With the presale tomorrow morning for your subscribers for Vicar Street, is there a certain time we can expect to get an email with the presale code? Cheers
Christy's reply
obviously a glitch in the works…we’ll get it sorted
Hi there, I know you get many requests for shout outs but I’ll give it a go. I’m coming to Liverpool philharmonic 16th October with my life long friend Dawn. I’m taking her for her 60th birthday so any acknowledgement would be great. She recently found out that she descends from travellers from the Cork area. I’m yer Dowling man.
Ian
Christy's reply
it will have to go into the hat…Liverpool is renowned for “call-out” requests…one year there were more requests for calls outs then seats in the room…I’ll sing every song specially for everyone in the audience
Hi Christy,
A good friend and I will be attending a gig of yours for the second time this year, this weekend on the 27th in Cappoquin. I was wondering if it was possible if you could play “Bright Blue Rose” in honour of his late grandmother. Looking forward to another great night.
Kind regards.
Grand bit of dryin out….
Two gigs coming up that may be of interest to readers here..
On Thursday next, 27th Sept, Phelim Drew. along with Anto Drennan will play in The Old Punchbowl, Booterstown, ticket link below.
And after a summer break, the great Wally Page will return to his monthly gig in The Annesley House, North Strand Rd on Friday October the 11th..maybe I can post again closer to that gig time..thank you..L x https://www.ticketweb.ie/event/phelim-drew-in-booterstown-the-seaview-sessions-tickets/9636905
Christy's reply
Great News that Wally is recommencing at Annesley House…..one of Ireland’s greatest songwriters and my favourite collaborator..I’ve been priviledged to cover and co-write songs with Wally this past 30 years…we first met back in 1978 at the first Meeting Place Festival in 1978…..”Yat Tie a Rat ,Tie a Rat, Tie a Rada”
All for The Roses (Finglas Boys)
This is The Day
Biko Drum
16 Jolly Ravers
Johnny Conners
Smoke and Strong Whiskey
Two Conneeleys
Duffy’s Cut
Lovely Young One
Come All you Dreamers………………..are just 10 songs that spring to mind…
Hi Christy,
The Edinburgh set was a few reels of music you and the lads first played publicly in Edinburgh last year, you said at the gig you had all just been jamming away in the hours before and came up with the tunes. You named it ‘the edinburgh set’ immediately after playing it ,and also performed it at a few gigs over here after that.
Have a good day in the sun.
Rory
Christy's reply
We’ll have to resurrect that set..it fell by the wayside at the turn of the year…. thanks for the reminder…we enjoyed playing it
Reporting again about luck I have fishing while playing your music. After 3 years of success this year it was Jimmy McCarthy for 3, Mary Black for 2 and -well- I still enjoyed your efforts. So looking forward to your concert Oct 2. As stated earlier it is major reason we are coming back to Ireland from Vancouver Island.
Cheers
Christy's reply
no gig on Oct 2nd..I’ll be out fishing (for songs)
Good evening, when you visit Liverpool on the 16th October, if you get a few minutes visit the Casa bar. It’s just a couple of hundred yards from the Phil on the same road. It was set up by Dockers and is a trade union bar but most interesting is the wall to the Liverpool men who fought in the Spanish civil war, some great photos. I’ll be in there before the gig, the ales on me. Sláinte
Christy's reply
O’Mórdha to Ó’Murchú…thanks for the invite to The Casa Bar,,,back in the 60s & 70s I’d have joined you in a shot…in those times I needed fierce lubrication before perfoming..these days its all prep…soundchecks,rehearsals,tightening corsets, postioning hair pieces, taking medicinal tablets, a few rapid deckitts of the rosary,stretching aged joints, limbering digits, warming my voice box…back then I’d need at least a gallon of Thwaites to get jump started…now a thimble of decaffeinated camomille brings me down to land
No Paseran
Hi Christy.
Hope you are well.So glad to hear of the gigs you will be doing in the coming months.
We oftrn hear your records.I have most of your vinyls and lots of your CD,s.
Always brings great memories of Dorset St. Oh the fun we had.Still remember the knocks from the cops at the door after closingtime.
Hope you,Val and the family are doing well.
All the best Hanne.
Christy's reply
Great to hear from you Hanne….The Meeting Place was a den of activity in many of our lives….great friendships were formed…beautiful music played…fine pints pulled and quaffed….fair deals agreed and smoked….between the first and last gig that upstairs room boogied and hopped to the sounds of a thousand troubadours…. Red Peters, Floating Dublin Blues Band, De Danaan, Declan Sinnott ,Jimmy MacCarthy,Southpaw,Clannad,Planxty, Bothy Band, Tara Band, Rob Strong,Barry & Eilish Moore, Mary &Frances Black, Mary Coughlan, Tipsy Sailor,Jimmy Faulkner,Declan McNelis,Kevin Burke, on and on I could go…at the heart of it all wasThe Spillane Family. Paddy,Sean and Shay, your good self and all the team who helped ye run “The Shop”….
Many of us remember and reflect upon the glory days in Dorset Street…..I’ll be in touch
Boarding a plane tonight from Baltimore to be in Drogheda for your show tomorrow night. My cousin Dave from London will be meeting me there. We did this two years ago when you were in Cootehill and are back for another dose! Thank you for all that you do and really looking forward to the show!
Hi Christy, mercifully brief from me today.
Tapping the feet hard on the train to the tune ‘King Puck’ from the album of the same name i wondered if you, Colm and the lads might be thinking of hammering again soon into some foot tapping tunes like it ( or the much missed ‘Edinburgh Set’) before we get back to stroking our mobiles.
Cheers
Rory
Hello Christy,
I only want to thank you for all that you have given to me and mine. Like others I have seen comment, I was reared on your music, and as I have gotten older I’ve been fortunate enough to have managed to get to a gig or two of yours each year, some in Dublin and some further afield. I have such fond memories of my old man playing guitar and singing a few of your tunes (not the best impressions mind you 😉) at the house parties growing up. I have also spread the Christy bug to my partner of 5 years who comes along to the gigs with me these days. Being at them, there in the moment, is something I truly cherish. Your song, your stories, your humour and your passion (always for the greater good) have moved me, inspired me, fired me, brouggt many a tear to my eye, and given me some great laughs! A friend of mine (Theresa) was one of the Dunnes Stores strikers, and has spoken of your warmth and support to them and their cause. That was no surprise to me. Anyhow, I look forward very much to seeing you again soon. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Mind yourself and keep her lit.
Christy's reply
Just back in from a gig in Drogheda….thank your feedback and ongoing support…
The Dunne Stores Strikers were truly inspirational…. a beacon of light in dark times….abused by their bullying employers, castigated by church men, abandoned by Labour, ridiculed by elements of the Press but honoured and remembered by Nelson Mandela
As down by Brockagh corner
One morning I did stray…..
One of the old stories of Johnstons Motor Car was that the good doctor was more put out by the line “you could hear the din going through Glenfin. …”. Saying the was certainly no din from his highly prized Ford motor car.
Hello Christy,
Hope this finds you well. I loved to read your wee chat about Lord Baker (mighty video clip – thanks to Hil). This ballad is one of my favourite songs and it would be fantastic to hear it again at a gig! Still remember very well this extraordinary concert in St. Joseph’s Hall Boyle where you sang so many of John Reilly’s most beautiful songs. What a night!!! It was a privilege to be there.
Now the time has come to travel west again … If all goes well we’ll drop anchor on the Island a week today.
Looking forward to see you soon!
Traudel
Christy's reply
Good News ! Our German friends return!
I remember that gig in Boyle….the music, the bonhomie, the celebration of dear John Reilly’s life and times….
I’m hoping to play some Gigs with Sheamie O’Dowd this year….to rekindle the magic of Joseph’s Hall in Boyle…
Thank you Christy.Im. not a writer as such. This BS enters my head from time to time. Just for fun. You came to mind as I have always been a fan from the first time I saw you on TV singing James Connel Kind Regards Pat.ly. Keep up the good work. Cant wait for your next Killarney show.
Christy's reply
Sound Pat,
Every day I see and hear bits and pieces worthy of song…sometimes I’ll spend days chasing a verse..then when its finished I dont sing it..for example last month I obsessed on a new verse for Delerium Tremens
“I dreamt my gigging days were done
my head was in a mess
reduced to doin Cabaret
at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis
the Blueshirts were hecklin
“we want Kylie Minogue”
so I gave them Michael Collins,
Kevin Barry Boolavogue.
Is that John Delaney there ?
(with his arm around Shane Ross)
Is that Richard Bruton there ?
(with the Viagogo boss)
here comes the Rebel County-
– Blood and Bandage Deputy
on the Bilderberg Flotilla
sailing up the River Lee” (C.Moore IMRO)
I tried it out recently in Dun Laoire but it died the death…
maybe The Healy Rae Bros might consider it for the B side
Hi Christy. I might have a song you would like to sing. as you probably know Michael Healy Raes bike was stolen from outside the GPO last year. around the same time a junior minister went north to view an orange parade. My song puts the 2 to gether.would you like to see the story. Michael Healy Rae likes the song. I have his permission to send it to you. Regards. Pat Moriarty.
Christy's reply
Hi Pat,
Perhaps Michael Healy-Rae could sing it himself along with Danny doing some backing vocals…they could be well positioned to apply for an Arts Council grant towards the project..maybe when they finish putting in the new Cycle Path from Kilgarvan to Killybegs.
I’m knee deep in Ballads here..out the door with songs…have not got a minute to myself and the world falling asunder..
that said, thank you for offering to share your song and good luck with it…..I hope its a hit
Hi All. I came across this lovely version of Lord Baker from the back of the Tent 10 years ago,,,,, there is also a grand version where CM sings with Sinead O Connor,,,but this has a lovely vibe to it,,, I wonder will we ever hear Lord Baker at a gig ?? https://youtu.be/tNnbECIxMKY beir bua agus beannacht,,,, H
Christy's reply
Thanks for posting from The Kingdom …this old duet from Backstage at The Marquee Cork in 2009 recalls a favourite moment in a lifetime’s singing..there have been many moments to savour over the years but none better then duetting with Dan O’Mahoney on The Ballad of Lord Baker. I first sang with Dan after a gig in Club Cleo Bandon in 1984…We got the “lock-in” in Tom McCarthy’s and started sipping a few pints as the The Marathon started at the Los Angeles Olympics of that year….it was thirsty work watching John Tracey pound those Californian Streets but we drank with him every inch of the way..when John collected his Silver medal myself and Dan launched into “Lord Baker”.Tom McCarthy went apoplectic “in the name of Christ would ye ever shut up, the fuckin Sergeant is outside”…Dan never budged but held his ground and segued into the 26th verse
“He took his sword all by the handle
and cut the wedding cake into pieces three”………….
a few more pints and we were ready for the Black Puddin…….
I’ve sung with them all, Daniel, Bono,Maggie Barry, Pecker, Mary, Sinéad, Luke, Ronnie,Elvis MacManus, Couldplay but that duet with Dan O’Mahoney takes the biscuit…….
Lord Baker at a gig ? Time alone will tell.I think I might have done it in Boyle some years back at the John(Jacko)Reilly tribute gig…anyone got a recording of that lovely event?
Hi Christy, I wrote a song as a tribute to the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. I know your a big fan of them as am I. I hope you have a listen and enjoy what you hear and if you get a chance let me know what you think. Thanks for now Paddy. https://youtu.be/I_JFCiDSmWU
Christy's reply
Thats where it all began for many of us…
The gig I attended in Dublin in 1962 still resounds from my youth..
the excitement they engendered changed the way we felt about our own place..
we switched off Radio Luxembourg and headed for The Fleadh
With the presale tomorrow morning for your subscribers for Vicar Street, is there a certain time we can expect to get an email with the presale code? Cheers
obviously a glitch in the works…we’ll get it sorted
https://www.ticketmaster.ie/promo/hbv3p3
Hi,
How can we get access for presale tickets for up coming gigs in vicar st. ?
Kind regards,
Ian
sign up here for newsletter
here it is
https://www.ticketmaster.ie/promo/hbv3p3
Hi there, I know you get many requests for shout outs but I’ll give it a go. I’m coming to Liverpool philharmonic 16th October with my life long friend Dawn. I’m taking her for her 60th birthday so any acknowledgement would be great. She recently found out that she descends from travellers from the Cork area. I’m yer Dowling man.
Ian
it will have to go into the hat…Liverpool is renowned for “call-out” requests…one year there were more requests for calls outs then seats in the room…I’ll sing every song specially for everyone in the audience
Hi Christy,
A good friend and I will be attending a gig of yours for the second time this year, this weekend on the 27th in Cappoquin. I was wondering if it was possible if you could play “Bright Blue Rose” in honour of his late grandmother. Looking forward to another great night.
Kind regards.
I’ll respect the implied anonymity
Grand bit of dryin out….
Two gigs coming up that may be of interest to readers here..
On Thursday next, 27th Sept, Phelim Drew. along with Anto Drennan will play in The Old Punchbowl, Booterstown, ticket link below.
And after a summer break, the great Wally Page will return to his monthly gig in The Annesley House, North Strand Rd on Friday October the 11th..maybe I can post again closer to that gig time..thank you..L x
https://www.ticketweb.ie/event/phelim-drew-in-booterstown-the-seaview-sessions-tickets/9636905
Great News that Wally is recommencing at Annesley House…..one of Ireland’s greatest songwriters and my favourite collaborator..I’ve been priviledged to cover and co-write songs with Wally this past 30 years…we first met back in 1978 at the first Meeting Place Festival in 1978…..”Yat Tie a Rat ,Tie a Rat, Tie a Rada”
All for The Roses (Finglas Boys)
This is The Day
Biko Drum
16 Jolly Ravers
Johnny Conners
Smoke and Strong Whiskey
Two Conneeleys
Duffy’s Cut
Lovely Young One
Come All you Dreamers………………..are just 10 songs that spring to mind…
Hi Christy,
The Edinburgh set was a few reels of music you and the lads first played publicly in Edinburgh last year, you said at the gig you had all just been jamming away in the hours before and came up with the tunes. You named it ‘the edinburgh set’ immediately after playing it ,and also performed it at a few gigs over here after that.
Have a good day in the sun.
Rory
We’ll have to resurrect that set..it fell by the wayside at the turn of the year…. thanks for the reminder…we enjoyed playing it
Reporting again about luck I have fishing while playing your music. After 3 years of success this year it was Jimmy McCarthy for 3, Mary Black for 2 and -well- I still enjoyed your efforts. So looking forward to your concert Oct 2. As stated earlier it is major reason we are coming back to Ireland from Vancouver Island.
Cheers
no gig on Oct 2nd..I’ll be out fishing (for songs)
Good evening, when you visit Liverpool on the 16th October, if you get a few minutes visit the Casa bar. It’s just a couple of hundred yards from the Phil on the same road. It was set up by Dockers and is a trade union bar but most interesting is the wall to the Liverpool men who fought in the Spanish civil war, some great photos. I’ll be in there before the gig, the ales on me. Sláinte
O’Mórdha to Ó’Murchú…thanks for the invite to The Casa Bar,,,back in the 60s & 70s I’d have joined you in a shot…in those times I needed fierce lubrication before perfoming..these days its all prep…soundchecks,rehearsals,tightening corsets, postioning hair pieces, taking medicinal tablets, a few rapid deckitts of the rosary,stretching aged joints, limbering digits, warming my voice box…back then I’d need at least a gallon of Thwaites to get jump started…now a thimble of decaffeinated camomille brings me down to land
No Paseran
Hi Christy.
Hope you are well.So glad to hear of the gigs you will be doing in the coming months.
We oftrn hear your records.I have most of your vinyls and lots of your CD,s.
Always brings great memories of Dorset St. Oh the fun we had.Still remember the knocks from the cops at the door after closingtime.
Hope you,Val and the family are doing well.
All the best Hanne.
Great to hear from you Hanne….The Meeting Place was a den of activity in many of our lives….great friendships were formed…beautiful music played…fine pints pulled and quaffed….fair deals agreed and smoked….between the first and last gig that upstairs room boogied and hopped to the sounds of a thousand troubadours…. Red Peters, Floating Dublin Blues Band, De Danaan, Declan Sinnott ,Jimmy MacCarthy,Southpaw,Clannad,Planxty, Bothy Band, Tara Band, Rob Strong,Barry & Eilish Moore, Mary &Frances Black, Mary Coughlan, Tipsy Sailor,Jimmy Faulkner,Declan McNelis,Kevin Burke, on and on I could go…at the heart of it all wasThe Spillane Family. Paddy,Sean and Shay, your good self and all the team who helped ye run “The Shop”….
Many of us remember and reflect upon the glory days in Dorset Street…..I’ll be in touch
Hi Christy –
Boarding a plane tonight from Baltimore to be in Drogheda for your show tomorrow night. My cousin Dave from London will be meeting me there. We did this two years ago when you were in Cootehill and are back for another dose! Thank you for all that you do and really looking forward to the show!
Steve
Welcome to The Wee County
Christy, sorry Cathal not Colm…age.
Rory
Hi Christy, mercifully brief from me today.
Tapping the feet hard on the train to the tune ‘King Puck’ from the album of the same name i wondered if you, Colm and the lads might be thinking of hammering again soon into some foot tapping tunes like it ( or the much missed ‘Edinburgh Set’) before we get back to stroking our mobiles.
Cheers
Rory
Remind me Rory…what is the Edinburgh Set
Hello Christy,
I only want to thank you for all that you have given to me and mine. Like others I have seen comment, I was reared on your music, and as I have gotten older I’ve been fortunate enough to have managed to get to a gig or two of yours each year, some in Dublin and some further afield. I have such fond memories of my old man playing guitar and singing a few of your tunes (not the best impressions mind you 😉) at the house parties growing up. I have also spread the Christy bug to my partner of 5 years who comes along to the gigs with me these days. Being at them, there in the moment, is something I truly cherish. Your song, your stories, your humour and your passion (always for the greater good) have moved me, inspired me, fired me, brouggt many a tear to my eye, and given me some great laughs! A friend of mine (Theresa) was one of the Dunnes Stores strikers, and has spoken of your warmth and support to them and their cause. That was no surprise to me. Anyhow, I look forward very much to seeing you again soon. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Mind yourself and keep her lit.
Just back in from a gig in Drogheda….thank your feedback and ongoing support…
The Dunne Stores Strikers were truly inspirational…. a beacon of light in dark times….abused by their bullying employers, castigated by church men, abandoned by Labour, ridiculed by elements of the Press but honoured and remembered by Nelson Mandela
As down by Brockagh corner
One morning I did stray…..
One of the old stories of Johnstons Motor Car was that the good doctor was more put out by the line “you could hear the din going through Glenfin. …”. Saying the was certainly no din from his highly prized Ford motor car.
and him drivin on the red
Hello Christy,
Hope this finds you well. I loved to read your wee chat about Lord Baker (mighty video clip – thanks to Hil). This ballad is one of my favourite songs and it would be fantastic to hear it again at a gig! Still remember very well this extraordinary concert in St. Joseph’s Hall Boyle where you sang so many of John Reilly’s most beautiful songs. What a night!!! It was a privilege to be there.
Now the time has come to travel west again … If all goes well we’ll drop anchor on the Island a week today.
Looking forward to see you soon!
Traudel
Good News ! Our German friends return!
I remember that gig in Boyle….the music, the bonhomie, the celebration of dear John Reilly’s life and times….
I’m hoping to play some Gigs with Sheamie O’Dowd this year….to rekindle the magic of Joseph’s Hall in Boyle…
great stuff as usual. Do you sing Johnstons Motor Car?. Did you know that this was a Boris Minor?. Pat.
I heard the din right thru Glenfin
Thank you Christy.Im. not a writer as such. This BS enters my head from time to time. Just for fun. You came to mind as I have always been a fan from the first time I saw you on TV singing James Connel Kind Regards Pat.ly. Keep up the good work. Cant wait for your next Killarney show.
Sound Pat,
Every day I see and hear bits and pieces worthy of song…sometimes I’ll spend days chasing a verse..then when its finished I dont sing it..for example last month I obsessed on a new verse for Delerium Tremens
“I dreamt my gigging days were done
my head was in a mess
reduced to doin Cabaret
at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis
the Blueshirts were hecklin
“we want Kylie Minogue”
so I gave them Michael Collins,
Kevin Barry Boolavogue.
Is that John Delaney there ?
(with his arm around Shane Ross)
Is that Richard Bruton there ?
(with the Viagogo boss)
here comes the Rebel County-
– Blood and Bandage Deputy
on the Bilderberg Flotilla
sailing up the River Lee” (C.Moore IMRO)
I tried it out recently in Dun Laoire but it died the death…
maybe The Healy Rae Bros might consider it for the B side
Hi Christy. I might have a song you would like to sing. as you probably know Michael Healy Raes bike was stolen from outside the GPO last year. around the same time a junior minister went north to view an orange parade. My song puts the 2 to gether.would you like to see the story. Michael Healy Rae likes the song. I have his permission to send it to you. Regards. Pat Moriarty.
Hi Pat,
Perhaps Michael Healy-Rae could sing it himself along with Danny doing some backing vocals…they could be well positioned to apply for an Arts Council grant towards the project..maybe when they finish putting in the new Cycle Path from Kilgarvan to Killybegs.
I’m knee deep in Ballads here..out the door with songs…have not got a minute to myself and the world falling asunder..
that said, thank you for offering to share your song and good luck with it…..I hope its a hit
Hi All. I came across this lovely version of Lord Baker from the back of the Tent 10 years ago,,,,, there is also a grand version where CM sings with Sinead O Connor,,,but this has a lovely vibe to it,,, I wonder will we ever hear Lord Baker at a gig ?? https://youtu.be/tNnbECIxMKY beir bua agus beannacht,,,, H
Thanks for posting from The Kingdom …this old duet from Backstage at The Marquee Cork in 2009 recalls a favourite moment in a lifetime’s singing..there have been many moments to savour over the years but none better then duetting with Dan O’Mahoney on The Ballad of Lord Baker. I first sang with Dan after a gig in Club Cleo Bandon in 1984…We got the “lock-in” in Tom McCarthy’s and started sipping a few pints as the The Marathon started at the Los Angeles Olympics of that year….it was thirsty work watching John Tracey pound those Californian Streets but we drank with him every inch of the way..when John collected his Silver medal myself and Dan launched into “Lord Baker”.Tom McCarthy went apoplectic “in the name of Christ would ye ever shut up, the fuckin Sergeant is outside”…Dan never budged but held his ground and segued into the 26th verse
“He took his sword all by the handle
and cut the wedding cake into pieces three”………….
a few more pints and we were ready for the Black Puddin…….
I’ve sung with them all, Daniel, Bono,Maggie Barry, Pecker, Mary, Sinéad, Luke, Ronnie,Elvis MacManus, Couldplay but that duet with Dan O’Mahoney takes the biscuit…….
Lord Baker at a gig ? Time alone will tell.I think I might have done it in Boyle some years back at the John(Jacko)Reilly tribute gig…anyone got a recording of that lovely event?
Hi Christy, I wrote a song as a tribute to the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. I know your a big fan of them as am I. I hope you have a listen and enjoy what you hear and if you get a chance let me know what you think. Thanks for now Paddy.
https://youtu.be/I_JFCiDSmWU
Thats where it all began for many of us…
The gig I attended in Dublin in 1962 still resounds from my youth..
the excitement they engendered changed the way we felt about our own place..
we switched off Radio Luxembourg and headed for The Fleadh