Christy, thanks for two perfect nights in Sligo. Your Power on Stage is alltime really impressive and its unbelievable how you react and sing a ‘unplanned’ song. Glad to get two last Tickets for Wednesday in Dublin. Its allmost sold out, only a few seats left. Kind regards, Carsten
Christy's reply
Carsten….I enjoy the “unplanned” songs when they come back out of the blue….on Fri night word came for”The Boy from Tamlaghtduff”…on Saturday “Continental Céilí” appeared for the first time in 20 years…for me,it is like meeting old friends……
the “power” comes from the collective….the lyric, the melody, the singer, the strings,the listeners, the sound engineer, the lighting,the back-up crew….as we all gather together a power is created….I feel very fortunate to find myself in the middle of it all…
here this morning, in the workroom, I’m reflecting upon it all…powerless in reflection
Come Wed in the NCH …we’ll gather again,together to seek the magic generator !!
Christy, so true what Marty wrote about your singing.It’s a trip down memory lane, the country….
Thank you for two lovely nights, both different. I love it when you play the bodhran, it must be very exhausting?
Hilary told me Bob D. is playing in Kilkenny in July maybe you can do a duet?
Always nice to meet up with some 4711ers and meet new people at your gigs.
We are such privileged people that we can take a plane just to see you while others have to risk their lives in a small boat to get a better one.
We have now ten more days left to enjoy this beautiful country before we go back to ours.
Hope Mick didn’t eat all the chocolates and left something for you!
See you….
Chris
Christy's reply
The Bodhrán has been silent for almost a year but last night I got the urge to beat the rhythm….playing it like I did last night is not at all tiring but I do find it exciting..it really suits that particular ancient song…
thank you for your support and feedback…its gratifying that listeners travel such long distances to hear and to support the songs…over the two nights in Sligo there were songsters from many parts of Ireland, from England,Scotland Wales, Belgium, USA, Canada and Australia…these are the ones I heard about..there may have been others
Your gifts of Belgian chocolate made it back to Dublin…I have not been eating chocolate these past months….I was becoming too fond …but the family will be chomping your generous offering….
What a great night in Sligo Christy, and thanks so much for the shout out to my absent father, Brian Murphy. You are his poet and he was thrilled that I at least got to be here tonight.
Christy , what pictures you painted with your words and music in the Hawks Well……. wee small cliffs in the Kingdom….. drunken husbands getting their comeuppance. …cotinental ceilis. …travelling people…. Planxty and crocodiles. …. Moxys in the mix…. and wild colonial boys.
Now , where’s me glasses….
Christy's reply
I almost sang “Companeros” “Duffy’s Cut””Amsterdam” and “Little Musgrave” but never got around them
Hi Christy
Back to Paris after watching you in Waterford and walking the wicklow way. Perfect combination for holidays on Ireland. Hope you will do a gig one day in the irish Cultural Centre in Paris so I could come with my family. Thanks again for this fantastic concert. Best regards
Christy's reply
“I took the rocky road up Croagh Patrick
and the mossy slope up Sliabh Gallion Braes
I plunged the deep at Brandon Creek
and slept in a glade way up behind Dun Maeve
all alone upon The Wicklow Way Peace and Solitude I found
but when I reached the Slopes of Mullaghmore
I knew that I I was on The Holy Ground”….. (In Praise of Mullaghmore)
plenty of details of artists/releases on Topic Records…celebrating 80 years of top quality music..inc numerous groundbreaking,now iconic LPs.Plus new stuff eg Brooce stringing us all along in a classy,mellow way…
Enjoy Sligo
Dave
Christy's reply
Morra Dave,
Thanks for sharing
after two great nights in The Hawkswell Theatre in Sligo we are going to Wicklow tonight to sit and listen to Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick…its 52 years now since I sat in the Manchester Sports Guild listening to Martin and Dave Swarbrick..what I heard that night still resounds…and I’m sure it somehow fed into shapes and sounds when Planxty first began to germinate
Morning Christy- delighted to be in Sligo for the weekend gigs, always grateful to catch up with you when over here. Loved hearing Matty last night, a favorite… and I don’t know the name but sail on Jimmy was the highlight for me… is it a new song? Really lovely. Looking forward to tonight- see you later, kathleen
Christy's reply
Matty (by Johnny Mulhearn) showed up last night after a long absence… great song to sing….a while back I bumped into my own Doppelganger, my very own Dark Familiar….a most enlightening experience….
Jimmy is called “Sail On Jimmy”(aka Irish Pagan Ritual) and was written by Albert Niland. The Bard of Mountbellew has recently returned to Eire after 14 years busking and balladeering around the world.He wore out 47 sets of tyres and is currently revitalising his batteries and checking his points and plugs. A change of oil and he will soon be gigging again.He has many songs and is a top shelf guitar man
Excited for the show tonight. Great to get the chance to see you live again tonight with the boys. Hope youre enjoying the scenes of Sligo as much as meself. Queen Maebh and Constance, powerful women. Not as flat as Laois or Kildare at all. Being looked after in great company by Matt and Joe Davey. Joe has been following you for years and has great stories of seeing you in the Blue Lagoon and Killimer waiting for ferries and the Venue with Planxty. All the best tonight and enjoy the sun. Off for a puck around now. Face the puck out.
Slán,
Niall Brennan
Christy's reply
I was talking to Constance last night..she is still to the good..painting and rebel rousing…took a ramble up to Maeve this morning after dawn..not a sinner to be seen…she spoke to me, as usual, words of good counsel and encouragement
Dear Christy delighted to see you are coming back to the Slieve Donard in Newcastle this October. We have been trying to book tickets all over the land since Christmas but nothing was suiting our (not so busy schedule!) Just working on a special request last year we had the reel in the flickering light this year’s will be even better. Arìs ar ais❣
Christy's reply
“Does she come from another planet ?
has she got a bee in her bonnet ?
does she do her daily duties ?
you’d never know ..we might be suited.”………..
Hi Christy. 24 years ago today Rory passed away. I play “Rory’s Gone” every year on this occasion. Lovely words by Nigel. Hope you are well and all the best, Milo
Christy's reply
“His records scratched like his beaten up old Fender
his songs are strong and the notes hang in the air”
Happy to be back in Sligo to see you today and tomorrow. Just arrived today from Germany and see that you play in Dublin next Tuesday. Thats a good start and end for our quick CM Journey. Looking for Tickets in Dub 🙂
Carsten
Christy's reply
Its great to be back in Sligo…first gig here was in the local Cinema when Planxty did a gig with Pumpkinhead and Joe O’Dowd..that was back in 1972, twas a great night which ran thru to the following day…
no gig next tue Carsten…..its Wed and Thu in National Concert Hall..far as I know there may be tickets available
but
avoid
Viagogo………….. and their corrupt practice
Bought a guitar Christy, an auld yahama acoustic, gonna learn a few tunes. Inspired from your cracking performance in London recently. Love ya more than you know. Keep her lit man
Christy's reply
good luck with that… for 20 years I played an old Yamaha FG 180….make sure you find a teacher who clearly understands what kind of music you hope to play..stick with it..the first weeks are painful and difficult, frustratingly so..then comes day when the clouds will clear and pleasure begins…once you get going, you got it for life
Hi Christy, working our way up to Sligo for Saturday night via Galway, Connemara and Mayo. Absolutely stunning and so lucky with the weather especially for Croagh Patrick, the views out over Clew Bay were amazing. Our first time in this part of Ireland and we’re only here because of your Sligo gig and our anniversary so thank you so much. For another first we have managed to get front row seats on Saturday, we’re usually at the back somewhere! We’re really looking forward to the highlight of our trip, if you get an opportunity can you please play something for my beautiful wife Sally Anne.
All the best Christy,
David & Sally Anne, South Wales
Christy's reply
Hope you made it safely back down off Croagh Patrick….its a challenging climb….seeing bare-footed pilgrims of all ages is indeed an awesome spectacle…its the first time we have recieved a post from the “Reek”….got one from Everest once and another from Kilimanjero..
see you Saturday night
I am writing in connection with a view to writing my fathers book. We were eventually given all of his writings, poems, books and of course tin whistles and pipes! While thoroughly enjoying sifting through his gear I came across the beginning of a book which he started while in hospital in London. This along with other writings of his and of his story I feel should be put out there for many to remember him by.
We still have the beautiful obituary Davoc wrote of him, which I would love to include, if that’s ok with Davoc.
About 15 years ago I interviewed you and you told me a funny story about youself and Ciarán on a train….
What I was really hoping for Christy was, if you had any stories or if you had contact with anyone from old Prosperous times that would like to include a funny or moving tale to his book.
I really would appreciate any help you can give me, any ideas you might think of would be cherished.
I know we will always remember what a great man Ciarán was but I would like to show him off to the people who didn’t get the opportunity to meet him or know of his story.
Rathfionna,
I hope it all works out..Ciarán was a vital part of the Dubliners original sound…his rhythm guitar, his whistle playing, his singing, his vocal interjections, his repertoire, his divilment,were all to the fore in those heady days as the great band blazed a rebellious radical trail across Catholic Ireland…
I’ve sent you an email
Hope all is great..and hope to get to the NCH to see the gigs, last time they were belted…
Two nice gigs this week, when Peter Byrne & Conor Mahony play in Newbridge Town Hall Thursday 13th at 8pm, launching new CD…some beautiful songs on it.
Friday night, 14th, usual slot for Wally Page , Johnny Mulhearn and band in The Annesley on North Strand Rd…thanks for letting me mention here…if anyone around, pop in..grand stretch now..LB
Christy's reply
Played a gig there myself in 1966…..along with Donal and Frank Lunny …we sang 3 ballads during the break at a Dance…the featured Band was “Jimmy Dunny and his Orchestra” ..Jimmy lived around the corner from our house….we got the gig from John Joe Murray….our fee was £2 and a dozen stout
Always good to hear from you Larball…give my best to Waldo & Johnnuy Mull
I’ll be tuning in to the brother-in-law tomorrow on the Ray D’Arcy
Howdy Christy.
I believe you no longer enjoy air travel?
Pity – was hoping you’d grace the shores of Oz again…ah well…I pop off a cruise ship in August at Cork, Dublin & Belfast so you might be treadin’ the boards somewhere within coo-ee then…
Hope you’re well & happy – keep on keepin’ on…
Danny Harris (usually mildura)
Christy's reply
Bendigo….I’m here wondering where that might be…used to feature in the chorus of a Waterson Family song.
“There was Dido,Bendigo Gentry he was there O
Traveller was never far behind them”
these were four hounds in a pack of hunting dogs
I hope thon cruise ship manages to pull up before it enters the harbour…I believe the captain can sometimes be asleep at the wheel…..took a cruise myself last month..Dublin-Holyhead….sang sea shanties all the way
“in South Australia I was born
to me heave away to me haul away
in South Australia round Cape Horn
we’re bound for South Australia”
I took my first vacation to Ireland and Scotland this past April, and I planned my whole trip around attending a Christy Moore concert. Sure glad I did, it was a great show and the highlight of my vacation. I’ll be watching the gig schedule for next April and will take the whole family across for a show. Cheers from Canada…eh?
Christy's reply
Looking back over recent posts seems like I missed yours Katana….greetings to Ontario…hopefully we’ll all gather together again along the way…thanks for your feedback …..easy does it
Hi Christy, I’m so excited to have secured tickets for Galway on Friday 16th August for my husband’s (Terry Scott) 40th. He is such a huge fan and has no idea we are going to see you. Motherland is a very special song for us and if you do perform it, a dedication in honour of his birthday would mean the world! Thanks so much,
Martine x
Christy's reply
Since my first gig in Galway back in 1972 its always been a great gig town…back then I was playing with Planxty..we rolled into town to play support to Donovan at the old “Hanger” venue in Salthill….a spark was lit that very night that still smoulders on…
the Hanger was demolished decades back and “Leisureland” was constructed on the same site..thats where we’ll be come August..
have a good trip from Cornwall..
Christy, thanks for two perfect nights in Sligo. Your Power on Stage is alltime really impressive and its unbelievable how you react and sing a ‘unplanned’ song. Glad to get two last Tickets for Wednesday in Dublin. Its allmost sold out, only a few seats left. Kind regards, Carsten
Carsten….I enjoy the “unplanned” songs when they come back out of the blue….on Fri night word came for”The Boy from Tamlaghtduff”…on Saturday “Continental Céilí” appeared for the first time in 20 years…for me,it is like meeting old friends……
the “power” comes from the collective….the lyric, the melody, the singer, the strings,the listeners, the sound engineer, the lighting,the back-up crew….as we all gather together a power is created….I feel very fortunate to find myself in the middle of it all…
here this morning, in the workroom, I’m reflecting upon it all…powerless in reflection
Come Wed in the NCH …we’ll gather again,together to seek the magic generator !!
Christy, so true what Marty wrote about your singing.It’s a trip down memory lane, the country….
Thank you for two lovely nights, both different. I love it when you play the bodhran, it must be very exhausting?
Hilary told me Bob D. is playing in Kilkenny in July maybe you can do a duet?
Always nice to meet up with some 4711ers and meet new people at your gigs.
We are such privileged people that we can take a plane just to see you while others have to risk their lives in a small boat to get a better one.
We have now ten more days left to enjoy this beautiful country before we go back to ours.
Hope Mick didn’t eat all the chocolates and left something for you!
See you….
Chris
The Bodhrán has been silent for almost a year but last night I got the urge to beat the rhythm….playing it like I did last night is not at all tiring but I do find it exciting..it really suits that particular ancient song…
thank you for your support and feedback…its gratifying that listeners travel such long distances to hear and to support the songs…over the two nights in Sligo there were songsters from many parts of Ireland, from England,Scotland Wales, Belgium, USA, Canada and Australia…these are the ones I heard about..there may have been others
Your gifts of Belgian chocolate made it back to Dublin…I have not been eating chocolate these past months….I was becoming too fond …but the family will be chomping your generous offering….
Safe travels until we meet again….
ps..I nearly met Bob Dylan once
What a great night in Sligo Christy, and thanks so much for the shout out to my absent father, Brian Murphy. You are his poet and he was thrilled that I at least got to be here tonight.
you are very welcome..best wishes to Brian
Christy , what pictures you painted with your words and music in the Hawks Well……. wee small cliffs in the Kingdom….. drunken husbands getting their comeuppance. …cotinental ceilis. …travelling people…. Planxty and crocodiles. …. Moxys in the mix…. and wild colonial boys.
Now , where’s me glasses….
I almost sang “Companeros” “Duffy’s Cut””Amsterdam” and “Little Musgrave” but never got around them
Hi Christy
Back to Paris after watching you in Waterford and walking the wicklow way. Perfect combination for holidays on Ireland. Hope you will do a gig one day in the irish Cultural Centre in Paris so I could come with my family. Thanks again for this fantastic concert. Best regards
“I took the rocky road up Croagh Patrick
and the mossy slope up Sliabh Gallion Braes
I plunged the deep at Brandon Creek
and slept in a glade way up behind Dun Maeve
all alone upon The Wicklow Way Peace and Solitude I found
but when I reached the Slopes of Mullaghmore
I knew that I I was on The Holy Ground”….. (In Praise of Mullaghmore)
Through the “Gap”and round Ben Bulben….in Sligo Town now…. tried not to come to tonight’s show but the pull was just too strong !!!
I spotted ye up the bleachers last night…..thank you
Hi Christy
Happy to pass on proof that it is possible to get something for nothing…
excellent news and some extracts/videos of music that bear folk all resemblance to sounds we know and love -available at
http://www.folking.com
plenty of details of artists/releases on Topic Records…celebrating 80 years of top quality music..inc numerous groundbreaking,now iconic LPs.Plus new stuff eg Brooce stringing us all along in a classy,mellow way…
Enjoy Sligo
Dave
Morra Dave,
Thanks for sharing
after two great nights in The Hawkswell Theatre in Sligo we are going to Wicklow tonight to sit and listen to Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick…its 52 years now since I sat in the Manchester Sports Guild listening to Martin and Dave Swarbrick..what I heard that night still resounds…and I’m sure it somehow fed into shapes and sounds when Planxty first began to germinate
Morning Christy- delighted to be in Sligo for the weekend gigs, always grateful to catch up with you when over here. Loved hearing Matty last night, a favorite… and I don’t know the name but sail on Jimmy was the highlight for me… is it a new song? Really lovely. Looking forward to tonight- see you later, kathleen
Matty (by Johnny Mulhearn) showed up last night after a long absence… great song to sing….a while back I bumped into my own Doppelganger, my very own Dark Familiar….a most enlightening experience….
Jimmy is called “Sail On Jimmy”(aka Irish Pagan Ritual) and was written by Albert Niland. The Bard of Mountbellew has recently returned to Eire after 14 years busking and balladeering around the world.He wore out 47 sets of tyres and is currently revitalising his batteries and checking his points and plugs. A change of oil and he will soon be gigging again.He has many songs and is a top shelf guitar man
Christy, a chara,
Excited for the show tonight. Great to get the chance to see you live again tonight with the boys. Hope youre enjoying the scenes of Sligo as much as meself. Queen Maebh and Constance, powerful women. Not as flat as Laois or Kildare at all. Being looked after in great company by Matt and Joe Davey. Joe has been following you for years and has great stories of seeing you in the Blue Lagoon and Killimer waiting for ferries and the Venue with Planxty. All the best tonight and enjoy the sun. Off for a puck around now. Face the puck out.
Slán,
Niall Brennan
I was talking to Constance last night..she is still to the good..painting and rebel rousing…took a ramble up to Maeve this morning after dawn..not a sinner to be seen…she spoke to me, as usual, words of good counsel and encouragement
Dear Christy delighted to see you are coming back to the Slieve Donard in Newcastle this October. We have been trying to book tickets all over the land since Christmas but nothing was suiting our (not so busy schedule!) Just working on a special request last year we had the reel in the flickering light this year’s will be even better. Arìs ar ais❣
“Does she come from another planet ?
has she got a bee in her bonnet ?
does she do her daily duties ?
you’d never know ..we might be suited.”………..
Hi Christy. 24 years ago today Rory passed away. I play “Rory’s Gone” every year on this occasion. Lovely words by Nigel. Hope you are well and all the best, Milo
“His records scratched like his beaten up old Fender
his songs are strong and the notes hang in the air”
Happy to be back in Sligo to see you today and tomorrow. Just arrived today from Germany and see that you play in Dublin next Tuesday. Thats a good start and end for our quick CM Journey. Looking for Tickets in Dub 🙂
Carsten
Its great to be back in Sligo…first gig here was in the local Cinema when Planxty did a gig with Pumpkinhead and Joe O’Dowd..that was back in 1972, twas a great night which ran thru to the following day…
no gig next tue Carsten…..its Wed and Thu in National Concert Hall..far as I know there may be tickets available
but
avoid
Viagogo………….. and their corrupt practice
Bought a guitar Christy, an auld yahama acoustic, gonna learn a few tunes. Inspired from your cracking performance in London recently. Love ya more than you know. Keep her lit man
good luck with that… for 20 years I played an old Yamaha FG 180….make sure you find a teacher who clearly understands what kind of music you hope to play..stick with it..the first weeks are painful and difficult, frustratingly so..then comes day when the clouds will clear and pleasure begins…once you get going, you got it for life
Hi Christy, working our way up to Sligo for Saturday night via Galway, Connemara and Mayo. Absolutely stunning and so lucky with the weather especially for Croagh Patrick, the views out over Clew Bay were amazing. Our first time in this part of Ireland and we’re only here because of your Sligo gig and our anniversary so thank you so much. For another first we have managed to get front row seats on Saturday, we’re usually at the back somewhere! We’re really looking forward to the highlight of our trip, if you get an opportunity can you please play something for my beautiful wife Sally Anne.
All the best Christy,
David & Sally Anne, South Wales
Hope you made it safely back down off Croagh Patrick….its a challenging climb….seeing bare-footed pilgrims of all ages is indeed an awesome spectacle…its the first time we have recieved a post from the “Reek”….got one from Everest once and another from Kilimanjero..
see you Saturday night
Good evening Christy,
Today would have been Anne Frank’s 90th birthday. Yellow triangle……
The power of song gives us hope.
Regards
Rory
so does the rising political awareness of our younger generations give hope….
but hope can sometimes erode when men like Trump and Johnson are given power…
our collective generation must accept responsibility for allowing this to happen
Dear Christy,
I hope this message finds you well and happy.
It’s Ciarán Bourkes daughter Rathfionna here.
I am writing in connection with a view to writing my fathers book. We were eventually given all of his writings, poems, books and of course tin whistles and pipes! While thoroughly enjoying sifting through his gear I came across the beginning of a book which he started while in hospital in London. This along with other writings of his and of his story I feel should be put out there for many to remember him by.
We still have the beautiful obituary Davoc wrote of him, which I would love to include, if that’s ok with Davoc.
About 15 years ago I interviewed you and you told me a funny story about youself and Ciarán on a train….
What I was really hoping for Christy was, if you had any stories or if you had contact with anyone from old Prosperous times that would like to include a funny or moving tale to his book.
I really would appreciate any help you can give me, any ideas you might think of would be cherished.
I know we will always remember what a great man Ciarán was but I would like to show him off to the people who didn’t get the opportunity to meet him or know of his story.
Duine go maith,
Rathfíonna de Búrca
Phone-0868806988
rathfionna@gmail.com
Rathfionna,
I hope it all works out..Ciarán was a vital part of the Dubliners original sound…his rhythm guitar, his whistle playing, his singing, his vocal interjections, his repertoire, his divilment,were all to the fore in those heady days as the great band blazed a rebellious radical trail across Catholic Ireland…
I’ve sent you an email
Hope all is great..and hope to get to the NCH to see the gigs, last time they were belted…
Two nice gigs this week, when Peter Byrne & Conor Mahony play in Newbridge Town Hall Thursday 13th at 8pm, launching new CD…some beautiful songs on it.
Friday night, 14th, usual slot for Wally Page , Johnny Mulhearn and band in The Annesley on North Strand Rd…thanks for letting me mention here…if anyone around, pop in..grand stretch now..LB
Played a gig there myself in 1966…..along with Donal and Frank Lunny …we sang 3 ballads during the break at a Dance…the featured Band was “Jimmy Dunny and his Orchestra” ..Jimmy lived around the corner from our house….we got the gig from John Joe Murray….our fee was £2 and a dozen stout
Always good to hear from you Larball…give my best to Waldo & Johnnuy Mull
I’ll be tuning in to the brother-in-law tomorrow on the Ray D’Arcy
Howdy Christy.
I believe you no longer enjoy air travel?
Pity – was hoping you’d grace the shores of Oz again…ah well…I pop off a cruise ship in August at Cork, Dublin & Belfast so you might be treadin’ the boards somewhere within coo-ee then…
Hope you’re well & happy – keep on keepin’ on…
Danny Harris (usually mildura)
Bendigo….I’m here wondering where that might be…used to feature in the chorus of a Waterson Family song.
“There was Dido,Bendigo Gentry he was there O
Traveller was never far behind them”
these were four hounds in a pack of hunting dogs
I hope thon cruise ship manages to pull up before it enters the harbour…I believe the captain can sometimes be asleep at the wheel…..took a cruise myself last month..Dublin-Holyhead….sang sea shanties all the way
“in South Australia I was born
to me heave away to me haul away
in South Australia round Cape Horn
we’re bound for South Australia”
I took my first vacation to Ireland and Scotland this past April, and I planned my whole trip around attending a Christy Moore concert. Sure glad I did, it was a great show and the highlight of my vacation. I’ll be watching the gig schedule for next April and will take the whole family across for a show. Cheers from Canada…eh?
Looking back over recent posts seems like I missed yours Katana….greetings to Ontario…hopefully we’ll all gather together again along the way…thanks for your feedback …..easy does it
Hi Christy, I’m so excited to have secured tickets for Galway on Friday 16th August for my husband’s (Terry Scott) 40th. He is such a huge fan and has no idea we are going to see you. Motherland is a very special song for us and if you do perform it, a dedication in honour of his birthday would mean the world! Thanks so much,
Martine x
Since my first gig in Galway back in 1972 its always been a great gig town…back then I was playing with Planxty..we rolled into town to play support to Donovan at the old “Hanger” venue in Salthill….a spark was lit that very night that still smoulders on…
the Hanger was demolished decades back and “Leisureland” was constructed on the same site..thats where we’ll be come August..
have a good trip from Cornwall..