Hi can’t wait for the Gig the 14th January in Vicar Street. I have a special request its my partners 40th Birthday on this day, he is a huge fan and this is his first time ever to see Christy Live. I have got the tickets as a surprise I would really love if Christy could say Happy 40th Birthday to him on the night please, and I would only LOVE if he could sing Black Is The Colour and ask my partner up on stage its our favorite song he is always singing this to me. I know this is a really long shot but it would only be the happiest day of his life if you could make it happen his name is Glen King please please please please 😊😊
Christy's reply
Dear Wendy…I hope you and Glen have a great night, that he manages to blow out all the candles…I’m afraid getting him up on stage is utterly impossible… health and safety rules the world now…I wanted to get up on stage last year with Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Nathan Carter, Twink, The Cowboys, The Indians, The Prodigy, TheThe…they were all gagging for it but H&S prevailed….I nearly managed to pull it off with Rihanna but MCD pulled out at the last minute and me all se to give it everything…
anyways Wendy we’ll do our very best to serenade your lovely man..
but with regard to the “huge fan” coming to his first CM gig at 40…we had two 8 year olds here last week rockin the joint and you Glen had a 32 year start on them lads… also had a 92 year old raver in and her up dancing on the table..it took two bouncers to get her down and she was well able for them…
getting your lad up on stage could have serious consequences..the pressure can be dreadful… I often need psychiatric intervention and most nights I am carried to an oxygen tent for revitilisation… last year after a gig in Knock I had to be anointed after 3 encores..its a dangerous game this
I hope you are breezing into 2019 as fresh as ever, you are in flying form. I’m in touch as I am wondering is there any recorded version of ‘Mary from dungloe’ in your archives? and if so what is the best way to get access to it.. I think its a very beautiful song, up there with spancil hill, reminding us of the emotions of emigration. The one version of this song i can currently find is the version with Mr Daniel O’Donnell on the Late late show many moons ago, although I must admit Daniel did take the reigns for most of the song and we dont hear Christy give it sticks! Maybe its one for the next album, and certainly one to pencil down for the Sleive Russell gig in April – the annual pilgrimage up to the white elephant to see yourself blow the cobwebs off the ballroom chandeliers. All the best and see you soon!
Christy's reply
you’d never guess where the revival of the “Mary from Dungloe” ballad began…..
I’ll have to be honest with you that its highly unlikely to feature at our upcoming gig in Ballyconnell..
Coincidentally,it was only last night that I watched the recent Emmet-Spiceland revival above at The Mary with Daniel..last time I saw them was in a boat on The Liffey 50 years ago…
As for those dazzling crystal chandeliers in the Slíabh Russell….They are a constant reminder of an earlier time….A few years back I was reclining after the show..Falling into a deep slumber I dreamt that Seanie Fitzpatrick was residing in one of those very same crystal chandeliers….
“If I was in sweet Dungloe and sated on the grass
by my side a bottle of wine, upon my knee a Lass”……
or for that matter, a Lad.. (if only for gender balance)
Hi All. Recently I was reminded of that song Sweet Music Roll On from the Ordinary Man Album …. the sleeve notes credit Graham Lyle and Tom Mc Guinness,,,, the recording features haunting notes by both Liam Og and Enya as well as Donal Lunny and Arty Mc Glynn,,,,, can you share anything more about the song Christy,,?? I know you have written in One Voice about the memories it holds for you ,,,,and that Hughie Flint sent it to you,,,, do you think you might ever perform it again,,,? or even re record it,, ?,, for people not familiar with it here is the link….https://youtu.be/leU9uiNwd1A…. it seems like a fitting conclusion to Nollaig na mBan,,,and a theme for 2019,, Beir bua agus beannacht,, H
Christy's reply
had a lovely time recording that album…spent a few great weeks with Donal and Arty in Nicky Ryan’s studio in Artane….it was the first time to work with Nicky since early Planxty days and it was a happy reunion….many interesting reflections on that album 30 years on…Arty’s playing was rock solid, Donal’s creativity was burning brightly, Nicky’s creative recording skills and the “homeliness” of his studio made for a great recording experience….the layering of Enya’s vocals was a sure sign of what was to follow….
Hughie Flint made contact with the “Sweet Music Roll On Song” and we met up once or twice and kept in touch for a while…I very much enjoyed recording the song, still love the imagery, sing it occasionally here in the work room…however it never transferred into the live gig scenario….it happens every now and then, songs that were a pleasure to sing , a joy to record, sometimes dont work at gigs…Sweet Music, China Waltz, Mystic Lipstick,AmongThe Wicklow Hills immediately spring to mind…..no matter how much I love a song, if it does not fit the gig I will drop it from the set but keep singing it at home…I often sing the likes of Los Desaperacidos, Metropolitan Avenue, Riding The High Stool, Verdent Braes of Skryne, Changes,Rocky Road, Unquiet Grave to the dark of the night…but never at gigs
Hi Christy.Listtened to. Your version of The Voyage.It is so appropriate to the wife and as we set out to Canada in 1965 as newly weds.she was 17 and me 21.We were all by ourselves .n we were blessed with 3children.the words to the song are so appropriate to our own voyage.We intend to use it at our funerals and would love to have your blessing and approvalThanks.HughO’Farrell
Christy's reply
Work away Hugh..hope it wont be for manys the long year…
you say Newbridge ’62..did you play Rugby?…did you have a brown scrum cap? did Gimmo train you? or was it Charlie? Sniff’s exortations still resound
” I killed a boy once..
it was shocking..
there was blood everywhere”
or
“if there was a blond in there you’d bind”
Thank you, Christy, for making me picking up my guitar after 20 years of abstinence!
I was a fairly good guitar player and singer in the 80s and 90s of the last century and I loved to play German, English, Scottish and Irish folksongs and for sure I loved Planxty, Clannad and Pentangle (and Hannes Wader and Werner Lämmerhirt, if you happen to know them)! But for whatever reason I stopped making music in the early 2000s.
A few days ago I searched for the lyrics of The Curragh of Kildare, which I only knew so far from Bert Jansch on his album A Rare Conundrum, and which I played very often. And then I found that you have been singing this song as well. And when I told a friend of mine about this, he told me, that his son (about 25!) told him, that he, the son, loves you for your interpretation of Cliffs of Dooneen. Which I didn’t know at all.
And then I searched for Cliffs of Dooneen and that’s where I found the magic of music again. And that is the reason for me to say Thank You. Thank you for bringing back the magic! You are truly fascinating all of us! The old ones, the mids and the youngsters.
Thank you!
All the best to you and your beloved ones for 2019 and hope to see you soon in Germany!
Christy's reply
Welcome Wolf,
Thank you for sharing…the two songs you mention are of particular interest to me…”The Curragh of Kildare” goes way back to the very start of my journey with songs…I discovered it in an old collection which I found in the Library of my home town of Newbridge in County Kildare. I was 16 at the time and was thrilled to find a song about a place I knew so well. That book, the P.W. Joyce collection, contained many great songs that have stood the test of time . I also gleaned “The Rambler from Clare” and “The Enniskillen Dragoon” from amongst its precious pages.
Sometime later I heard another Kildare singer, Andy Rynne, sing “The Cliffs of Dooneen”. This great song became part of the original Planxty repertoire.It was the second song that we recorded. I sang it again last night in Dublin at Vicar Street and it never fails to rekindle memories of Liam Óg O’Flynn’s beautiful playing.
Its good to read that you have begun to play again…
Just have to correct you Christy. You made this error before and it can have serious consequences as you know. The Barracks was not all Sarsfields. My grandmother was a Murphy from the Moorefield Rd. opp. St.Patrick’s and played whist every Sun. night beside your house. Tommie Behan was my mother’s godfather. So I’m Moorefield through birth but I’m happy for the other town club to succeed whenever Moorefield are not involved.
Christy's reply
Thanks Be to God for that Frankie…truth be, I was just testing you out to assure that you were still true to your roots….
Tommie Behan was a constant presence in my boyhood days, he always kept a close eye on the goings on in the old Moorefield Club House…all the Behans were great neighbours,
the Whytes were another great Moorefield Family from the Barracks…. Pop, Dick, Frank, Jack and Tom all donned the jersey, Frank also donned the white on a few occasions as did his first cousin Dinny Craddock…
Of course there was also traffic in the other direction… a few notables spring to mind…Ray Swan, Billy Parkinson, Paddy Feely were all west of the bank corner but kicked in Roseberry..
gotta sign off now..its 7.30 and the crowd are gathering here in Vicar St…I have to tog off for the throw in
Thanks for a wonderful night of song last night.A grand venue .Thanks for the Jimmy Mc masterpiece the bright blue rose.BESTof luck for the rest of the gigs in Vicar St.I hope you and all the crew have a great 2019.
Without looking at the photograph Christy. How about Shay (Quinner) Cash, Tom (Rubber) Keogh and Liam Casey.
Christy's reply
I should have known it would’nt take a Sarsfield man too long to answer that ( of course I must add that it might have been answered by a Sarsfield woman) !!!
Had the great pleasure of meeting Liam Casey after a gig recently,,we had not met for almost 60 years…in great form, he came to a gig with two of his Sons..there is talk of a gathering this year for that team..I’m keeping my fingers crossed on that one,,,
Hello Christy, thank You for this wonderfull start into 2019. What a setlist today, thanx a million. Would You play Veronica tomorrow?
Best wishes for You and the whole group.
j.
Hi Christy,
Best wishes for 2019 and looking forward to Killashee (Fri. night)
I have grandchildren now living in Baronstown and one of their sayings is “red and green for the Milltown team”. No mention of Mayo or Newbridge or nowhere.
Frankie……
Christy's reply
Hey Frankie,
Way back in the mists of time Baronstown Lane was an untarred boreen …there were no houses on either side along the way…at the very end lay two farmhouses… one was the Dowlings,the other was the home of Alec & Cissy Cole…..the Dowlings were Bridie,Nan and Frank, of whom Bridie was my Grand-Mother….Alec and Cissie were the finest of old neighbours….in the 1950s some of Baronstown was requisitioned by the Land Commission and a number of houses were built along the lane… these newly created holdings became the homes of new neighbours….
No trace whatsoever remains of Dowlings or Coles…..a few years back I walked the Bog from Clongorey to Baronstown.It was a beautiful walk (with Noel Heavey) but twas heartbreaking to find no trace of the old homesteads… houses,haysheds, springwater wells, dairys, parlours, gardens, hedgerows, all bulldozed to oblivion …their very existence obliterated except from the distant memories of a very few..
but life goes on, there is new life there today, amongst them your own Grandchildren Frankie….its heartwarming to read this, it eases the sadness I sometimes feel for those olden times….
Sending best wishes to you and all The Boland Clan for 2019…. its 60 years this year since we won the County Under 14 Championship…. we beat Caragh in the Final which was played in Naas…3 of our team went on to play for Kildare Seniors….can you name them ?
Yes,I love Mick Blake’s work and how he can write beautiful songs about terrible wrongs. It was a great concert but so fitting that he sang Another Child Another War at the end as well, to remind us again of why we were there.
Christy's reply
A native of Donegal, now a Bard of Leitrim, he still wears the Green & Gold
Wishing you, your family and crew good health and happiness in 2019, Christy and looking forward to being in Vicar Street on Thursday the 3rd with my daughter Tricia and granddaughter Robyn. The last time I was in Vicar Street, I won your platinum disc at the successful benefit concert you held for the Children of Gaza. Thank you. This time and only if you’re taking requests from the floor, Robyn would love to hear you sing Beeswing on Thursday night. Beannachtaí. (Valentine – female-joined 4711ers on 14th Feb)
Christy's reply
I have good memories of that night..in particular the beautiful song written by Mick Blake who guested with us on that occasion
Happy New Year! A few of us will be attending your gig tomorrow (January 2nd) in Vicar Street. Never got to see you perform in Mayo so any chance of the Knock Song tomorrow night, even in Dublin territory, would be just great!!
Sarah Kate
Christy's reply
Green & Red always welcome….dont know if Fr Jim will be with us…he seldom appears east of Foxford
Happy New Year. ….. year 53 I believe….. in the world of Christy and the followers.
We’re sitting in the Highlands Hotel in the Glenties , reminiscing about your concert here a few years back. …. one that we certainly won’t forget.
Here’s to the never ending tour…..
All the best for 2019 to you and your folks and to all the crew …..
Marty and Ger.
Christy's reply
Marty & Ger,
Dear lovebirds from The Glens
Will we ever get sense?
………I sincerely hope not
Bliain úr mhaith duit a Christy.
…the January man is here the start of each and every year along the road forever. We had some great singsongs over the festive period. Our son Stephen is also a big fan of you and the boys. He played and sang a number of your songs including Sail on Jimmy and Go, Move, Shift. Thanks for the music and for the reminder of the Celtic Orchestra! Sail on Jimmy, Ride on Christy…le beannacht Mary
Christy's reply
and thank You Too Mary,
for listening,
for spreading the word,
and for my grand wee library
Best wishes to you and all the Crew for 2019…..Could it be the year of a real upset; when the Lily Whites bring home Sam !!!!!!
Thanks for all the good vibrations in ’18.
See you in H.Q. on Thursday, January Man.
Best Regards.
Christy's reply
“The men of the forest ask it of me
how many strawberries grow ’round the salt sea
I answer them back with a tear in my eye
how many ships sail in the forest…..”
Here we are again Patsy….right back at the start of a new diary….
“Is it Folk or is it Art or is it Rock & Roll
can anybody tell me where the Blarney Roses grow”
Just in the middle of packing for a few days in Dublin to celebrate my 50th Birthday.
Really looking forward to attending Vicar Street on the 3rd, I must’ve seen at least twenty of your shows over the years, normally attending with father-in-law. (Barrowlands / Glasgow Concert Hall / At the Point with Planxty). The shows just get better and better….. But this show is different as my wife Nicola and my two boys Andrew and David are coming along. The boys grow up with your CD’s being played constantly in the car. The boys insisted on playing St Brendan’s voyage and Flickering light continually. I think I wore out three CD’s!!! (LOL).
All the best for 2019
Keep on Strumming
Regards,
Scott.
Christy's reply
safe journey Scott and family….East Kilbride in 1967 was the location of my first “full house” gig…. I used to play frequently at a Folk Club called The Forum..the room held around 60 people and to gain a full house back then was something I’ve never forgotten….Hamish Imlach got me my first gig there…
You will be very busy with sold out gigs what a great way to start the year and I wish we could be at one of the gigs. However a first for Sally Anne and me, we’ve managed to get front row seats for the Saturday night in Sligo in June. Brilliant luck! We’re going to stay for a few days and explore Connemara which looks fascinating and full of new experiences.
Christy's reply
Sligo itself is beautiful but also a gateway to many wild and wonderful destinations….always been a great gig town for me since my first venture there in 1972
Hi can’t wait for the Gig the 14th January in Vicar Street. I have a special request its my partners 40th Birthday on this day, he is a huge fan and this is his first time ever to see Christy Live. I have got the tickets as a surprise I would really love if Christy could say Happy 40th Birthday to him on the night please, and I would only LOVE if he could sing Black Is The Colour and ask my partner up on stage its our favorite song he is always singing this to me. I know this is a really long shot but it would only be the happiest day of his life if you could make it happen his name is Glen King please please please please 😊😊
Dear Wendy…I hope you and Glen have a great night, that he manages to blow out all the candles…I’m afraid getting him up on stage is utterly impossible… health and safety rules the world now…I wanted to get up on stage last year with Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Nathan Carter, Twink, The Cowboys, The Indians, The Prodigy, TheThe…they were all gagging for it but H&S prevailed….I nearly managed to pull it off with Rihanna but MCD pulled out at the last minute and me all se to give it everything…
anyways Wendy we’ll do our very best to serenade your lovely man..
but with regard to the “huge fan” coming to his first CM gig at 40…we had two 8 year olds here last week rockin the joint and you Glen had a 32 year start on them lads… also had a 92 year old raver in and her up dancing on the table..it took two bouncers to get her down and she was well able for them…
getting your lad up on stage could have serious consequences..the pressure can be dreadful… I often need psychiatric intervention and most nights I am carried to an oxygen tent for revitilisation… last year after a gig in Knock I had to be anointed after 3 encores..its a dangerous game this
Dearest Christy,
I hope you are breezing into 2019 as fresh as ever, you are in flying form. I’m in touch as I am wondering is there any recorded version of ‘Mary from dungloe’ in your archives? and if so what is the best way to get access to it.. I think its a very beautiful song, up there with spancil hill, reminding us of the emotions of emigration. The one version of this song i can currently find is the version with Mr Daniel O’Donnell on the Late late show many moons ago, although I must admit Daniel did take the reigns for most of the song and we dont hear Christy give it sticks! Maybe its one for the next album, and certainly one to pencil down for the Sleive Russell gig in April – the annual pilgrimage up to the white elephant to see yourself blow the cobwebs off the ballroom chandeliers. All the best and see you soon!
you’d never guess where the revival of the “Mary from Dungloe” ballad began…..
I’ll have to be honest with you that its highly unlikely to feature at our upcoming gig in Ballyconnell..
Coincidentally,it was only last night that I watched the recent Emmet-Spiceland revival above at The Mary with Daniel..last time I saw them was in a boat on The Liffey 50 years ago…
As for those dazzling crystal chandeliers in the Slíabh Russell….They are a constant reminder of an earlier time….A few years back I was reclining after the show..Falling into a deep slumber I dreamt that Seanie Fitzpatrick was residing in one of those very same crystal chandeliers….
“If I was in sweet Dungloe and sated on the grass
by my side a bottle of wine, upon my knee a Lass”……
or for that matter, a Lad.. (if only for gender balance)
Payed rugby .SCT 61 scrum half.62 captain Senior Seconds.Charlie was my coach.
Its time to fight our way to Lansdowne Road once more
Hi All. Recently I was reminded of that song Sweet Music Roll On from the Ordinary Man Album …. the sleeve notes credit Graham Lyle and Tom Mc Guinness,,,, the recording features haunting notes by both Liam Og and Enya as well as Donal Lunny and Arty Mc Glynn,,,,, can you share anything more about the song Christy,,?? I know you have written in One Voice about the memories it holds for you ,,,,and that Hughie Flint sent it to you,,,, do you think you might ever perform it again,,,? or even re record it,, ?,, for people not familiar with it here is the link….https://youtu.be/leU9uiNwd1A…. it seems like a fitting conclusion to Nollaig na mBan,,,and a theme for 2019,, Beir bua agus beannacht,, H
had a lovely time recording that album…spent a few great weeks with Donal and Arty in Nicky Ryan’s studio in Artane….it was the first time to work with Nicky since early Planxty days and it was a happy reunion….many interesting reflections on that album 30 years on…Arty’s playing was rock solid, Donal’s creativity was burning brightly, Nicky’s creative recording skills and the “homeliness” of his studio made for a great recording experience….the layering of Enya’s vocals was a sure sign of what was to follow….
Hughie Flint made contact with the “Sweet Music Roll On Song” and we met up once or twice and kept in touch for a while…I very much enjoyed recording the song, still love the imagery, sing it occasionally here in the work room…however it never transferred into the live gig scenario….it happens every now and then, songs that were a pleasure to sing , a joy to record, sometimes dont work at gigs…Sweet Music, China Waltz, Mystic Lipstick,AmongThe Wicklow Hills immediately spring to mind…..no matter how much I love a song, if it does not fit the gig I will drop it from the set but keep singing it at home…I often sing the likes of Los Desaperacidos, Metropolitan Avenue, Riding The High Stool, Verdent Braes of Skryne, Changes,Rocky Road, Unquiet Grave to the dark of the night…but never at gigs
Hi Christy.Listtened to. Your version of The Voyage.It is so appropriate to the wife and as we set out to Canada in 1965 as newly weds.she was 17 and me 21.We were all by ourselves .n we were blessed with 3children.the words to the song are so appropriate to our own voyage.We intend to use it at our funerals and would love to have your blessing and approvalThanks.HughO’Farrell
Work away Hugh..hope it wont be for manys the long year…
you say Newbridge ’62..did you play Rugby?…did you have a brown scrum cap? did Gimmo train you? or was it Charlie? Sniff’s exortations still resound
” I killed a boy once..
it was shocking..
there was blood everywhere”
or
“if there was a blond in there you’d bind”
Thanks Christy for the explanation/sort of an apology, I’ll settle for a rendition of Reel in the Flickering Light on Fri. 8th and let you off.
“Does she come from another planet?
has she got a bee in her bonnet?”
Thank you, Christy, for making me picking up my guitar after 20 years of abstinence!
I was a fairly good guitar player and singer in the 80s and 90s of the last century and I loved to play German, English, Scottish and Irish folksongs and for sure I loved Planxty, Clannad and Pentangle (and Hannes Wader and Werner Lämmerhirt, if you happen to know them)! But for whatever reason I stopped making music in the early 2000s.
A few days ago I searched for the lyrics of The Curragh of Kildare, which I only knew so far from Bert Jansch on his album A Rare Conundrum, and which I played very often. And then I found that you have been singing this song as well. And when I told a friend of mine about this, he told me, that his son (about 25!) told him, that he, the son, loves you for your interpretation of Cliffs of Dooneen. Which I didn’t know at all.
And then I searched for Cliffs of Dooneen and that’s where I found the magic of music again. And that is the reason for me to say Thank You. Thank you for bringing back the magic! You are truly fascinating all of us! The old ones, the mids and the youngsters.
Thank you!
All the best to you and your beloved ones for 2019 and hope to see you soon in Germany!
Welcome Wolf,
Thank you for sharing…the two songs you mention are of particular interest to me…”The Curragh of Kildare” goes way back to the very start of my journey with songs…I discovered it in an old collection which I found in the Library of my home town of Newbridge in County Kildare. I was 16 at the time and was thrilled to find a song about a place I knew so well. That book, the P.W. Joyce collection, contained many great songs that have stood the test of time . I also gleaned “The Rambler from Clare” and “The Enniskillen Dragoon” from amongst its precious pages.
Sometime later I heard another Kildare singer, Andy Rynne, sing “The Cliffs of Dooneen”. This great song became part of the original Planxty repertoire.It was the second song that we recorded. I sang it again last night in Dublin at Vicar Street and it never fails to rekindle memories of Liam Óg O’Flynn’s beautiful playing.
Its good to read that you have begun to play again…
Just have to correct you Christy. You made this error before and it can have serious consequences as you know. The Barracks was not all Sarsfields. My grandmother was a Murphy from the Moorefield Rd. opp. St.Patrick’s and played whist every Sun. night beside your house. Tommie Behan was my mother’s godfather. So I’m Moorefield through birth but I’m happy for the other town club to succeed whenever Moorefield are not involved.
Thanks Be to God for that Frankie…truth be, I was just testing you out to assure that you were still true to your roots….
Tommie Behan was a constant presence in my boyhood days, he always kept a close eye on the goings on in the old Moorefield Club House…all the Behans were great neighbours,
the Whytes were another great Moorefield Family from the Barracks…. Pop, Dick, Frank, Jack and Tom all donned the jersey, Frank also donned the white on a few occasions as did his first cousin Dinny Craddock…
Of course there was also traffic in the other direction… a few notables spring to mind…Ray Swan, Billy Parkinson, Paddy Feely were all west of the bank corner but kicked in Roseberry..
gotta sign off now..its 7.30 and the crowd are gathering here in Vicar St…I have to tog off for the throw in
see you in Coill na Sí
Thanks for a wonderful night of song last night.A grand venue .Thanks for the Jimmy Mc masterpiece the bright blue rose.BESTof luck for the rest of the gigs in Vicar St.I hope you and all the crew have a great 2019.
Without looking at the photograph Christy. How about Shay (Quinner) Cash, Tom (Rubber) Keogh and Liam Casey.
I should have known it would’nt take a Sarsfield man too long to answer that ( of course I must add that it might have been answered by a Sarsfield woman) !!!
Had the great pleasure of meeting Liam Casey after a gig recently,,we had not met for almost 60 years…in great form, he came to a gig with two of his Sons..there is talk of a gathering this year for that team..I’m keeping my fingers crossed on that one,,,
Hello Christy, thank You for this wonderfull start into 2019. What a setlist today, thanx a million. Would You play Veronica tomorrow?
Best wishes for You and the whole group.
j.
” The Singing Birds were startled in their song”
Hi Christy,
Best wishes for 2019 and looking forward to Killashee (Fri. night)
I have grandchildren now living in Baronstown and one of their sayings is “red and green for the Milltown team”. No mention of Mayo or Newbridge or nowhere.
Frankie……
Hey Frankie,
Way back in the mists of time Baronstown Lane was an untarred boreen …there were no houses on either side along the way…at the very end lay two farmhouses… one was the Dowlings,the other was the home of Alec & Cissy Cole…..the Dowlings were Bridie,Nan and Frank, of whom Bridie was my Grand-Mother….Alec and Cissie were the finest of old neighbours….in the 1950s some of Baronstown was requisitioned by the Land Commission and a number of houses were built along the lane… these newly created holdings became the homes of new neighbours….
No trace whatsoever remains of Dowlings or Coles…..a few years back I walked the Bog from Clongorey to Baronstown.It was a beautiful walk (with Noel Heavey) but twas heartbreaking to find no trace of the old homesteads… houses,haysheds, springwater wells, dairys, parlours, gardens, hedgerows, all bulldozed to oblivion …their very existence obliterated except from the distant memories of a very few..
but life goes on, there is new life there today, amongst them your own Grandchildren Frankie….its heartwarming to read this, it eases the sadness I sometimes feel for those olden times….
Sending best wishes to you and all The Boland Clan for 2019…. its 60 years this year since we won the County Under 14 Championship…. we beat Caragh in the Final which was played in Naas…3 of our team went on to play for Kildare Seniors….can you name them ?
Yes,I love Mick Blake’s work and how he can write beautiful songs about terrible wrongs. It was a great concert but so fitting that he sang Another Child Another War at the end as well, to remind us again of why we were there.
A native of Donegal, now a Bard of Leitrim, he still wears the Green & Gold
Wishing you, your family and crew good health and happiness in 2019, Christy and looking forward to being in Vicar Street on Thursday the 3rd with my daughter Tricia and granddaughter Robyn. The last time I was in Vicar Street, I won your platinum disc at the successful benefit concert you held for the Children of Gaza. Thank you. This time and only if you’re taking requests from the floor, Robyn would love to hear you sing Beeswing on Thursday night. Beannachtaí. (Valentine – female-joined 4711ers on 14th Feb)
I have good memories of that night..in particular the beautiful song written by Mick Blake who guested with us on that occasion
Hi Christy.
Happy New Year! A few of us will be attending your gig tomorrow (January 2nd) in Vicar Street. Never got to see you perform in Mayo so any chance of the Knock Song tomorrow night, even in Dublin territory, would be just great!!
Sarah Kate
Green & Red always welcome….dont know if Fr Jim will be with us…he seldom appears east of Foxford
Happy New Year. ….. year 53 I believe….. in the world of Christy and the followers.
We’re sitting in the Highlands Hotel in the Glenties , reminiscing about your concert here a few years back. …. one that we certainly won’t forget.
Here’s to the never ending tour…..
All the best for 2019 to you and your folks and to all the crew …..
Marty and Ger.
Marty & Ger,
Dear lovebirds from The Glens
Will we ever get sense?
………I sincerely hope not
Bliain úr mhaith duit a Christy.
…the January man is here the start of each and every year along the road forever. We had some great singsongs over the festive period. Our son Stephen is also a big fan of you and the boys. He played and sang a number of your songs including Sail on Jimmy and Go, Move, Shift. Thanks for the music and for the reminder of the Celtic Orchestra! Sail on Jimmy, Ride on Christy…le beannacht Mary
and thank You Too Mary,
for listening,
for spreading the word,
and for my grand wee library
Best wishes to you and all the Crew for 2019…..Could it be the year of a real upset; when the Lily Whites bring home Sam !!!!!!
Thanks for all the good vibrations in ’18.
See you in H.Q. on Thursday, January Man.
Best Regards.
“The men of the forest ask it of me
how many strawberries grow ’round the salt sea
I answer them back with a tear in my eye
how many ships sail in the forest…..”
Here we are again Patsy….right back at the start of a new diary….
“Is it Folk or is it Art or is it Rock & Roll
can anybody tell me where the Blarney Roses grow”
Hi Christy,
Hope you’ve had a great Christmas.
Just in the middle of packing for a few days in Dublin to celebrate my 50th Birthday.
Really looking forward to attending Vicar Street on the 3rd, I must’ve seen at least twenty of your shows over the years, normally attending with father-in-law. (Barrowlands / Glasgow Concert Hall / At the Point with Planxty). The shows just get better and better….. But this show is different as my wife Nicola and my two boys Andrew and David are coming along. The boys grow up with your CD’s being played constantly in the car. The boys insisted on playing St Brendan’s voyage and Flickering light continually. I think I wore out three CD’s!!! (LOL).
All the best for 2019
Keep on Strumming
Regards,
Scott.
safe journey Scott and family….East Kilbride in 1967 was the location of my first “full house” gig…. I used to play frequently at a Folk Club called The Forum..the room held around 60 people and to gain a full house back then was something I’ve never forgotten….Hamish Imlach got me my first gig there…
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda 2019 Christy
You will be very busy with sold out gigs what a great way to start the year and I wish we could be at one of the gigs. However a first for Sally Anne and me, we’ve managed to get front row seats for the Saturday night in Sligo in June. Brilliant luck! We’re going to stay for a few days and explore Connemara which looks fascinating and full of new experiences.
Sligo itself is beautiful but also a gateway to many wild and wonderful destinations….always been a great gig town for me since my first venture there in 1972