
http://old.tg4.ie/ie/programmes/archive/colm-jimmy-ó-curraoin/an-luch-a-ghearr-an-píosa-sean-nós-na-bhfear-2016.html
CS (13)
PS I hope carlow goes well.
I highly recommend the feature film “Black ’47” I saw a preview a few months back.So much fun to be part of it even if the “swineherd” ended up on the editing floor. Slán go fóil
CS (13)
Thanks for the singing of Jimmy Ó Curraoin……and for all the varieties of shrews and field mice….they must be some sight tearing out the door, head to tail,mad with the hunger…
Yes, we are waiting to see “Black 47″…. also a film called “Dolours”, its about the life of the late Dolours Price,…….
Also good to know that I need not be offended if anyone calls me a blue “thick”..
Carlow went well last night..just tuning up here now to do it all one more time tonight..
Last night the audience were quite restrained at the beginning but loosened up as the gig proceeded..in earlier decades I’d panic if an audience showed signs of restraint but these times I can go with the mood of the night…when I came out for an encore last night I delivered “Magdalen Laundry”,……..at the end there was a lengthy silence..it seemed interminable until I quietly said “thank you” and broke the silence whereupon the audience responded generously….
Such a silence has occurred maybe a dozen times in over 50 years….sometimes at the end of “Anne Lovett”song…. once in Waterford after “Bright Blue Rose”..I always consider these moments to be sacred
(altho a cynical brother-in-law of mine has suggested that the audience might not have liked the particular song… but the same lad would say anything to start an argument)
Thats it for now Mhaicín…..I hope the music is going well for you
CM(73)
Hi Christy,
Hope your keeping well.
I sent on an email yesterday.
My sister in Glasgow has got my Dad tickets for the Concert hall but she was meant to get Barrowland tickets.
These have now sold out.
Can you assist, hes prior arrangements on the night of the concert hall.
Best wishes
I’m working on it..its not as simple as you might think..I’m only the singer in this outfit, there are managers, agents, promoters, venue staff and ticketing involved in every gig , all different agencies, I’m here trying to practice, to play the guitar, to be ready … if it can be done, I will do it..but I need a time
CM (73)
Just popping by to say COMHAIRDEACHAS OR CONGRATULATIONS on getting verified or more commonly known as “THE BLUE TICK”.
Not only do you have it on twitter but on facebook aswell no less!
So much better than that OBE you mention quite often,
CS(13 8/9)
P.S.
Much excitement in the kitchen last night picking a head of lettuce from the garden seemed to bring in THREE shrews .
They hid under the counter for HOURS ,and finally came out and with much encouragement flipped their legs out the door.
Now I know whats been doing damage in the giant marrow patch.!
I admire your mighty marrow but I have no idea what a blue tick is …. might it be a Fine Gael flea ?
I’ve heard of shrews but dont know if I have ever seen one..is it a field mouse?
I looked over my shoulder but not for long.
no place to look when your writing a song,
songs have heart,body and soul,
you put one down
and another song is born..
I just know exactly how that feels. lovely.
your right, bad spake.think I was just thinking bout new country..you have to admit the three chords and the truth no longer holds true…trouble is I’m frusterated with myself, not a good place to be for any brain… I spent all summer just wandering looking for inspiration and I did find some… it comes in weird and wonderfull ways sometimes…tanks for your candid reply .I do appreciate that….
3 chords and the truth, assembled and lovingly caressed into verse, into music and song ,will out-trump and outlive most popular songs of the day.
There are ancient songs,some with as few as 2 chords, that have survived a thousand years across the ages..
Hope you regain some peace of mind…there is nothing more valuable…go easy on yourself
“Green Grows The Lily O
Right among The Bushes O”
hi christy.. I’m back in the land of crocodiles ,sun and weird grass. I was going through all the stuff I’ve written,some slow,some fast,even the odd waltz….I’m beginning to believe I’m missing something, should a song be a story,a political statement,or as is the case with the modern stuff just gibberish with a catchy melody. I’m not having any luck pitching my material, in your infinate wisdom could you tell me what road to take..or not..
Morra Murt,
I’m afraid theres no infinite wisdom here….
“modern stuff just gibberish” is a fierce spake, ….and you a modern writer,
all we can do is our best, to achieve that we gotta work at it and then work at it some more
its more about writing the song you want to write , need to write
its less about “pitching”
If I’m writing “to Pitch” it means I’m trying to write a song someone else might like……
I prefer to to try and write a song that I believe in, that I like…even if I only sing it to myself
” I looked over my shoulder but not for too long
its no place to look when you’re writing a song….
Songs have heart,body and soul
you put one down and another song is born”
Introduced to your amazing talent by friends while on our first visit to Ireland.
At 70 yrs old I have never written a fan letter but I have a unique twist to my appreciation. Have purchased/downloaded many of your recordings to listen while I enjoy boating around Vancouver Island. This past summer I caught many fish BUT ONLY while listening to your music. No other artist contributed to my fate. ??
Morra Tazzman,
Welcome aboard…
Sounds like you’re hooked.. I took the bait in 1962 when I first heard Liam Clancy
Boating around Vancouver, rod in hand, reeling them in with a nice burgandy, humming an old Hibernian tune…..sounds like 70 is a good time for you
at 73 I’m still slaving over a hot guitar….feverishly chasing down some new songs..tearing from gig to gig terrified lest I lose my mojo
Arlo Guthrie compares songwriting to fishing downstream from Bob Dylan…Arlo calls out to Bob “Hey Bob, throw the small ones back in”
I loved my two gigs in Vancouver…met some delightful people there ( and a few right loopers !) Played twice in The Commodore….almost met Robert De Niro
Christy , any chance you will be coming to London ?
hopefully towards the end of next May…
still waiting patiently to get confirmation from our preferred venue..
but patience is wearing thin…
and there are so many fine alternative venues in London..
hope to have definite news soon
Hey Christy, hope all’s good. Two of my many sisters made there way out to Dun Laoghraire last week to see the gig and they really loved it, especially “Sail on Jimmy”, I had been telling them about the song as our dad was Jimmy also…They send me a few whatsapps throughout so I was really there in spirit with them and yourself indeed. Great stuff…
its a lucky man that has “many” sisters…
Keep on truckin the big apple
Kick on christy ,kick on. You have ridden out your claim a while ago in those handicaps on the pavements ,and deserve the listed and classic venues ( as well as the odd laytown appearance) that you and declan are racing and winning at now. All the best,
Rory
i am heart felt sorry that i wont be joining the kinanes of cashel to see you in clonmel next week ,as they travel from the blue to the cider, have a great gig christy.
returning to an old theme, do you hanker for a wee unanounced pop up appearance on the streets ,with a crowd of the interested, bewildered and gawking all around you? thrashing it out on the pavements of a surprised wee town with only the sound of vapourisers and loose change to accompany the solo guitar.
regards rory
Rory,
Declan and I will do our very best in Cluan Meala for the Cashel Blue Brigade..
I spent a lot of time in the 1960s thrashing it out upon the streets ( claiming 7lbs apprentice allowance)….forever popping up at gigs hoping for sustenance and shelter…
these are different times…50 years on I have a band and back up team..we work together..we rely upon each other…for decades I “hankered” after what has emerged..I’m gonna try and hold on to it as long as I can..
Hi Christy,
Delighted you are returning to the Park Hotel in Clonmel on the 15th. We are really looking forward to seeing and hearing you again. I know this tour is to promote “On the Road” but is there any chance you might add “Little Musgrave” to your playlist. It’s been years since I heard you giving it the lash. If you do fit it in could you dedicate it to the crew from Ardfinnan. Not to worry if you can’t.
Take care a while..Kindest Regards..John O Neill
“I’d gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder plain”