Hey Christy seàn and myself just in from a super concert in UL- really enjoyed it- glad you got to sing your choices with no one shouting up requests! Loved The Reel and Triangle- took me right back.
Anyway Seàn released his first single on 4/20 last- if Hannah has grounded you in Castletroy you might give it a listen. Chat soon and again a great night had at UL
Ok Chrsity,
This will be the last one I share here. You have been such a noble man putting up with my enbibed rants. Some of mine have been good, some quite horrible, I will of course own up to that. I admit to myself now that I cannot drink in moderation. So, I will stop now. But in stopping, I will also lack the desire to share without shame, so something maybe lost there. Anyway Christy, you have been very much the Irish gentleman towards me though you did not need to be. My very last embibed rant is here.
Warning, I swear in it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDjRhHSpyI8
Christy's reply
I wish you well…
I hope manage to keep the cork in that bottle…
I do hope you will continue to visit here and share your thoughts with us..
your current post rings very true with me..
I have long since feared that we may be past the point of rescue..
I believe that you can share while sober
I used to think that I could not perform in sobriety
Sobriety has brought many rewards,
some peace of mind among them
but that said
I think that Trump is an evil dangerous racist misogynistic greedy ugly presence upon this smoking planet
I believe that all man made religions stand in the way of finding true spritual experience ….whatever that may be….
I wish you well upon your new journey
for me, one drink was always too many, one hundred drinks were never enough….
TinaMWalshCo.Clare
April 26, 2019 at 8:53 pm
Location: The Wild Wesht!!! Where Hannah is making her presence truly felt!!
Hi Christy, long time no hear! We’re here in Mt Scott, under the cover of darkness, with the flickering light of our trusty tealights keeping us from total blackness!! You’re well under way in UL and I can’t wait to see and hear you tomorrow night there! You are a precious light in our lives at moment. We have found solace in your songs and music over the last 7 months, in which I lost 2 fantabulous men from my family. My brother in law, Tony, a true Dub, lost his 8 week battle with cancer at end of August and my divilish brother, Eddie, lost his battle with the same horrible disease on Oct 8th. Your songs kept us going….my 18 yr old son, Daniel,sang them to keep us smiling, and we did! Twin boys were born into our family in March, way too early at 24 wks, and altho they’re struggling they’re still with us, Eddie and Ewan!! Daniel is bringing two of his friends to see you tomorrow night also, Oisín and John! They’re avid fans as well. We’ll raise the roof of the Concert hall with ya! I’ve an absolutely FANTABULOUS seat, right up at the front!! I’m soooooooo excited!! I’ll be the one singing and waving up at you, especially during Ride On and Nancy Spain! Sorry for the manuscript….I kept saying I’d write you a letter, but I left it too late! Míle míle buíochas for unknowingly helping me thru this tough time…but then again, you and your songs always did. Resurrected an old tape of Moving Hearts too…I just need to find a tape recorder now to play it!! Slán tamaill agus feicfimid amárach thú!
Tina & all in Mullagh!! 😂
Christy's reply
Travel safe from Mullagh to Plassey…..You’ve been putting in a hard auld time of it..I hope you gain some respite tonight..last night’s crowd gave us a great atmosphere in which to work and we all went out happy after it…that feckin Hanna has me awake half the night with her rockin and knockin…I hope she’ll shag off with herself soon that I might sneak 40 winks before the breakfast…
Hiya Christy,
I had tickets booked to see you in UL tomorrow night but I sing with a local folk group called “The Lost Souls” (we ll never be found!!) and we’re doing a session for charity tomorrow night so I’ve given tickets to my sister Annemarie. You might say hi to her. I then rebooked more tickets for tonight but alas storm Hannah is howling and we can’t travel. I’m not destined to see you this time. The Marquee maybe!
I’ve also booked tickets for my brother in law Billy Cotter in London’s South Bank on May 25th. You might shout hi if you think of it. He’d get a kick out of that.
The lambing shed in Dromtrasna is still available for concerts. Keep on singing Christy. You’re good for the soul.
Slán tamaill,
Noreen Cotter
Christy's reply
Hanna blew last night in Plessey and we blew right back at the Hoor
Hope all is well this morning…I’m still here in the leaba listening to her huffing and puffing across the broad Majestic Shannon…I hope everyone got home safe last night wherever they may be….
a hard auld night for lambs adout
Hi Christy, on the way to Limerick to bring my daughter Eimear age 20 to see you . I am a fan for 40 years and I would love if you could sing Black is the colour for her, it would blow her away. She is a student at UL. Kind regards Billy Gray
Christy's reply
Sorry Billy,
your call out came too late,
hope you and Eimear had a good night
Just back from an Easter break in the hills of Donegal, Christy.
I’m delighted to hear you liked the Belfast Ballad.
Just as you say, I felt that it could be spoken or sung.
I have a bit of tune for the first verse and chorus, quite traditional, and feel it could work well with a strong voice speaking the other verses.
I’m working on creating a tune for the full song.
I also have another ballad, which I mentioned in my first message, called ‘The Cause is Peace’ whose message I feel will always resonate strongly, and is particularly poignant at this time given the heartbreaking tragic death of Lyra McKee in Derry.
I can put that up on the site too if that’s ok with you.
All the best…
Christy's reply
I’d love to hear your “bit of a tune”
maybe you could sing it on a tape and put it up here
if you cant manage that we’ll find some other way
CM
The music is grand.
RS composed a new nameless jig .
So I have been playing that with her on the concertina and I the bouzouki.
They gybe nicely together .. a work in progress.
A lad stood on the floor of this house a couple of months ago .
His name is John Hoban.Him,isabella and that interesting mandacello came with him.
Never before did a person from Peru set foot past my “tairseach” .
I just this morning saw a video in rainless pakistan of an instrument I don’t think an Irish man put eyes on it ever before.It may just become the next bouzoukie here.
CS (14 3/4)
PS Do you know how carriageen is dried?
It must get drops of April showers.First it turns bright purple then after it turns white.
Can you believe It was a drought there recently ? Drawing water to animals day and night..then last night a gift from God woman ,the heavens opened.The carriageen is as white as snow now.
Christy's reply
Well CS
Aint Carrigeen the mighty stuff
and Róisín writing the Jigs
When that Master Belfast Fiddler Seán Maguire was about to play a jig
he would turn to his accompanist Josephine Keegan (Piano) and call
“Two Bumps Josie”
and away with him like the Hammers of Hell
Hurricane Hanna was Howling around Limerick last night,
we faced the Windy Hoor and kept the flag flying…
Declan’s locks were flowing in the gale,
Cathal’s Banjo played strong into the wind,
Jimmy held down the tarpaulin
as I anchored our Hooker of song
and tethered her upon the Banks of Shannon
You wont feel it ’til the 15 is upon you
the seacta ceathair is knocking upon my window pane
calling me on calling me on
but I pay little heed for there is lotsa work to be done
We must remember Lyra McKey
Christy's reply
Well CS
Aint Carrigeen the mighty stuff
and Róisín writing the Jigs
When that Master Belfast Fiddler Seán Maguire was about to play a jig
he would turn to his accompanist Josephine Keegan (Piano) and call
“Two Bumps Josie”
and away with him like the Hammers of Hell
Hurricane Hanna was Howling around Limerick last night,
we faced the Windy Hoor and kept the flag flying…
Declan’s locks were flowing in the gale,
Cathal’s Banjo played strong into the wind,
Jimmy held down the tarpaulin
as I anchored our Hooker of song
and tethered her to the Banks of Shannon
You wont feel it ’til the 15 is upon you
the seacta ceathair is knocking upon my window pane
calling me on calling me on
but I pay little heed for there is lotsa work to be done
Hi Christy
I would just like to thank you for putting on a spectacular show in Lyrath on Saturday night. It’s an absolute pleasure to see you play as always. No Easter snow this year 😊. Looking forward to the next show.
Thanks again from all up the hills in Coon.
Christy's reply
Always lovely to hear from the Vale of Coon…for two years I gazed down upon the Village from the lofty heights of Coolcullen….thinking of creamy pints and large bottles in Billy Moloneys,… had a concert in the Hall there over 40 years ago when Tom Kinsella was my road manager… gigs in The Ridge Bar, The Coalmine and Conways in Comer.. further afield to The Arkle in Gowran, The West End in Ballyraggett and Kytelers in Kilenny, from Pedigree Corner on to Carlow to play in Sean Fury’s and The El Ruedo….it was a great old time back then, great fun and neighbourliness and no harm done….no ticketmaster, apps, mobile phones, security, vat, ipads, satnavs ..its a wonder we ever found our way home
CM (73)
Beannachtaí na Cáisc ort is do clann.
That Easter bunny is a queer hawk.
I was in the vicinity of the yearly drop off this morning (living room)
Not one egg in sight.
Went in the kitchen to put the kettle down , heard a lot of running and rustling.
Went back to the drop of location again and sure enough there was not only chocolate but two fine goose eggs awaiting my return.She’s a queer hawk alright that Easter bunny.
There’s an awful gang coming here today , haven’t seen them since Christmas and the curtains were set on fire (but that’s a whole other story)!
Was listening to “wave up to the shore” these days it’s like a old old song.
Have a grand day CM.
CS(14)
Christy's reply
In bygone days of yore the Easter Egg was an extravagant commodity….while some would get one,others might share one, there were many who never experienced the sweet pleasure….
dont know if I ever took the top off a Goose egg…certainly enjoyed a few duck eggs over the years but its hard to equal a good hen’s egg….an egg from a hen that spent its day scratchin around the haggart, enjoying an odd scatter of layers mash …hard to top a pair of them lads fried in the fat of home cured streaky rashers accompanied with coarse brown bread smothered in country butter washed down with strong sweet tea…(after which a Sweet Afton or Gold Flake was optional)
I have fond memories of recording Luka’s song “Wave to Shore”,it must be 43 years ago…”Sacco” “Musgrave” “Johnny Jump” “Limerick Rake” spring to mind…Jimmy Faulkner, Declan McNelis,Michéal Ó Domhnaill, Barney Mckenna all since departed..it was a party time recording session, a couple of weeks in a studio called Dublin Sound produced by Donal Lunny and engineered by Pat Morley….that studio long since bulldozed and turned into apartments
good to hear from you again…How you getting on with your Music ?
Here we go Christy, you might even rattle out the chorus at the Waterfront, best of ;luck…
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose …I’m Belfast born and bred
Dublin has the Liffey, Cork it has the Lee
But the Lagan flows through my hometown,
And it means the world to me
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose ………
I’m Belfast born and bred
I’ve known the streets of Belfast, As boy and youth and man
A lifetime’s memories in my head, I love it heart and hand
The Matinee at the Lido, The pictures at The Ritz
The magic of The Broadway, And a back-stalls teenage kiss
The Canberra gliding down the Lough, The liner’s booming blast
Titanic ships then being built, No longer now, alas
I climbed the first cave on Cave Hill, Got chased by Mickey Marley
I missed the age of Pitch and Toss, But I bet with Cheeky Charlie
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose……… I’m Belfast born and bred
Shipyard men, the Dockers, The women in the Mills
The workers from the building game, Their stories with us still
McGlade’s, The Crown and Smithfield, The hymns of the Sally Ann
When Rinty ruled the boxing world, The Toss… Buck Alex ran
The bustle of The Markets, The brass balls of The Pawns
Paper boys shout: `Sixth Telllehhh’, The blare of factory horns
The GAA at Casement Park, And the Ulster Hall for boxing
The Blues v Celtic, Windsor Park, and the whole of Belfast rocking
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose……… I’m Belfast born and bred
The grandeur of the City Hall, Of the best Carrara marble
While the people lived two up, two down, And men took to the gargle
Tales of Belfast poverty, Of shouldering the hod
A people worked down to the bone, I’m proud they’re in my blood
It’s a town so long divided, We’ve struggled and we’ve bled
But the one thing that unites us all…. We’re Belfast… born and bred
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose……… I’m Belfast born and bred
Christy's reply
Morra Antrim,
A sombre Easter Greeting to you and anyone visiting the site.
Since Friday morning thoughts keep returning to Lyra McKee
Lyra McKee
Most Irish people had never heard Lyra’s name before,
Now, sadly, Lyra’s name is on all our lips,
Her smiling image imbued upon our imagination
Whatever outcome might ensue
Nothing will quell the heartbreak of Lyra’s loved ones
But if we could all embrace the light that Lyra generated
in her bright life so cruelly ended
We might find a way to walk up this road together
Singing Her Name
Lyra McKee Lyra McKee Lyra McKee
Let Us Remember
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Thanks for sharing your Ballad …..I like it…..I could hear the late Davy Hammond singing your song..do you have a tune in mind ?
I dont think I could do it justce with my Kildare brogue…..but who knows…it could be spoke or sung
Hi Christy, looking forward to seeing you back in Belfast next month.
I’ve written a new Belfast ballad, which I think could go down really well with your fans on the night.
In addition, I’ve written another ballad which, given the very recent tragedy in Derry, might be appropriate.
If you could drop me a quick email to belfastballad@hotmail.com I will forward them on for you to have a look at.
All the best for Belfast and beyond.
Christy's reply
Hey Antrim,
these days it can take me a year to prepare a song for performance….sometimes even longer then that…if you wish, you could put your ballad up here and we’ll all be able to see it..
getting ready now for the Bog Meadow and the Black Mountain
Great night last night. Yourself and the boys put on a mighty show. Plenty of chorus singing as you said and a lovely tribute to Lyra McKee from Derry. Hope ye enjoy the weather today and hopefully you’ll come back to Laois for a ramble soon. Myself, bother Eoghan, girlfriend Áine and friends Henry and Owen had a great night. We thought we were young in our 20s to be loving folk and all things Christy Moore but great to see even more younger folk lovers coming along. Hopefully the young chaps will bate out a few chords with them picks.
Le gach dea-ghuí, go raibh maith agat.
Niall Brennan
Christy's reply
O to walk Bondara Bog this glorious Spring day…had I known there were Bog People in last night I’d have sung Luka’s great song
“I’m a Bogman, deep down ,its where I come from ”
really good singing on The Heath last night…..afterwards passed through Abbeleix on our trip to Durrow and onwards towards Lyrath….miss passing thru Abbeleix, always was a good pit stop on the way to Cork….
Christy, ya legend. The Yellow Furze Crew will be attending on May 25 in London, appreciate a shout out on the night.
Spoke to you over breakfast many moons ago in Belfast, a moment we treasure to this day. Sweet Thames Flow Softly would be an apt addition to the playlist on May 25 but you’re the boss.
Keep her lit Christy
Christy's reply
Erin,
between the Thames, Liffey, Boyne, Lee, Shannon, Nore, Barrow,Suir,Foyle,Clyde,Tyne,Dodder,Poddle,Bann,Lagan,Corrib, not to mention the Banks of The Royal Canal, the Suck the Inny, the Deal, the Feale and .to be sure, The Seven Springs
I realise the vital importance and inspirational streams of creativity that flow from our great Rivers….if only we could respect them
of course I’ll shout ye out on the night…from the rooftops, the very rafters, I will shout Yellow Furze Senchelstown Beauparc Hayestown Cotton Mills and,of course,I must not forget Stackallen
catch you in The Big Smoke Erin…back where my apprenticeship began…
we’ll be at it here in Kilkenny tonight….back with The Cats in The Marble City
Michael D has just opened the James Connolly centre, on the Falls Road. There was a minute silence for Lyra McKee (an inspiring voice) the young NUJ journalist murdered in Derry, on the anniversary of the Good Friday agreement. Plus cą change, plus c’est la même chose.
On the way home Planxty and Liam Óg were playing on Raidió Fáilte… the chattering Magpie. Before I finish chattering, you may know Peggy Seeger and her son Calum MacColl are playing in the Heaney centre in July.
‘Re-tuning time-turned words,
Fitting each weathered song
To a new-grooved harmony,
They pluck slick strings and swing
A sad heart’s equilibrium’
The Folk Singers, Seamus Heaney.
Beannachtaí na Cásca agus go well Christy!
Christy's reply
Finding the right words is very difficult…I did not hear of Lyra McKee until yesterday…..such a brutal senseless murder….all I’ve heard since are tributes to her young life, her focus and determination in seeking human rights, I’ve spoken to some of her colleagues all of whom are in shock from the loss of such promising young journalist…..
May her passing not be in vain
Hi Christy
I went to see you recently in Slieve Donard in Newcastle and luckily managed to get tickets for 2nd of May in the Waterfront as a surprise for my partner. I was wondering could you dedicate Viva La Quinta Brigada to Damien Sullivan on the night? he is currently training for his first professional boxing fight on the 17th of May so he will be buzzing to see you beforehand!!!
Christy's reply
will do my best…always loads of requests for call outs these days,
must be an exciting time for Damien…just read Andy Lee’s book “Fighter” which gives great insights into the Boxing world..the sacrifices, the discipline, the pitfalls…
Hi Christy, I often listen to you here in the Basque Country – poetry and music. This year I´ll have my firstborn and be sure he will sing your songs one day standing by the ocean. Thanks for leaving the bank job ; ) The very best wishes to you and yours, Annie
Christy's reply
Thank You Annie,
I wish you and your newborn happiness and long healthy lives together
Hiya Christy!
I’m asking a favour of you, I hope you don’t mind!! My friends are getting married this July and they are both HUGE fans of yours. I know a message from yourself would just blow them away on their wedding day…. even just Congratulations! or some marriage pearls of wisdom you could offer the newlyweds? Anything. They will love it.
Thank you!
Bernadette
“… and it’s straight I will repair to the colour of Kildare.” At least that what I thought the Johnstons sang when it used to be on Radio Éireann back in the day. Y’see I was only three or four and at that age I suppose I never really worried too much about what the songs on the radio actually said. Whether it was “Lily The Pink” or “Goodbye Mursheen Durkin”, I hadn’t a clue what the most of them were on about. Loved the songs though. The sound. My mammy said I used to run into the room where the radio was on if “The House With The Whitewashed Gable” came on. No idea what it was about. Not a clue. Sure to a three or four-year-old like meself, there were lots of indecipherable lyrics in songs back in those days. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. So I never really stopped to wonder what the colour of Kildare might be. The colour of Sligo was overcast with occasional patches of blue, but Kildare? No idea. Then there was the word ‘repair’ in there. “It’s straight I will repair.” What was that doing in a song? Repair. We had a bicycle repair kit at home with a few patches in it for fixing a puncture. Maybe they were singing about bicycles. Ah yes, I used to love listening to Radio Éireann as a wee lad. That’s where I first heard Christy Moore. It was either “Three Drunken Maidens” or “The Cliffs Of Dooneen”. Don’t remember which one now. With me too rye ah, fol de diddle dah, too rye, oo rye, oo rye ah! Do you still sing the “Curragh” Christy?
Christy's reply
Hey Joe !
The Curragh still creeps into the set..always at Kildare gigs but sometimes further afield…
Three Drunken was first Planxty single and Cliffs came next…back in 1972..heady times for us…criss crossing the nation in a ford transit…Merrily kissing Quakers, sleeping with alligators as we sailed upon the Lakes of Pontchartrain..
your post reminds me of my own early listening…”Kevin Barry”, “Meeting of The waters”, “Dún na Rí”, “Down by The Glenside”..then early R&R rocked the cabin for a while, “Hound Dog”, “Jailhouse Rock”, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Fats, Ella, came my way all soon to be silenced by The Clancys & Tommy Makem
hi Christy myself and my son Michael will be attending your fri night gig at the limerick concert hall we are really looking forward too it and would like to ask if it is possible for you to include pripchat or Hiroshima Nagasaki in the set list if not we totally understand
Christy's reply
thats a good call John, been trying to get a “live” recording of Hiro of late but I keep forgetting to include it in the set..your request is a timely reminder….recently met up with Jim Page who wrote this song…he is still in fine fettle, writing and singing
Hey Christy seàn and myself just in from a super concert in UL- really enjoyed it- glad you got to sing your choices with no one shouting up requests! Loved The Reel and Triangle- took me right back.
Anyway Seàn released his first single on 4/20 last- if Hannah has grounded you in Castletroy you might give it a listen. Chat soon and again a great night had at UL
https://youtu.be/iGVH9CSdSN0
Fair Play to Seán…..I like the song..hope there is plenty more to come
Ok Chrsity,
This will be the last one I share here. You have been such a noble man putting up with my enbibed rants. Some of mine have been good, some quite horrible, I will of course own up to that. I admit to myself now that I cannot drink in moderation. So, I will stop now. But in stopping, I will also lack the desire to share without shame, so something maybe lost there. Anyway Christy, you have been very much the Irish gentleman towards me though you did not need to be. My very last embibed rant is here.
Warning, I swear in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDjRhHSpyI8
I wish you well…
I hope manage to keep the cork in that bottle…
I do hope you will continue to visit here and share your thoughts with us..
your current post rings very true with me..
I have long since feared that we may be past the point of rescue..
I believe that you can share while sober
I used to think that I could not perform in sobriety
Sobriety has brought many rewards,
some peace of mind among them
but that said
I think that Trump is an evil dangerous racist misogynistic greedy ugly presence upon this smoking planet
I believe that all man made religions stand in the way of finding true spritual experience ….whatever that may be….
I wish you well upon your new journey
for me, one drink was always too many, one hundred drinks were never enough….
Hi Christy, long time no hear! We’re here in Mt Scott, under the cover of darkness, with the flickering light of our trusty tealights keeping us from total blackness!! You’re well under way in UL and I can’t wait to see and hear you tomorrow night there! You are a precious light in our lives at moment. We have found solace in your songs and music over the last 7 months, in which I lost 2 fantabulous men from my family. My brother in law, Tony, a true Dub, lost his 8 week battle with cancer at end of August and my divilish brother, Eddie, lost his battle with the same horrible disease on Oct 8th. Your songs kept us going….my 18 yr old son, Daniel,sang them to keep us smiling, and we did! Twin boys were born into our family in March, way too early at 24 wks, and altho they’re struggling they’re still with us, Eddie and Ewan!! Daniel is bringing two of his friends to see you tomorrow night also, Oisín and John! They’re avid fans as well. We’ll raise the roof of the Concert hall with ya! I’ve an absolutely FANTABULOUS seat, right up at the front!! I’m soooooooo excited!! I’ll be the one singing and waving up at you, especially during Ride On and Nancy Spain! Sorry for the manuscript….I kept saying I’d write you a letter, but I left it too late! Míle míle buíochas for unknowingly helping me thru this tough time…but then again, you and your songs always did. Resurrected an old tape of Moving Hearts too…I just need to find a tape recorder now to play it!! Slán tamaill agus feicfimid amárach thú!
Tina & all in Mullagh!! 😂
Travel safe from Mullagh to Plassey…..You’ve been putting in a hard auld time of it..I hope you gain some respite tonight..last night’s crowd gave us a great atmosphere in which to work and we all went out happy after it…that feckin Hanna has me awake half the night with her rockin and knockin…I hope she’ll shag off with herself soon that I might sneak 40 winks before the breakfast…
Hiya Christy,
I had tickets booked to see you in UL tomorrow night but I sing with a local folk group called “The Lost Souls” (we ll never be found!!) and we’re doing a session for charity tomorrow night so I’ve given tickets to my sister Annemarie. You might say hi to her. I then rebooked more tickets for tonight but alas storm Hannah is howling and we can’t travel. I’m not destined to see you this time. The Marquee maybe!
I’ve also booked tickets for my brother in law Billy Cotter in London’s South Bank on May 25th. You might shout hi if you think of it. He’d get a kick out of that.
The lambing shed in Dromtrasna is still available for concerts. Keep on singing Christy. You’re good for the soul.
Slán tamaill,
Noreen Cotter
Hanna blew last night in Plessey and we blew right back at the Hoor
Hope all is well this morning…I’m still here in the leaba listening to her huffing and puffing across the broad Majestic Shannon…I hope everyone got home safe last night wherever they may be….
a hard auld night for lambs adout
Hi Christy, on the way to Limerick to bring my daughter Eimear age 20 to see you . I am a fan for 40 years and I would love if you could sing Black is the colour for her, it would blow her away. She is a student at UL. Kind regards Billy Gray
Sorry Billy,
your call out came too late,
hope you and Eimear had a good night
Just back from an Easter break in the hills of Donegal, Christy.
I’m delighted to hear you liked the Belfast Ballad.
Just as you say, I felt that it could be spoken or sung.
I have a bit of tune for the first verse and chorus, quite traditional, and feel it could work well with a strong voice speaking the other verses.
I’m working on creating a tune for the full song.
I also have another ballad, which I mentioned in my first message, called ‘The Cause is Peace’ whose message I feel will always resonate strongly, and is particularly poignant at this time given the heartbreaking tragic death of Lyra McKee in Derry.
I can put that up on the site too if that’s ok with you.
All the best…
I’d love to hear your “bit of a tune”
maybe you could sing it on a tape and put it up here
if you cant manage that we’ll find some other way
put the other one up here too if you wish
let us remember Lyra
and flush out that cowardly crew
CM
The music is grand.
RS composed a new nameless jig .
So I have been playing that with her on the concertina and I the bouzouki.
They gybe nicely together .. a work in progress.
A lad stood on the floor of this house a couple of months ago .
His name is John Hoban.Him,isabella and that interesting mandacello came with him.
Never before did a person from Peru set foot past my “tairseach” .
I just this morning saw a video in rainless pakistan of an instrument I don’t think an Irish man put eyes on it ever before.It may just become the next bouzoukie here.
CS (14 3/4)
PS Do you know how carriageen is dried?
It must get drops of April showers.First it turns bright purple then after it turns white.
Can you believe It was a drought there recently ? Drawing water to animals day and night..then last night a gift from God woman ,the heavens opened.The carriageen is as white as snow now.
Well CS
Aint Carrigeen the mighty stuff
and Róisín writing the Jigs
When that Master Belfast Fiddler Seán Maguire was about to play a jig
he would turn to his accompanist Josephine Keegan (Piano) and call
“Two Bumps Josie”
and away with him like the Hammers of Hell
Hurricane Hanna was Howling around Limerick last night,
we faced the Windy Hoor and kept the flag flying…
Declan’s locks were flowing in the gale,
Cathal’s Banjo played strong into the wind,
Jimmy held down the tarpaulin
as I anchored our Hooker of song
and tethered her upon the Banks of Shannon
You wont feel it ’til the 15 is upon you
the seacta ceathair is knocking upon my window pane
calling me on calling me on
but I pay little heed for there is lotsa work to be done
We must remember Lyra McKey
Well CS
Aint Carrigeen the mighty stuff
and Róisín writing the Jigs
When that Master Belfast Fiddler Seán Maguire was about to play a jig
he would turn to his accompanist Josephine Keegan (Piano) and call
“Two Bumps Josie”
and away with him like the Hammers of Hell
Hurricane Hanna was Howling around Limerick last night,
we faced the Windy Hoor and kept the flag flying…
Declan’s locks were flowing in the gale,
Cathal’s Banjo played strong into the wind,
Jimmy held down the tarpaulin
as I anchored our Hooker of song
and tethered her to the Banks of Shannon
You wont feel it ’til the 15 is upon you
the seacta ceathair is knocking upon my window pane
calling me on calling me on
but I pay little heed for there is lotsa work to be done
We must remember Lyra McKee
and God Woman
Hi Christy
I would just like to thank you for putting on a spectacular show in Lyrath on Saturday night. It’s an absolute pleasure to see you play as always. No Easter snow this year 😊. Looking forward to the next show.
Thanks again from all up the hills in Coon.
Always lovely to hear from the Vale of Coon…for two years I gazed down upon the Village from the lofty heights of Coolcullen….thinking of creamy pints and large bottles in Billy Moloneys,… had a concert in the Hall there over 40 years ago when Tom Kinsella was my road manager… gigs in The Ridge Bar, The Coalmine and Conways in Comer.. further afield to The Arkle in Gowran, The West End in Ballyraggett and Kytelers in Kilenny, from Pedigree Corner on to Carlow to play in Sean Fury’s and The El Ruedo….it was a great old time back then, great fun and neighbourliness and no harm done….no ticketmaster, apps, mobile phones, security, vat, ipads, satnavs ..its a wonder we ever found our way home
CM (73)
Beannachtaí na Cáisc ort is do clann.
That Easter bunny is a queer hawk.
I was in the vicinity of the yearly drop off this morning (living room)
Not one egg in sight.
Went in the kitchen to put the kettle down , heard a lot of running and rustling.
Went back to the drop of location again and sure enough there was not only chocolate but two fine goose eggs awaiting my return.She’s a queer hawk alright that Easter bunny.
There’s an awful gang coming here today , haven’t seen them since Christmas and the curtains were set on fire (but that’s a whole other story)!
Was listening to “wave up to the shore” these days it’s like a old old song.
Have a grand day CM.
CS(14)
In bygone days of yore the Easter Egg was an extravagant commodity….while some would get one,others might share one, there were many who never experienced the sweet pleasure….
dont know if I ever took the top off a Goose egg…certainly enjoyed a few duck eggs over the years but its hard to equal a good hen’s egg….an egg from a hen that spent its day scratchin around the haggart, enjoying an odd scatter of layers mash …hard to top a pair of them lads fried in the fat of home cured streaky rashers accompanied with coarse brown bread smothered in country butter washed down with strong sweet tea…(after which a Sweet Afton or Gold Flake was optional)
I have fond memories of recording Luka’s song “Wave to Shore”,it must be 43 years ago…”Sacco” “Musgrave” “Johnny Jump” “Limerick Rake” spring to mind…Jimmy Faulkner, Declan McNelis,Michéal Ó Domhnaill, Barney Mckenna all since departed..it was a party time recording session, a couple of weeks in a studio called Dublin Sound produced by Donal Lunny and engineered by Pat Morley….that studio long since bulldozed and turned into apartments
good to hear from you again…How you getting on with your Music ?
Here we go Christy, you might even rattle out the chorus at the Waterfront, best of ;luck…
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose …I’m Belfast born and bred
Dublin has the Liffey, Cork it has the Lee
But the Lagan flows through my hometown,
And it means the world to me
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose ………
I’m Belfast born and bred
I’ve known the streets of Belfast, As boy and youth and man
A lifetime’s memories in my head, I love it heart and hand
The Matinee at the Lido, The pictures at The Ritz
The magic of The Broadway, And a back-stalls teenage kiss
The Canberra gliding down the Lough, The liner’s booming blast
Titanic ships then being built, No longer now, alas
I climbed the first cave on Cave Hill, Got chased by Mickey Marley
I missed the age of Pitch and Toss, But I bet with Cheeky Charlie
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose……… I’m Belfast born and bred
Shipyard men, the Dockers, The women in the Mills
The workers from the building game, Their stories with us still
McGlade’s, The Crown and Smithfield, The hymns of the Sally Ann
When Rinty ruled the boxing world, The Toss… Buck Alex ran
The bustle of The Markets, The brass balls of The Pawns
Paper boys shout: `Sixth Telllehhh’, The blare of factory horns
The GAA at Casement Park, And the Ulster Hall for boxing
The Blues v Celtic, Windsor Park, and the whole of Belfast rocking
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose……… I’m Belfast born and bred
The grandeur of the City Hall, Of the best Carrara marble
While the people lived two up, two down, And men took to the gargle
Tales of Belfast poverty, Of shouldering the hod
A people worked down to the bone, I’m proud they’re in my blood
It’s a town so long divided, We’ve struggled and we’ve bled
But the one thing that unites us all…. We’re Belfast… born and bred
From the tips of my toes to Napoleon’s Nose……… I’m Belfast born and bred
Morra Antrim,
A sombre Easter Greeting to you and anyone visiting the site.
Since Friday morning thoughts keep returning to Lyra McKee
Lyra McKee
Most Irish people had never heard Lyra’s name before,
Now, sadly, Lyra’s name is on all our lips,
Her smiling image imbued upon our imagination
Whatever outcome might ensue
Nothing will quell the heartbreak of Lyra’s loved ones
But if we could all embrace the light that Lyra generated
in her bright life so cruelly ended
We might find a way to walk up this road together
Singing Her Name
Lyra McKee Lyra McKee Lyra McKee
Let Us Remember
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Thanks for sharing your Ballad …..I like it…..I could hear the late Davy Hammond singing your song..do you have a tune in mind ?
I dont think I could do it justce with my Kildare brogue…..but who knows…it could be spoke or sung
Hi Christy, looking forward to seeing you back in Belfast next month.
I’ve written a new Belfast ballad, which I think could go down really well with your fans on the night.
In addition, I’ve written another ballad which, given the very recent tragedy in Derry, might be appropriate.
If you could drop me a quick email to belfastballad@hotmail.com I will forward them on for you to have a look at.
All the best for Belfast and beyond.
Hey Antrim,
these days it can take me a year to prepare a song for performance….sometimes even longer then that…if you wish, you could put your ballad up here and we’ll all be able to see it..
getting ready now for the Bog Meadow and the Black Mountain
Christy, a chara,
Great night last night. Yourself and the boys put on a mighty show. Plenty of chorus singing as you said and a lovely tribute to Lyra McKee from Derry. Hope ye enjoy the weather today and hopefully you’ll come back to Laois for a ramble soon. Myself, bother Eoghan, girlfriend Áine and friends Henry and Owen had a great night. We thought we were young in our 20s to be loving folk and all things Christy Moore but great to see even more younger folk lovers coming along. Hopefully the young chaps will bate out a few chords with them picks.
Le gach dea-ghuí, go raibh maith agat.
Niall Brennan
O to walk Bondara Bog this glorious Spring day…had I known there were Bog People in last night I’d have sung Luka’s great song
“I’m a Bogman, deep down ,its where I come from ”
really good singing on The Heath last night…..afterwards passed through Abbeleix on our trip to Durrow and onwards towards Lyrath….miss passing thru Abbeleix, always was a good pit stop on the way to Cork….
Christy, ya legend. The Yellow Furze Crew will be attending on May 25 in London, appreciate a shout out on the night.
Spoke to you over breakfast many moons ago in Belfast, a moment we treasure to this day. Sweet Thames Flow Softly would be an apt addition to the playlist on May 25 but you’re the boss.
Keep her lit Christy
Erin,
between the Thames, Liffey, Boyne, Lee, Shannon, Nore, Barrow,Suir,Foyle,Clyde,Tyne,Dodder,Poddle,Bann,Lagan,Corrib, not to mention the Banks of The Royal Canal, the Suck the Inny, the Deal, the Feale and .to be sure, The Seven Springs
I realise the vital importance and inspirational streams of creativity that flow from our great Rivers….if only we could respect them
of course I’ll shout ye out on the night…from the rooftops, the very rafters, I will shout Yellow Furze Senchelstown Beauparc Hayestown Cotton Mills and,of course,I must not forget Stackallen
catch you in The Big Smoke Erin…back where my apprenticeship began…
we’ll be at it here in Kilkenny tonight….back with The Cats in The Marble City
Michael D has just opened the James Connolly centre, on the Falls Road. There was a minute silence for Lyra McKee (an inspiring voice) the young NUJ journalist murdered in Derry, on the anniversary of the Good Friday agreement. Plus cą change, plus c’est la même chose.
On the way home Planxty and Liam Óg were playing on Raidió Fáilte… the chattering Magpie. Before I finish chattering, you may know Peggy Seeger and her son Calum MacColl are playing in the Heaney centre in July.
‘Re-tuning time-turned words,
Fitting each weathered song
To a new-grooved harmony,
They pluck slick strings and swing
A sad heart’s equilibrium’
The Folk Singers, Seamus Heaney.
Beannachtaí na Cásca agus go well Christy!
Finding the right words is very difficult…I did not hear of Lyra McKee until yesterday…..such a brutal senseless murder….all I’ve heard since are tributes to her young life, her focus and determination in seeking human rights, I’ve spoken to some of her colleagues all of whom are in shock from the loss of such promising young journalist…..
May her passing not be in vain
Hi Christy
I went to see you recently in Slieve Donard in Newcastle and luckily managed to get tickets for 2nd of May in the Waterfront as a surprise for my partner. I was wondering could you dedicate Viva La Quinta Brigada to Damien Sullivan on the night? he is currently training for his first professional boxing fight on the 17th of May so he will be buzzing to see you beforehand!!!
will do my best…always loads of requests for call outs these days,
must be an exciting time for Damien…just read Andy Lee’s book “Fighter” which gives great insights into the Boxing world..the sacrifices, the discipline, the pitfalls…
Hi Christy, I often listen to you here in the Basque Country – poetry and music. This year I´ll have my firstborn and be sure he will sing your songs one day standing by the ocean. Thanks for leaving the bank job ; ) The very best wishes to you and yours, Annie
Thank You Annie,
I wish you and your newborn happiness and long healthy lives together
Hiya Christy!
I’m asking a favour of you, I hope you don’t mind!! My friends are getting married this July and they are both HUGE fans of yours. I know a message from yourself would just blow them away on their wedding day…. even just Congratulations! or some marriage pearls of wisdom you could offer the newlyweds? Anything. They will love it.
Thank you!
Bernadette
fair enough
Hope don’t mind a notification of a gig coming up…next Thursday, the 25th April we welcome Eleanor Shanley and John Feeley, classical guitarist, to The Seaview Sessions in The Old Punchbowl, Rock Rd in Booterstown..looking forward to another lovely night.
Thanks a mill..L
https://www.ticketweb.ie/event/eleanor-shanley-john-feeley-the-seaview-sessions-tickets/9243945
Thats a lovely line-up Lar…hope you Eleanor and John have a great gathering in Booterstown….
“… and it’s straight I will repair to the colour of Kildare.” At least that what I thought the Johnstons sang when it used to be on Radio Éireann back in the day. Y’see I was only three or four and at that age I suppose I never really worried too much about what the songs on the radio actually said. Whether it was “Lily The Pink” or “Goodbye Mursheen Durkin”, I hadn’t a clue what the most of them were on about. Loved the songs though. The sound. My mammy said I used to run into the room where the radio was on if “The House With The Whitewashed Gable” came on. No idea what it was about. Not a clue. Sure to a three or four-year-old like meself, there were lots of indecipherable lyrics in songs back in those days. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. So I never really stopped to wonder what the colour of Kildare might be. The colour of Sligo was overcast with occasional patches of blue, but Kildare? No idea. Then there was the word ‘repair’ in there. “It’s straight I will repair.” What was that doing in a song? Repair. We had a bicycle repair kit at home with a few patches in it for fixing a puncture. Maybe they were singing about bicycles. Ah yes, I used to love listening to Radio Éireann as a wee lad. That’s where I first heard Christy Moore. It was either “Three Drunken Maidens” or “The Cliffs Of Dooneen”. Don’t remember which one now. With me too rye ah, fol de diddle dah, too rye, oo rye, oo rye ah! Do you still sing the “Curragh” Christy?
Hey Joe !
The Curragh still creeps into the set..always at Kildare gigs but sometimes further afield…
Three Drunken was first Planxty single and Cliffs came next…back in 1972..heady times for us…criss crossing the nation in a ford transit…Merrily kissing Quakers, sleeping with alligators as we sailed upon the Lakes of Pontchartrain..
your post reminds me of my own early listening…”Kevin Barry”, “Meeting of The waters”, “Dún na Rí”, “Down by The Glenside”..then early R&R rocked the cabin for a while, “Hound Dog”, “Jailhouse Rock”, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Fats, Ella, came my way all soon to be silenced by The Clancys & Tommy Makem
hi Christy myself and my son Michael will be attending your fri night gig at the limerick concert hall we are really looking forward too it and would like to ask if it is possible for you to include pripchat or Hiroshima Nagasaki in the set list if not we totally understand
thats a good call John, been trying to get a “live” recording of Hiro of late but I keep forgetting to include it in the set..your request is a timely reminder….recently met up with Jim Page who wrote this song…he is still in fine fettle, writing and singing