Hi there Christy. Really looking forward to Lough Rynn tomorrow night. I am attending with my best friend who has just got out of hospital last week. We are both massive fans and attended the John Reilly tribute in Boyle a while back which we loved.. Her favourite is Beeswing. Would love to hear it live. All the best. Can’t wait
Dear Christy,
I trust that you are thriving.
My son (Fingal) and my daughter (Caragh) have loved your music ever since they were enchanted by the Reel in the Flickering Light as youngsters.
At my son’s wedding two weeks past, my daughter read The Voyage. This ballad brought many to tears and even caused the Minister to become a fan.
Again, we’ll all be in Edinburgh on the 1st to give you a warm welcome.
Take it Easy and many thanks for everything,
Peter
Christy's reply
The mention of St Andrews brings me back to a Folk Club called “The Mucky Byre”…first visited with Hamish Imlach back in 1968… subsequently got booked to play there…back then there was a week long series of gigs in Fife….”The Elbow Room” in Kircaldy was another famous club…there I played support to Pentangle..used to hang out in Torbane where a “Folk” commune had settled in… met Josh McCrea, High Speed Grass, Gerry Rafferty, Jimmy Hutchinson, Sara Gray, Rab Noakes, Paddie Bell, Barbara Dickson, Aly Bain, Mike Whellans in Torbane….it was a learning time, a crazy time,long since passed but well remembered
Dear Christy,
Hope this finds you well. We are happy to be back to Erin’s green shores and already enjoyed sunny days in the south-east. But now there’s drizzle and rain in Co. Sligo … Anyway, we are looking forward to your gigs at Lough Rynn and Claremorris! If Folk Tale is still in mothballs it would be grand to get to hear you sing Burning Times.
Best wishes,
Traudel + Horst
Christy's reply
“The Grehan Sisters” used to sing a song that began
“As I roamed by the shores of Lough Gara”
I’ve not heard it for 50 years….
Just finished listening to the podcast with Danny and Mero…hungry for more, heading onto Ticketmaster to have a look….surely an auld night out between this and the Barrowlands isn’t out of the question!!!!
Christy's reply
Take it easy and dont be overdoing the balladeering
After a few false starts it’s looking good for a trip to Mohill. Seems a long time since the Hawks Well gigs in June. Anyway, they say Leitrim is a very funny place Sir.
Christy's reply
We’ll see you in lively Leitrim …..just loading up the creel here….the pannier is full of verses..Dr Sinnott may be dropping in to take my temperature…..
Johnny don’t go to Ballincollig with The Dunnes Stores Girl, stay here in Passage West and we’ll be brilliant watching the Dance of The Cherry Trees…
He was fantastic as usual, fifth time here in Booterstown, and he was our very first artist, so I have a new stage built, officially named ‘The John Spillane Stage’….get off me stage boy he said…he led us on a trip through the years and songs, he was on fire, who’s gonna stop him like, the hit factory like, and he left us in a blaze of glory…out the door like a shot.
Luka Bloom Oct 17th and The 4 Of Us Oct 18th..thanks for letting me post here.
Waldo back from his summer break, and back in The Annesley on 12th..L
Christy's reply
Johnny has some beautiful new songs on the way….its always a pleasure to hear his verses flow…..recently I heard him sing 2 songs at the Fair Plé gig in Liberty Hall….lovely hurlin….every now and then he’ll share a new song with me….always a good day..
er fol de dol doh a Sheáin, ar fol de dol day….
Good evenin, a nice Sunday here, for I’ve just listened to a great show on RTÉ there about Tom Munnelly and his recordigs, the presenter revisited family members of people Tom had originally recorded , and then played them back those recordings to the families, it’s a lovely show, and now Ruth Smith has her folk show on…but the day started well, coz over me eggs this mornin’ I had a lovely hour listening to Merro, Yourself and Danny on their great podcast called What’s The Story..what a nice chat to listen in on..fair play all on a lovely hour..whats the story git..L
Christy's reply
all good Larball
how did Johnny Spillane get on at Seaview session?
I was in the studio that day trying to develop a sountrack for afilm we are working on..thought I’d finish in time to catch the Lad from Gortatagort but time went agin me
an old man said to a young boy.
inside me are two wolfs,
one is jealous, cruel ,revengfull, and filled with rage,.
the other is kind, remorsfull, and filled with kindness..
which one is winning said the boy.
” the one I feed” said the old man…
Christy's reply
the cancer of Resentment and Hatred….the sustenance of Love and Compassion
Christy,
You mentioned your gigs in Germany, with standing ovations and endless encores … I surely regret having missed your early gigs in Hamburg but am grateful for witnessing your latest (hopefully not last) concert in Hamburg in October 2011. The venue then was probably not the best choice – our Congress Centre (CCH) is quite sober and dull, lacking atmosphere.
Your reminiscence made me think about the venues we have in Hamburg these days. The Markthalle still exists, and we have seen there The Waterboys and Altan some time ago.
The Musikhalle has been renamed Laeiszhalle (even we can’t proncounce the word …). This used to be Hamburg’s No. 1 venue for classical concerts, maybe like the National Concert Hall in Dublin. But the (admittedly) magnificent new Elbphilharmonie has stolen the limelight from her a bit. The Musikhalle seems to me now like a famous ageing actress who was once a stunning beauty and is now standing in the shadow of an ambitious young shooting star. The young one is now getting all the headlines (and famous musicians).
Your brother Barry has always preferred the Fabrik when doing his regular gigs in Hamburg. This is an unpretending old factory building, a bit ragged and tattered but with remarkable vibes. At times you can still feel the presence of all the music legends performing here throughout the decades. Think you would like it.
But I’m dreaming … If you don’t come to Hamburg again (or other places in Germany) we will see you in Ireland. Promised.
Christy's reply
I love to play those well trodden venues….to remember the players of old and to sense their presence….
Personally I would always choose the old venues but the choice is seldom mine (unless I am playing here in Ireland where I can decide )
I like the way you attach gender to the venues you name….doubtless some will find offence….I did enjoy Musikhalle, I enjoyed the warm embrace of her audience, The Markethalle remains my fondest Hamburg memory,
Way back I also played Ulli’s Sviebel and celebrated all night in Fasan’s Kniepe…
My brother Barry ( Luka) always speaks of Fabrik……
Thank you for refreshing the memories Petra…
Hi Christy, on my travels in Korea. Love your music and try to get as many as I can to listen to it. Thank you from a man who started life in Curragh of Kildare up at Ballysax and Cutbush. All the best and hope to see you in Manchester some time (That’s home nowadays when I get there) Cy
Christy's reply
Greetings Cy, wherever you may be….
we carry the old sod in our hearts and minds no matter where we roam….
just reading your post reminds me of those days spent upon The Plains….
cycling to The Camp, gathering mushrooms, romancing in Donnolly’s Hollow, watching The Scramblers,Pitching & Putting,backing the GeeGees, walking The Gallops,
“From Hawkfield and Kilbelin, Chinatown and Rosy’s Lane,
scattered round the world we dreamt of coming home again.
From The Rocks of Sydney Harbour, The Bronx and Birmingham,
to The Sandy Hills, The Seven Springs, The Waters of The Fen”….
Hi, Christy, is there any chance you will be in Holland in the near future? My late husband was a big fan of yours, and so am I! Love your music. Greetings from Middelburg, Caecilia van Kempen
Did I hear rumour of you returning to London next year? It’s my dad’s 70th in April and I have fond memories of my first ever ‘foreign’ holidays to Ireland driving around his old haunts with your music on the cd (or maybe it was cassette!) player.
We lost touch for a good 15 years in the middle and have been back in touch for the last couple, which made your music all the more poignant in the intervening years.
I’d love to get him tickets for his 70th and, in fact, I could be tempted to get myself one too….!
Christy's reply
Heading back over towards the end of May…. hopefully we’ll be let in…
Would love to see you in Vancouver sometime soon… the rest of Ireland is here already! Any Canada/North America plans any time soon? Missed you by a day last time we were in Ireland.
Sean
Christy's reply
Hey Sean,
Mention of Vancouver always evokes good memories….had 2 good gigs there way back in the mists of time…sorry to say I wont be back…firmly ensconced on the home patch these past two decades having developed a fear and hatred of air travel….we make occasional voyages to Holyhead and Cairnryan, thats the extent of “foreign” touring these days…..luckily work is plentiful here, Last 2 nights in Newcastle, Co.Down and Armagh City…..next up Lough Rynn Co. Leitrim and Claremorris Co.Mayo.
I thoroughly enjoyed those earlier years of Foreign travel… these later years I gotta stick to the Blue Tar Road …
sending best wishes to all songsters in that beautiful City and beyond….
PS…my trips to Canada were always organised by Colm O’Brien and Mick Casey,two legendary impresarios….any relation ?
Hi christy,
We’re visiting from australia. Saw you last night in Amargh then again tonight. Its the first time since you last visited Melbourne. Would be great if you could sing “the Diamantina drover” it was the fist song we heard you sing. Hugh McDonald who wrote it sadly died earlier this year way before his time. We would love to hear it in his memory. Robert and Kim.
Christy's reply
Welcome Robert & Kim….Thanks for your note….
Regrets we wont be able to play your request…. Its been 20 years since I last sang Hugh’s beautiful song……
Hi there Christy. Really looking forward to Lough Rynn tomorrow night. I am attending with my best friend who has just got out of hospital last week. We are both massive fans and attended the John Reilly tribute in Boyle a while back which we loved.. Her favourite is Beeswing. Would love to hear it live. All the best. Can’t wait
your nameless best friend !!
Dear Christy,
I trust that you are thriving.
My son (Fingal) and my daughter (Caragh) have loved your music ever since they were enchanted by the Reel in the Flickering Light as youngsters.
At my son’s wedding two weeks past, my daughter read The Voyage. This ballad brought many to tears and even caused the Minister to become a fan.
Again, we’ll all be in Edinburgh on the 1st to give you a warm welcome.
Take it Easy and many thanks for everything,
Peter
The mention of St Andrews brings me back to a Folk Club called “The Mucky Byre”…first visited with Hamish Imlach back in 1968… subsequently got booked to play there…back then there was a week long series of gigs in Fife….”The Elbow Room” in Kircaldy was another famous club…there I played support to Pentangle..used to hang out in Torbane where a “Folk” commune had settled in… met Josh McCrea, High Speed Grass, Gerry Rafferty, Jimmy Hutchinson, Sara Gray, Rab Noakes, Paddie Bell, Barbara Dickson, Aly Bain, Mike Whellans in Torbane….it was a learning time, a crazy time,long since passed but well remembered
Dear Christy,
Hope this finds you well. We are happy to be back to Erin’s green shores and already enjoyed sunny days in the south-east. But now there’s drizzle and rain in Co. Sligo … Anyway, we are looking forward to your gigs at Lough Rynn and Claremorris! If Folk Tale is still in mothballs it would be grand to get to hear you sing Burning Times.
Best wishes,
Traudel + Horst
“The Grehan Sisters” used to sing a song that began
“As I roamed by the shores of Lough Gara”
I’ve not heard it for 50 years….
Just finished listening to the podcast with Danny and Mero…hungry for more, heading onto Ticketmaster to have a look….surely an auld night out between this and the Barrowlands isn’t out of the question!!!!
Take it easy and dont be overdoing the balladeering
Stuck out a new one today, hope all’s well with ye Christy, Dylan
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NzeX2QQEOFI&feature=youtu.be
We’re hard at it here Dylan,
hoping the posters arrive before the soundcheck.
After a few false starts it’s looking good for a trip to Mohill. Seems a long time since the Hawks Well gigs in June. Anyway, they say Leitrim is a very funny place Sir.
We’ll see you in lively Leitrim …..just loading up the creel here….the pannier is full of verses..Dr Sinnott may be dropping in to take my temperature…..
Johnny don’t go to Ballincollig with The Dunnes Stores Girl, stay here in Passage West and we’ll be brilliant watching the Dance of The Cherry Trees…
He was fantastic as usual, fifth time here in Booterstown, and he was our very first artist, so I have a new stage built, officially named ‘The John Spillane Stage’….get off me stage boy he said…he led us on a trip through the years and songs, he was on fire, who’s gonna stop him like, the hit factory like, and he left us in a blaze of glory…out the door like a shot.
Luka Bloom Oct 17th and The 4 Of Us Oct 18th..thanks for letting me post here.
Waldo back from his summer break, and back in The Annesley on 12th..L
Johnny has some beautiful new songs on the way….its always a pleasure to hear his verses flow…..recently I heard him sing 2 songs at the Fair Plé gig in Liberty Hall….lovely hurlin….every now and then he’ll share a new song with me….always a good day..
er fol de dol doh a Sheáin, ar fol de dol day….
Good evenin, a nice Sunday here, for I’ve just listened to a great show on RTÉ there about Tom Munnelly and his recordigs, the presenter revisited family members of people Tom had originally recorded , and then played them back those recordings to the families, it’s a lovely show, and now Ruth Smith has her folk show on…but the day started well, coz over me eggs this mornin’ I had a lovely hour listening to Merro, Yourself and Danny on their great podcast called What’s The Story..what a nice chat to listen in on..fair play all on a lovely hour..whats the story git..L
all good Larball
how did Johnny Spillane get on at Seaview session?
I was in the studio that day trying to develop a sountrack for afilm we are working on..thought I’d finish in time to catch the Lad from Gortatagort but time went agin me
Slainte Christy.. wish there was a way you were reachable.. think we could talk alot
I am….we are…
thaught you may like this.
an old man said to a young boy.
inside me are two wolfs,
one is jealous, cruel ,revengfull, and filled with rage,.
the other is kind, remorsfull, and filled with kindness..
which one is winning said the boy.
” the one I feed” said the old man…
the cancer of Resentment and Hatred….the sustenance of Love and Compassion
Christy,
You mentioned your gigs in Germany, with standing ovations and endless encores … I surely regret having missed your early gigs in Hamburg but am grateful for witnessing your latest (hopefully not last) concert in Hamburg in October 2011. The venue then was probably not the best choice – our Congress Centre (CCH) is quite sober and dull, lacking atmosphere.
Your reminiscence made me think about the venues we have in Hamburg these days. The Markthalle still exists, and we have seen there The Waterboys and Altan some time ago.
The Musikhalle has been renamed Laeiszhalle (even we can’t proncounce the word …). This used to be Hamburg’s No. 1 venue for classical concerts, maybe like the National Concert Hall in Dublin. But the (admittedly) magnificent new Elbphilharmonie has stolen the limelight from her a bit. The Musikhalle seems to me now like a famous ageing actress who was once a stunning beauty and is now standing in the shadow of an ambitious young shooting star. The young one is now getting all the headlines (and famous musicians).
Your brother Barry has always preferred the Fabrik when doing his regular gigs in Hamburg. This is an unpretending old factory building, a bit ragged and tattered but with remarkable vibes. At times you can still feel the presence of all the music legends performing here throughout the decades. Think you would like it.
But I’m dreaming … If you don’t come to Hamburg again (or other places in Germany) we will see you in Ireland. Promised.
I love to play those well trodden venues….to remember the players of old and to sense their presence….
Personally I would always choose the old venues but the choice is seldom mine (unless I am playing here in Ireland where I can decide )
I like the way you attach gender to the venues you name….doubtless some will find offence….I did enjoy Musikhalle, I enjoyed the warm embrace of her audience, The Markethalle remains my fondest Hamburg memory,
Way back I also played Ulli’s Sviebel and celebrated all night in Fasan’s Kniepe…
My brother Barry ( Luka) always speaks of Fabrik……
Thank you for refreshing the memories Petra…
Hi Christy, on my travels in Korea. Love your music and try to get as many as I can to listen to it. Thank you from a man who started life in Curragh of Kildare up at Ballysax and Cutbush. All the best and hope to see you in Manchester some time (That’s home nowadays when I get there) Cy
Greetings Cy, wherever you may be….
we carry the old sod in our hearts and minds no matter where we roam….
just reading your post reminds me of those days spent upon The Plains….
cycling to The Camp, gathering mushrooms, romancing in Donnolly’s Hollow, watching The Scramblers,Pitching & Putting,backing the GeeGees, walking The Gallops,
“From Hawkfield and Kilbelin, Chinatown and Rosy’s Lane,
scattered round the world we dreamt of coming home again.
From The Rocks of Sydney Harbour, The Bronx and Birmingham,
to The Sandy Hills, The Seven Springs, The Waters of The Fen”….
dear chisty, been stuck in a place and the only time i get home is when i hear your voice,
thanks for makin me a home i didnt never really have.
we’ve been to Frijiliana but never made it to Mojacar….we wish you well
Hi, Christy, is there any chance you will be in Holland in the near future? My late husband was a big fan of yours, and so am I! Love your music. Greetings from Middelburg, Caecilia van Kempen
regrets Caecilia….nothing planned at this time
Hi Christy
Did I hear rumour of you returning to London next year? It’s my dad’s 70th in April and I have fond memories of my first ever ‘foreign’ holidays to Ireland driving around his old haunts with your music on the cd (or maybe it was cassette!) player.
We lost touch for a good 15 years in the middle and have been back in touch for the last couple, which made your music all the more poignant in the intervening years.
I’d love to get him tickets for his 70th and, in fact, I could be tempted to get myself one too….!
Heading back over towards the end of May…. hopefully we’ll be let in…
Some craic was had last night! Thank you for The Time Has Come. Powerfully moving.
sound
Fair play Christy for a first class performance in Newcastle last night. l went home and danced meself a real in the Flickering Light!
Then up stepped a red carnation
Hi Christy,
Would love to see you in Vancouver sometime soon… the rest of Ireland is here already! Any Canada/North America plans any time soon? Missed you by a day last time we were in Ireland.
Sean
Hey Sean,
Mention of Vancouver always evokes good memories….had 2 good gigs there way back in the mists of time…sorry to say I wont be back…firmly ensconced on the home patch these past two decades having developed a fear and hatred of air travel….we make occasional voyages to Holyhead and Cairnryan, thats the extent of “foreign” touring these days…..luckily work is plentiful here, Last 2 nights in Newcastle, Co.Down and Armagh City…..next up Lough Rynn Co. Leitrim and Claremorris Co.Mayo.
I thoroughly enjoyed those earlier years of Foreign travel… these later years I gotta stick to the Blue Tar Road …
sending best wishes to all songsters in that beautiful City and beyond….
PS…my trips to Canada were always organised by Colm O’Brien and Mick Casey,two legendary impresarios….any relation ?
Great to hear you’ll be book at the Festival Hall – looking forward to another great show!
Hi christy,
We’re visiting from australia. Saw you last night in Amargh then again tonight. Its the first time since you last visited Melbourne. Would be great if you could sing “the Diamantina drover” it was the fist song we heard you sing. Hugh McDonald who wrote it sadly died earlier this year way before his time. We would love to hear it in his memory. Robert and Kim.
Welcome Robert & Kim….Thanks for your note….
Regrets we wont be able to play your request…. Its been 20 years since I last sang Hugh’s beautiful song……