Minding my own business,revelling in a revisit to ‘Smoke and strong whisky’ (remembering the ‘pub smells’ too…) then a treat…lockdown 8 landed! And,what a treat…thanks so much to you and all concerned.
Lockdown sessions preserved as a reminder of the times,with your sound so well represented…Woody and Bob at the heart of so much for so many of us,with Irish melodies at the root…brilliant!
I can feel a ‘Christyfest’ coming on .Sessions 1 -8 back to back… good luck to you and companeros.I hope ‘real’ gigs are on the horizon,but these sessions are gems…
Dave
Christy's reply
gigs have been forever changing.. in my lifetime the nature of “real”gigs has been constantly evolving….my first real gig was in The Old House At Home, Blakeley,Manchester in 1966….no PA,Lights, Security,Limos or Helicopters…..about 40 Listeners and an atmosphere that I still celebrate….since then the numbers have swelled and technology evolved to dizzying heights…I suspect that future real gigs will be more akin to where it all began….I look forward
Jeez,that was some night in Dundalk…Pat set up quite a gig…felt like it was all a dream…
The always excellent crew at http://www.folkradio.co.uk have set up some real treats on show 80…great names from the past,including a timely song for regulars here…Tim Hart and Maddy Prior ‘Dalesman’s Litany’- first version I ever heard…also,Young Tradition,Mr Fox,Bert Jansch ,etc etc That’s me sorted…no need for a face mask in the bunker,and good company.
Enjoy the day
Dave
Christy's reply
what year did Tim & Maddy record “Dalesman’s Litany ” any idea ??
Pat i have crawled out the bunker, blinking at the daylight, and am standing at the road end, with the thumb out and sleeping bag, BLM facemask, flask of tea, tin of Hawick balls and shovel, ready for the Dundalk socially distanced music wagon to roll into view.
Get Graffiti Tongue on the 8 track and Subliminal Dublinia on the plug in mp3 thingumyjig.
Looking forward to the craic.
Please bring that largest ever tricolour ,which was covering an entire building above a pub last time i was in Dundalk ( on a busman’s holiday to the courthouse).
Christy will you be the clippy?
Rory
All right Rory, out of the bunker and on the boat for Dundalk. Collect Rory, Dave and Pam along the way…. We will all meet in Pam’s local, the Wee House, Ann Street, get David Keenan along to sing for us, then wander up to Mark’s, you’d never know who’d drop in, a Frenchman with a mandolin, maybe Christy singing Nancy Spain. Nostalgia rules! Perk up Pam.
Am afraid ‘ my son John’, Tom Paxton song is a little sentimental, not really cool at all. Just fits my mood this week, could be black Sabbath next week, unlikely. Pam
A great song picked out by Pam…’my son John’-came on my radar from the superb Tim Hart version from the late 60s…most likely an inspirational song for Dylan’s ‘John Brown’…brilliantly played on the ‘Unplugged’ gig…D
Pat puts it well ‘wallowing in nostalgia’…it takes a lot of beating -and I’ve had a day of it…
After being blown away by the ‘Speech Project’,I sent a ‘fair play to you’ greeting to Gerry Diver via the message box on his website…not knowing his location,I signed it off from ‘Manchester,England’.To cut a long story short,we’ve had a few emails today,as it became apparent that we share the same home Manchester suburb (Withington) ,plus mutual connections,including Mike McGoldrick and a pub ,that was the ‘local’for Gerry’s Dad and my late Uncle -in-law…Brilliant ‘small world’ links via ‘the music’…always heart warming when something good emerges…to be continued after Gerry does a fact check with his parents in Co Donegal!
Dave
Christy's reply
that Mike McGoldrick is a great player……Manchester has been a hub for Trad Irish Music for many decades…I recall going out to Salford on Sunday Mornings in 1966 to hear Felix Doran play the Pipes..his Son Michael was starting to play also… around that time I used to hear Des Donnolly play Fiddle in Middleton….
Gerry Diver and I have talked about recording together…maybe some day it will come to pass…I visited his studio a few years back in London
Been listening so much to Christie Hennessy was in the mood for gentle music and unearthed some Tom Paxton, mentioned before always rated him but back in the day none of my peer group did so my sister was dragged along to see him in Manchester. Songs from the early sixties are just as relevant today ‘Daily News’ just alter a few names nothing’s changed and ‘My Son John’ could be about any war sung by any father.
Being brought up to date was impressed by David Keenan, mentioned by one of your posters, noticed he’s from Dundalk, we had friends there and saw you with them many times, always ended up in the Wee House in Ann St. Happy times from what I can remember! Pam
Christy's reply
Back in 1986 Tom Paxton came to a gig of mine in London..afterwards we chatted ….he said to me…
“every time you do a gig I want you to open your eyes, for one verse of one song, for that one verse just look around the room and remember what your “Uncle Tom” said to you”
I’ve done that every night since, I know now what he meant and why he made the suggestion
CM
What’s going on there with you?
I always find the word “Debenham “hard to spell..fair play to you ..
Is that a prompt sheet for a new version of “head shoulders knees and toes”?I hope to God there isn’t audience participation planned for that!
Here On the commanage there is a fleet approx 30 donkeys.They started as two!!
From time to time they take a ramble nearby.
They have really multiplied in abundance.
I am fascinated by their hierarchy. For some unknown reason they have exiled two from the herd.They all have their own personalities.
I uploaded a photo of some of them here. https://ibb.co/Z8vMk5D
My little noinín is a bit posh. she will not drink the running water and will only drink out of the barrel ( that I have to fill).
I told her that if she dont cop on and drink the running water I would make her live with the wild herd.!!She didnt seem bothered either way.
CS
PS Good to see the pluid ..
Christy's reply
not sure which sheet you mean
maybe twas my stretch or excercise routine
gotta try and keep 75 year old body and soul together
soul wants to go up, body wants to go down
I’m here in the middle, between the pair of them wrestling with LIFE
O the beautiful Donkey,
what a noble creature
long since harnessed and abused
I remember a man borrowing £3 from my father to buy an “Ass” for the bog
back when £3 was half a weeks wages for a labouring man
I’ve never witnessed the hierarchy of the Donkey clan and look forward to reading more of your observations
one day, about 45 years ago, I went for a game of pool with my brother-in-law Norman….after a few frames and a good few large bottles we somehow returned home with an Ass….dont ask me how…
I hope all is well with you and all around ye…lovely to see the music coming out still, thank you…they will be great for the look back on.
I’m headin for a bit of grub later with a pal and his two childer, 6 & 9 and they know every word of every song on ‘On the Road’ and when they ring me they have it on in their Das car and singing along..it’s a lovely thing to hear..Sending you warm wishes and thinking of you CM..Larball x
Christy's reply
Morra Larball…
Its hard,its hard,its hard,its hard, itsa hard rains gonna fall…
but feck it Lar, we gotta keep the wheels turnin,…
there’s better times ahead..we just gotta hang in ’til they arrive
Christy, isn’t it great how one comment begets another and the ball bounces all around! As Dave, Rory, Pam, Rebeccah, Marty and many others drop in and share stories. What a wealth folkies have given us.
You mentioned Mark’s in Dundalk, presumably after a Town Hall gig. I wasn’t brave enough, big enough to be ever involved in organising any of your gigs, but I was lucky enough to bring Clannad to the Town Hall early 80s. The lads didn’t want Marks, they had a friend Jimmy Commerford who had a bar, and twas there they drank… BEFORE the gig! I was sweatin till they made it to the stage almost on time. Still (name dropping furiously here) their drinking time gave me some time with Nicky Ryan and Áine, later name Enya, and much more time with Máire, Moya. The highlight of my entrepreneurial career!
My friend Éamonn brought the Chieftains to the Town Hall, and I was right by his side as he gave the ratatattat on Mark’s window, and asked him if he was open for the Chieftains. He was, I got in, and a wonderful night/morning it was!
Hope you and your poster’s don’t mind me wallowing in my nostalgia….
Christy's reply
A Night in El Paso…
I got to know Mark & Maeve McLoughlin over the years..
Mark gave me a gig in their bar about 45 years ago….He put a stool up on the counter,I clambered up and did a 45 minute set to the gathered thirsty ducks…there was allsorts of renegades, spoiled priests, underground hash dealers,overground dipsomaniacs, (mé féin i lár) budding politicians, money forgers,launderers,robbers,off and on-duty branchers,visiting nigh racks,
there were more stickies then pinnies….Mark handed me a brimming glass after every song and I got more unsteady upon my perch as the gig unfolded..I dont recall how it ended, dont remember clambering back down…maybe I’m still up there
Keep the faith! The bugs will away. If Andy wants to chat file size etc, he could drop me a line at : patdarcyis@gmail.com
And we could connect.
BTW, we all appreciate that what you do is a favour, a huge favour, not a duty, and if and when the can flies, we will be Hoppin and Boppin.
Mind yourselves.
Morning Christy.
All calm and quiet in the Middle of the Island………….is it just me, or have even the Birds gone quiet these days. Maybe they too are fed up of all this Lockdown. Still the stats are heading in the right direction, hopefully all keep up the good fight.
The auld Youtube can be a devil at times; if Andy hasn’t done so already it helps if you set up an account…..just a few details required, Email etc. Uploads are easier that way.
Who said Technology was easy??? …….When they invented the “8 Track”, the world changed for ever LOL.
Ride Onn & keep safe Christy.
So great to drop in here for a read and be transported back in eras by comments…
Having been at several early 70s Mike Harding gigs and cracked up at his humour,word had spread about Tony Capstick-seen as a Yorkshire equivalent…only saw him once ,in a theatre gig,support role…razor sharp and a fine singer – and undervalued in that role.I’m sorry I never witnessed his folk club gigs,a la Mike H.
As you recall,I’d heard many a tale of O’Donoghue’s…never was in the pub until a few years back.It was a convenient meeting place to rendezvous with family.Got there early-Friday lunchtime and watched a superb session emerge…we meant to leave c 2 00,which led to 3 00! Brilliant to read the newspaper articles on the walls-see the photos…even the ‘jacks’ is (in)famous…
As ever,thanks to you and visitors,for the great music and stories here…
Hey Christy,
Chatting with my son in law he told me that David Keenan’s album is the best selling vinyl in Ireland this year. This had me scurrying back to my worn down copy for a further spin, such brilliance in a man so young !
Anyway it reminded me that he is on youtube singing a song from a rooftop. Then there is Ger Wolfe singing from a tiny balcony above Cork, The Lark metaphorically flying above his head.
I wondered where are the unusual settings you have sang in your thousands of performances ,there must be loads? Silage pit, Electric pylon, chapel crypt or starting stalls perhaps?
Now back to the grind,
Rory
Christy's reply
on the good ship SS Munster in 1967
in numerous prisons and rehabs,
a Nuclear Power station in Dounreay
Marks Bar in Dundalk
Jasper Farrels in Sausalito
the Woolshed, Vinegar Hill in NSW
the Mayor’s Office in Boston
a Yacht in San Franciso Bay
The Pound Loney in Belfast
I have just met a guy who likes Christy Moore and he is coming around for a play on Tuesday. Lives on a boat. Looking back, the first time I saw Planxty was in Cavan in about 1972, I was 16. Then scraping up 50p to see Christy in Theatre L at UCD. Best ever was with Jimmy Faulkner and Donal Lunny in Donoghues.
Thanks Christy. As Joey the Lips would say “You have a voice from God”.
Christy's reply
Hope ye are all well in Hobart Finbar,
I recall Cavan in ’72 and Theatre L but I’m stumped by your recall of Donoghues…do you mean Donoghue’s of Merrion Row,Dublin ???..that pub was at the heart of it all way back in the day…it still functions famously but in a very different way….Andy Irvine wrote a song about it and ~I have referenced it myself in a few old ballads….
for a while ,in my young life, it was the centre of my world, I’d listen to Ted McKenna and his band, to Luke Kelly, Al O’Donnell,Johnny Moynihan and many others….
some roving troubadours would have their post sent to O’D’s where Paddy and Maureen would stick it up on the notice board to await the balladeer’s return…( I suspect some used to send themselves cards just to be up on that famous notice board ! )
Around 1970 Maureen developed a strong distaste for “long haired” males…Poor Paddy was given the task of barring us misfits.. a task which caused him grief and discomfort…but Maureen ruled the roost and barred we were.. I never played there with Donal & Jimmy
I played Hobart a few times…a grand spot you picked there Finbar
Episode 8 is FANTASTIC!!! The long wait was well worth …
THANK YOU Christy and Andy!
I guess Hil will be delighted by BBR.
Best wishes,
Traudel
in a clearing, in the forest
Hi Christy
Minding my own business,revelling in a revisit to ‘Smoke and strong whisky’ (remembering the ‘pub smells’ too…) then a treat…lockdown 8 landed! And,what a treat…thanks so much to you and all concerned.
Lockdown sessions preserved as a reminder of the times,with your sound so well represented…Woody and Bob at the heart of so much for so many of us,with Irish melodies at the root…brilliant!
I can feel a ‘Christyfest’ coming on .Sessions 1 -8 back to back… good luck to you and companeros.I hope ‘real’ gigs are on the horizon,but these sessions are gems…
Dave
gigs have been forever changing.. in my lifetime the nature of “real”gigs has been constantly evolving….my first real gig was in The Old House At Home, Blakeley,Manchester in 1966….no PA,Lights, Security,Limos or Helicopters…..about 40 Listeners and an atmosphere that I still celebrate….since then the numbers have swelled and technology evolved to dizzying heights…I suspect that future real gigs will be more akin to where it all began….I look forward
Mornin’ Christy
Jeez,that was some night in Dundalk…Pat set up quite a gig…felt like it was all a dream…
The always excellent crew at http://www.folkradio.co.uk have set up some real treats on show 80…great names from the past,including a timely song for regulars here…Tim Hart and Maddy Prior ‘Dalesman’s Litany’- first version I ever heard…also,Young Tradition,Mr Fox,Bert Jansch ,etc etc That’s me sorted…no need for a face mask in the bunker,and good company.
Enjoy the day
Dave
what year did Tim & Maddy record “Dalesman’s Litany ” any idea ??
Top man,Pat
nostalgia rules…I used to be indecisive,but now I’m not so sure…D
they do though
don’t they?
in anyways
but
Hi, is there any official signed prints available to buy online? I want to frame one and put up on the wall,
Thanks,
Ger
contact Jim Fitzpatrick @ Irish Mint
Pat i have crawled out the bunker, blinking at the daylight, and am standing at the road end, with the thumb out and sleeping bag, BLM facemask, flask of tea, tin of Hawick balls and shovel, ready for the Dundalk socially distanced music wagon to roll into view.
Get Graffiti Tongue on the 8 track and Subliminal Dublinia on the plug in mp3 thingumyjig.
Looking forward to the craic.
Please bring that largest ever tricolour ,which was covering an entire building above a pub last time i was in Dundalk ( on a busman’s holiday to the courthouse).
Christy will you be the clippy?
Rory
Tickets Please..
next stop Hackballscross
All right Rory, out of the bunker and on the boat for Dundalk. Collect Rory, Dave and Pam along the way…. We will all meet in Pam’s local, the Wee House, Ann Street, get David Keenan along to sing for us, then wander up to Mark’s, you’d never know who’d drop in, a Frenchman with a mandolin, maybe Christy singing Nancy Spain. Nostalgia rules! Perk up Pam.
Am afraid ‘ my son John’, Tom Paxton song is a little sentimental, not really cool at all. Just fits my mood this week, could be black Sabbath next week, unlikely. Pam
forgot…Tim Hart and Maddy Prior ,not Tim solo -‘my son John’….different song to Tom Paxton’s…
always enjoy music’s mysteries…D
Tim & Maddy
Causeway Foot
1968
A great song picked out by Pam…’my son John’-came on my radar from the superb Tim Hart version from the late 60s…most likely an inspirational song for Dylan’s ‘John Brown’…brilliantly played on the ‘Unplugged’ gig…D
Hi Christy
Pat puts it well ‘wallowing in nostalgia’…it takes a lot of beating -and I’ve had a day of it…
After being blown away by the ‘Speech Project’,I sent a ‘fair play to you’ greeting to Gerry Diver via the message box on his website…not knowing his location,I signed it off from ‘Manchester,England’.To cut a long story short,we’ve had a few emails today,as it became apparent that we share the same home Manchester suburb (Withington) ,plus mutual connections,including Mike McGoldrick and a pub ,that was the ‘local’for Gerry’s Dad and my late Uncle -in-law…Brilliant ‘small world’ links via ‘the music’…always heart warming when something good emerges…to be continued after Gerry does a fact check with his parents in Co Donegal!
Dave
that Mike McGoldrick is a great player……Manchester has been a hub for Trad Irish Music for many decades…I recall going out to Salford on Sunday Mornings in 1966 to hear Felix Doran play the Pipes..his Son Michael was starting to play also… around that time I used to hear Des Donnolly play Fiddle in Middleton….
Gerry Diver and I have talked about recording together…maybe some day it will come to pass…I visited his studio a few years back in London
Been listening so much to Christie Hennessy was in the mood for gentle music and unearthed some Tom Paxton, mentioned before always rated him but back in the day none of my peer group did so my sister was dragged along to see him in Manchester. Songs from the early sixties are just as relevant today ‘Daily News’ just alter a few names nothing’s changed and ‘My Son John’ could be about any war sung by any father.
Being brought up to date was impressed by David Keenan, mentioned by one of your posters, noticed he’s from Dundalk, we had friends there and saw you with them many times, always ended up in the Wee House in Ann St. Happy times from what I can remember! Pam
Back in 1986 Tom Paxton came to a gig of mine in London..afterwards we chatted ….he said to me…
“every time you do a gig I want you to open your eyes, for one verse of one song, for that one verse just look around the room and remember what your “Uncle Tom” said to you”
I’ve done that every night since, I know now what he meant and why he made the suggestion
CM
What’s going on there with you?
I always find the word “Debenham “hard to spell..fair play to you ..
Is that a prompt sheet for a new version of “head shoulders knees and toes”?I hope to God there isn’t audience participation planned for that!
Here On the commanage there is a fleet approx 30 donkeys.They started as two!!
From time to time they take a ramble nearby.
They have really multiplied in abundance.
I am fascinated by their hierarchy. For some unknown reason they have exiled two from the herd.They all have their own personalities.
I uploaded a photo of some of them here.
https://ibb.co/Z8vMk5D
My little noinín is a bit posh. she will not drink the running water and will only drink out of the barrel ( that I have to fill).
I told her that if she dont cop on and drink the running water I would make her live with the wild herd.!!She didnt seem bothered either way.
CS
PS Good to see the pluid ..
not sure which sheet you mean
maybe twas my stretch or excercise routine
gotta try and keep 75 year old body and soul together
soul wants to go up, body wants to go down
I’m here in the middle, between the pair of them wrestling with LIFE
O the beautiful Donkey,
what a noble creature
long since harnessed and abused
I remember a man borrowing £3 from my father to buy an “Ass” for the bog
back when £3 was half a weeks wages for a labouring man
I’ve never witnessed the hierarchy of the Donkey clan and look forward to reading more of your observations
one day, about 45 years ago, I went for a game of pool with my brother-in-law Norman….after a few frames and a good few large bottles we somehow returned home with an Ass….dont ask me how…
I hope all is well with you and all around ye…lovely to see the music coming out still, thank you…they will be great for the look back on.
I’m headin for a bit of grub later with a pal and his two childer, 6 & 9 and they know every word of every song on ‘On the Road’ and when they ring me they have it on in their Das car and singing along..it’s a lovely thing to hear..Sending you warm wishes and thinking of you CM..Larball x
Morra Larball…
Its hard,its hard,its hard,its hard, itsa hard rains gonna fall…
but feck it Lar, we gotta keep the wheels turnin,…
there’s better times ahead..we just gotta hang in ’til they arrive
Christy, isn’t it great how one comment begets another and the ball bounces all around! As Dave, Rory, Pam, Rebeccah, Marty and many others drop in and share stories. What a wealth folkies have given us.
You mentioned Mark’s in Dundalk, presumably after a Town Hall gig. I wasn’t brave enough, big enough to be ever involved in organising any of your gigs, but I was lucky enough to bring Clannad to the Town Hall early 80s. The lads didn’t want Marks, they had a friend Jimmy Commerford who had a bar, and twas there they drank… BEFORE the gig! I was sweatin till they made it to the stage almost on time. Still (name dropping furiously here) their drinking time gave me some time with Nicky Ryan and Áine, later name Enya, and much more time with Máire, Moya. The highlight of my entrepreneurial career!
My friend Éamonn brought the Chieftains to the Town Hall, and I was right by his side as he gave the ratatattat on Mark’s window, and asked him if he was open for the Chieftains. He was, I got in, and a wonderful night/morning it was!
Hope you and your poster’s don’t mind me wallowing in my nostalgia….
A Night in El Paso…
I got to know Mark & Maeve McLoughlin over the years..
Mark gave me a gig in their bar about 45 years ago….He put a stool up on the counter,I clambered up and did a 45 minute set to the gathered thirsty ducks…there was allsorts of renegades, spoiled priests, underground hash dealers,overground dipsomaniacs, (mé féin i lár) budding politicians, money forgers,launderers,robbers,off and on-duty branchers,visiting nigh racks,
there were more stickies then pinnies….Mark handed me a brimming glass after every song and I got more unsteady upon my perch as the gig unfolded..I dont recall how it ended, dont remember clambering back down…maybe I’m still up there
Keep the faith! The bugs will away. If Andy wants to chat file size etc, he could drop me a line at : patdarcyis@gmail.com
And we could connect.
BTW, we all appreciate that what you do is a favour, a huge favour, not a duty, and if and when the can flies, we will be Hoppin and Boppin.
Mind yourselves.
Thanks Pat…I’ll pass it on to Andy
Morning Christy.
All calm and quiet in the Middle of the Island………….is it just me, or have even the Birds gone quiet these days. Maybe they too are fed up of all this Lockdown. Still the stats are heading in the right direction, hopefully all keep up the good fight.
The auld Youtube can be a devil at times; if Andy hasn’t done so already it helps if you set up an account…..just a few details required, Email etc. Uploads are easier that way.
Who said Technology was easy??? …….When they invented the “8 Track”, the world changed for ever LOL.
Ride Onn & keep safe Christy.
maybe all the birds have gone on line
Hi Christy
So great to drop in here for a read and be transported back in eras by comments…
Having been at several early 70s Mike Harding gigs and cracked up at his humour,word had spread about Tony Capstick-seen as a Yorkshire equivalent…only saw him once ,in a theatre gig,support role…razor sharp and a fine singer – and undervalued in that role.I’m sorry I never witnessed his folk club gigs,a la Mike H.
As you recall,I’d heard many a tale of O’Donoghue’s…never was in the pub until a few years back.It was a convenient meeting place to rendezvous with family.Got there early-Friday lunchtime and watched a superb session emerge…we meant to leave c 2 00,which led to 3 00! Brilliant to read the newspaper articles on the walls-see the photos…even the ‘jacks’ is (in)famous…
As ever,thanks to you and visitors,for the great music and stories here…
Dave
Fill us two pints there please Phyllis
Hey Christy,
Chatting with my son in law he told me that David Keenan’s album is the best selling vinyl in Ireland this year. This had me scurrying back to my worn down copy for a further spin, such brilliance in a man so young !
Anyway it reminded me that he is on youtube singing a song from a rooftop. Then there is Ger Wolfe singing from a tiny balcony above Cork, The Lark metaphorically flying above his head.
I wondered where are the unusual settings you have sang in your thousands of performances ,there must be loads? Silage pit, Electric pylon, chapel crypt or starting stalls perhaps?
Now back to the grind,
Rory
on the good ship SS Munster in 1967
in numerous prisons and rehabs,
a Nuclear Power station in Dounreay
Marks Bar in Dundalk
Jasper Farrels in Sausalito
the Woolshed, Vinegar Hill in NSW
the Mayor’s Office in Boston
a Yacht in San Franciso Bay
The Pound Loney in Belfast
thats it for now Rory…I’m exhausted in reflection
I have just met a guy who likes Christy Moore and he is coming around for a play on Tuesday. Lives on a boat. Looking back, the first time I saw Planxty was in Cavan in about 1972, I was 16. Then scraping up 50p to see Christy in Theatre L at UCD. Best ever was with Jimmy Faulkner and Donal Lunny in Donoghues.
Thanks Christy. As Joey the Lips would say “You have a voice from God”.
Hope ye are all well in Hobart Finbar,
I recall Cavan in ’72 and Theatre L but I’m stumped by your recall of Donoghues…do you mean Donoghue’s of Merrion Row,Dublin ???..that pub was at the heart of it all way back in the day…it still functions famously but in a very different way….Andy Irvine wrote a song about it and ~I have referenced it myself in a few old ballads….
for a while ,in my young life, it was the centre of my world, I’d listen to Ted McKenna and his band, to Luke Kelly, Al O’Donnell,Johnny Moynihan and many others….
some roving troubadours would have their post sent to O’D’s where Paddy and Maureen would stick it up on the notice board to await the balladeer’s return…( I suspect some used to send themselves cards just to be up on that famous notice board ! )
Around 1970 Maureen developed a strong distaste for “long haired” males…Poor Paddy was given the task of barring us misfits.. a task which caused him grief and discomfort…but Maureen ruled the roost and barred we were.. I never played there with Donal & Jimmy
I played Hobart a few times…a grand spot you picked there Finbar