Hi Christy, just a quick shout out from the village to say how much we enjoyed your recent TV programme. They could do one every few months…God knows you have plenty material. Keep up the good work and who knows..we might get to see and hear you in Clonmel in 2022 or there abouts.
Take care a while and mind yourself.
Regards…John O Neill
Christy's reply
I’ll be back in that Vale of Honey to squeeze a few red apples a s a p
Great that you had chance to read Colin Harper’s piece about Seamus Ennis. I hadn’t previously thought to visit his website, but have now been reminded about how much great, detailed writing Colin has published over the years.
Fab name of the shop where you bought the Atkins – also, brilliant ‘neck’ shown by Seamus to land the gig on BBC radio ‘Woman’s Hour’! – ‘if you don’t ask…’
It’s three years since I got my harp. How long have you had the atkins?
It feels silly, but I’ve given it a name. Silly but very right too.
Christy's reply
I think about 8 years ago…a great shop in Dublin called “Some Neck Guitars” Declan Sinnott told me about an Atkin he played in the shop, that it might suit me..in I went to Owen @ Some Neck and Declan was right…I just love my two Atkins..play them every single day ….used one of them on the recent recordings….got talking a while back to the lad that makes them…he’d been to hear us play in Canterbury around the same time as I’d first heard of his guitars….there are some great videos of his process somewhere out there on t’internet…..I’m determined to gig with an Atkin but David Meade always talks me around to pickin up the old reliable 40 year old work horse….but I’ll get my way yet..I’ll convince him
Hello Christy,
Its great to see your comments. Those pink words mean good things.
I hope the gigs come off for you. There’s such a feeling of inertia right now. There’s nervousness about. I think we should trust the xaccine to damp things down. Maybe I’m being naive?
I had the best time at my gig. In the middle of the night, by myself, playing to a, screen in my conservatory. Two years ago it would have felt impossible.
Talk of Seamus Ennis made me think of his, daughter. I enjoyed watching and listening to Catherine, Ennis on the documentary about Liam. Easter Snow. Beautiful. I was a church organist for a couple of years at St Chad’s until I fell out with the bully of a vicar. I ran a small choir there.
On the back of Hackler of Grouse Hall I thought I should try some poitin. Tried a bit of Micil stuff. It’s, gorgeous.
Good morning Christy…..Any plans for coming to Boyle again ?
Christy's reply
so many plans forever mish mashing around this old head….songs to write,to learn, to rearrange, to borrow, co-write, plagiarise, Bands to collaborate, instrurments to hear, players to cherish, as for GIGS Boyle-man…don’t get me started….of course I’m coming back to Boyle…soon as I get a dozen vaccinations in each arm and in the cheeks of me arse I’ll be on my way…Boyle, Warnambool, Sausalito, Fulham Broadway, Two-Mile-House, Balcktrench and Boolea…..
but for today Boyle-Man I gotta try and quell the flames of procrastination…gotta finish this mug of scald, do some of the basic stuff., gotta try and rise from this old scratcher, get this beautiful day started, gotta draw the drapes, pull on the strides..practice a bit for Galway in two days time,ponder the set list in my head, will I play the new ones or leave them lie til the album comes out in November,,does it matter one single iota….zzzzzz
I’m a willing participant in the fruits of your hi-jack !! Just read the Seamus Ennis section…I’d not read such a detailed account of Seamus time in the BBC before. he surely was an enigma. Great to read Bob Davenport, Peggy Seeger and Reg Hall recall their meetings with “The Ennis”…..Over 3 decades I met Seamus on irregular occasions. Circa “68 he stayed with me in Halifax Yorkshire for a week…he was doing a short Folk club tour..I went to hear him in The Grove in Leeds….some years later we met again back in Dublin..in early Planxty days Liam O’Flynn was sharing a house with Seamus who showed interest and approval of our fledgling band…in his final years I used to visit Seamus in his home called “Easter Snow” in The Naul in north County Dublin…..Seamus is well described in this journal..he may be the greatest legend ever in the annals of Irish Music, his talents also had great impact across the water….at his best he was a Piper of the highest degree, he was eloquent, had a beautiful hand, a way with the people, a roguish twinkle, a sharp tongue which he used to cut through the palavar (often to his own detriment)…
“O The Easter Snow
it has faded away
so rare and so beautiful
’til it melted back into the clay”
ps I googled Seamus Ennis/ BBC… found some excellent pieces by Colin Harper ( a regular source of great reading) at http://www.colinharper.com ‘Wheels of the world (2)’ gives brilliant accounts of Seamus’ work and his amazing personality… D
Thanks for the info that it’s Seamus Ennis in the photo with The Copper Family. I wasn’t sure it was him,but I assume they met when he was making field recordings for BBC radio.
Good luck with gigs…we’re rehearsing tomorrow, for the first time in ages. Only vague mutterings about gigs, but it’s been too long since guitar and dulcimers combined. Now for the tuning…
Hello Christy,
A few gigs coming up. The very best of luck, I hope you have a, ball!
You mentioned before that there could be 3 in September and 1 in August. I hope they (and a load more) are all coming to fruition.
We have to scrat about here, over the water, for any useful news It seems to be mainly lies or boring these days here, sometimes both. So any beans that can be spilt round here would be gratefully scooped up.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
the latest is one in August,one in September and two in October….in anticipation I wont be holding my breath….but I hope to be ready should they all come to pass
Talking to some friends last night, just back from Sussex. Raving about the area (which I have yet to visit) and a day in Rottingdean. That triggered memories of radio folk programmes, featuring the wonderful harmonies of The Copper Family.
Great to see that the family music is going strong- well documented at http://www.thecopperfamily.com their version of ‘Spencer the Rover’ (on youtube) was the inspiration for John Martyn’s lovely take…
Today, I’ve been enjoying revisiting the writings of CP Lee – local lad, muso, academic, Dylan buff – all round good guy, sadly, no longer with us…
Regular readers here will know of your affection for Manchester, getting the start in folk clubs and the incomparable MSG ( Manchester Sports Guild). In ‘Shake Rattle and Rain’, CP gives very good background to folk clubs, inc MSG.
He was a founder of ‘cult’ local band ‘Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias’ – pretty successful in an alternative sort of way… in ‘When we were thin’ he gives a brilliant account of post gig times, which I’m sure will resonate with you…
‘ I’m standing in a back alley in Rotterdam.It’s four in the morning. I’m with Bruce and we’re about to climb the stairs of a cheap boarding house. The alley stinks. I do too because I’m soaking with sweat from the gig we’ve just played. We have to get up in four hours time and drive three hundred miles to the next gig. I’ve got just about enough cash to buy a meal if we’ve got time to stop for one. Bruce puts his arm around my shoulder.
‘CP? Didn’t I tell you if we stuck together we’d go to the top.’
CP Lee has left a great legacy + books still available via http://www.cplee.co.uk well worth a visit to the website – sad to lose him…
I cursed em to hell as our bough fought the, swell
Our ship danced like a moth in the fire light
White horses rode high as the devil passed by
Taking should to Hades by twilight
Christy's reply
run pell mell down into hell to search for poitín there
Christy hi ,
We had a good run to the boat on friday,with The iron behind the velvet, such a varied album, johnny Morrissey was some lad.
Today Waking to the pheassnt’s call, Eadestown .we had a rare day yesterday, we Visited our horses in Cashel and Durrow with my best man Jayo, before driving through stair rods of thundering rain into the sunshine of Curragh’s sport of Kings .
On that part of the journey i love the local radio stations here, particularly Tipp FM and KFM and even heard an interview with a mattress salesman! ,the evening was wiled away with a lovely meal with friends from Nurney in Fallons of Kilcullen, jings i thought i had died and gone to heaven such a lovely day.
Today we might try the pitch and put at the Curragh before more racing at Naas and the box set accompanying us back home via the Belfast ferry.
I know i am very lucky to be able to savour such enjoyment, when Palestine, Yemen, DRC,Haiti and beyond face such disasterous situations. It is an ill divided world.
Take care
Rory
Christy's reply
I used to love singing that “Morrissey & The Russian Sailor”….so many songs fell off the set list over the years….fond memories of that album….we rehearsed in Coolcullen on the Castlecomer Plateau…..a good Band we had too…Luka, Jimmy Faulkner, Andy Irvine, Noel Hill,Tony Linnane, Gabriel McKeon…..dont know if any of the songs have survived the test of time…..
Just to say Dave good call on the Vagabonds. They’ve got something really special about them. Been following since their early days, Brian Mac Gloinn really does have it all! It’s almost like he’s taken it full circle, back to the days of Sweeney!
Hi Christy, just a quick shout out from the village to say how much we enjoyed your recent TV programme. They could do one every few months…God knows you have plenty material. Keep up the good work and who knows..we might get to see and hear you in Clonmel in 2022 or there abouts.
Take care a while and mind yourself.
Regards…John O Neill
I’ll be back in that Vale of Honey to squeeze a few red apples a s a p
Hi Christy
Thanks for message. Looks like details were correct. Maybe as its a first message and contains links it went to spam. I hope the next one arrived ok
Best wishes
arrived
Hi Christy
Great that you had chance to read Colin Harper’s piece about Seamus Ennis. I hadn’t previously thought to visit his website, but have now been reminded about how much great, detailed writing Colin has published over the years.
Fab name of the shop where you bought the Atkins – also, brilliant ‘neck’ shown by Seamus to land the gig on BBC radio ‘Woman’s Hour’! – ‘if you don’t ask…’
All the best
Dave
Maybe a little acoustic gig with the atkins and yourself. With a tiny bit of PA support to help with balance? It’s a dream.
Same thought lines…
It’s three years since I got my harp. How long have you had the atkins?
It feels silly, but I’ve given it a name. Silly but very right too.
I think about 8 years ago…a great shop in Dublin called “Some Neck Guitars” Declan Sinnott told me about an Atkin he played in the shop, that it might suit me..in I went to Owen @ Some Neck and Declan was right…I just love my two Atkins..play them every single day ….used one of them on the recent recordings….got talking a while back to the lad that makes them…he’d been to hear us play in Canterbury around the same time as I’d first heard of his guitars….there are some great videos of his process somewhere out there on t’internet…..I’m determined to gig with an Atkin but David Meade always talks me around to pickin up the old reliable 40 year old work horse….but I’ll get my way yet..I’ll convince him
Hello Christy,
Its great to see your comments. Those pink words mean good things.
I hope the gigs come off for you. There’s such a feeling of inertia right now. There’s nervousness about. I think we should trust the xaccine to damp things down. Maybe I’m being naive?
I had the best time at my gig. In the middle of the night, by myself, playing to a, screen in my conservatory. Two years ago it would have felt impossible.
Talk of Seamus Ennis made me think of his, daughter. I enjoyed watching and listening to Catherine, Ennis on the documentary about Liam. Easter Snow. Beautiful. I was a church organist for a couple of years at St Chad’s until I fell out with the bully of a vicar. I ran a small choir there.
On the back of Hackler of Grouse Hall I thought I should try some poitin. Tried a bit of Micil stuff. It’s, gorgeous.
Rebecca
Good morning Christy…..Any plans for coming to Boyle again ?
so many plans forever mish mashing around this old head….songs to write,to learn, to rearrange, to borrow, co-write, plagiarise, Bands to collaborate, instrurments to hear, players to cherish, as for GIGS Boyle-man…don’t get me started….of course I’m coming back to Boyle…soon as I get a dozen vaccinations in each arm and in the cheeks of me arse I’ll be on my way…Boyle, Warnambool, Sausalito, Fulham Broadway, Two-Mile-House, Balcktrench and Boolea…..
but for today Boyle-Man I gotta try and quell the flames of procrastination…gotta finish this mug of scald, do some of the basic stuff., gotta try and rise from this old scratcher, get this beautiful day started, gotta draw the drapes, pull on the strides..practice a bit for Galway in two days time,ponder the set list in my head, will I play the new ones or leave them lie til the album comes out in November,,does it matter one single iota….zzzzzz
so much started for me in Boyle
“Green Grows The Lily O
Right among The Bushes O”
sorry to hijack…
http://www.colin-harper.com put ‘Seamus Ennis’ in the search box D
I’m a willing participant in the fruits of your hi-jack !! Just read the Seamus Ennis section…I’d not read such a detailed account of Seamus time in the BBC before. he surely was an enigma. Great to read Bob Davenport, Peggy Seeger and Reg Hall recall their meetings with “The Ennis”…..Over 3 decades I met Seamus on irregular occasions. Circa “68 he stayed with me in Halifax Yorkshire for a week…he was doing a short Folk club tour..I went to hear him in The Grove in Leeds….some years later we met again back in Dublin..in early Planxty days Liam O’Flynn was sharing a house with Seamus who showed interest and approval of our fledgling band…in his final years I used to visit Seamus in his home called “Easter Snow” in The Naul in north County Dublin…..Seamus is well described in this journal..he may be the greatest legend ever in the annals of Irish Music, his talents also had great impact across the water….at his best he was a Piper of the highest degree, he was eloquent, had a beautiful hand, a way with the people, a roguish twinkle, a sharp tongue which he used to cut through the palavar (often to his own detriment)…
“O The Easter Snow
it has faded away
so rare and so beautiful
’til it melted back into the clay”
ps I googled Seamus Ennis/ BBC… found some excellent pieces by Colin Harper ( a regular source of great reading) at http://www.colinharper.com ‘Wheels of the world (2)’ gives brilliant accounts of Seamus’ work and his amazing personality… D
Mornin’ Christy
Thanks for the info that it’s Seamus Ennis in the photo with The Copper Family. I wasn’t sure it was him,but I assume they met when he was making field recordings for BBC radio.
Good luck with gigs…we’re rehearsing tomorrow, for the first time in ages. Only vague mutterings about gigs, but it’s been too long since guitar and dulcimers combined. Now for the tuning…
Have a good day.
Dave
Hello Christy,
A few gigs coming up. The very best of luck, I hope you have a, ball!
You mentioned before that there could be 3 in September and 1 in August. I hope they (and a load more) are all coming to fruition.
We have to scrat about here, over the water, for any useful news It seems to be mainly lies or boring these days here, sometimes both. So any beans that can be spilt round here would be gratefully scooped up.
Rebecca
the latest is one in August,one in September and two in October….in anticipation I wont be holding my breath….but I hope to be ready should they all come to pass
RIP Don Everly… master craftsman – omitted to mention him,whilst prattling about the Copper family harmony singing.
Coppers and Everlys – class. D
All we have to do is dream…R.I.P.
Mornin’ Christy
Talking to some friends last night, just back from Sussex. Raving about the area (which I have yet to visit) and a day in Rottingdean. That triggered memories of radio folk programmes, featuring the wonderful harmonies of The Copper Family.
Great to see that the family music is going strong- well documented at http://www.thecopperfamily.com their version of ‘Spencer the Rover’ (on youtube) was the inspiration for John Martyn’s lovely take…
What a pleasant start to a week!
All the best
Dave
Seamus Ennis in the middle of it all
Hi Christy
Today, I’ve been enjoying revisiting the writings of CP Lee – local lad, muso, academic, Dylan buff – all round good guy, sadly, no longer with us…
Regular readers here will know of your affection for Manchester, getting the start in folk clubs and the incomparable MSG ( Manchester Sports Guild). In ‘Shake Rattle and Rain’, CP gives very good background to folk clubs, inc MSG.
He was a founder of ‘cult’ local band ‘Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias’ – pretty successful in an alternative sort of way… in ‘When we were thin’ he gives a brilliant account of post gig times, which I’m sure will resonate with you…
‘ I’m standing in a back alley in Rotterdam.It’s four in the morning. I’m with Bruce and we’re about to climb the stairs of a cheap boarding house. The alley stinks. I do too because I’m soaking with sweat from the gig we’ve just played. We have to get up in four hours time and drive three hundred miles to the next gig. I’ve got just about enough cash to buy a meal if we’ve got time to stop for one. Bruce puts his arm around my shoulder.
‘CP? Didn’t I tell you if we stuck together we’d go to the top.’
CP Lee has left a great legacy + books still available via http://www.cplee.co.uk well worth a visit to the website – sad to lose him…
All the best
Dave
sounds familiar…
Hi Christy
I have sent you the link to Tomi Reichental’s story at The Moth. I just wanted to check I sent it to the correct address and you received it.
Best wishes
Joanna
Fair Play To You
Souls
https://youtu.be/6dHupFqLvaw
I love this song in the documentary.
It rhymes like, Back home in Derry
I cursed em to hell as our bough fought the, swell
Our ship danced like a moth in the fire light
White horses rode high as the devil passed by
Taking should to Hades by twilight
run pell mell down into hell to search for poitín there
Christy hi ,
We had a good run to the boat on friday,with The iron behind the velvet, such a varied album, johnny Morrissey was some lad.
Today Waking to the pheassnt’s call, Eadestown .we had a rare day yesterday, we Visited our horses in Cashel and Durrow with my best man Jayo, before driving through stair rods of thundering rain into the sunshine of Curragh’s sport of Kings .
On that part of the journey i love the local radio stations here, particularly Tipp FM and KFM and even heard an interview with a mattress salesman! ,the evening was wiled away with a lovely meal with friends from Nurney in Fallons of Kilcullen, jings i thought i had died and gone to heaven such a lovely day.
Today we might try the pitch and put at the Curragh before more racing at Naas and the box set accompanying us back home via the Belfast ferry.
I know i am very lucky to be able to savour such enjoyment, when Palestine, Yemen, DRC,Haiti and beyond face such disasterous situations. It is an ill divided world.
Take care
Rory
I used to love singing that “Morrissey & The Russian Sailor”….so many songs fell off the set list over the years….fond memories of that album….we rehearsed in Coolcullen on the Castlecomer Plateau…..a good Band we had too…Luka, Jimmy Faulkner, Andy Irvine, Noel Hill,Tony Linnane, Gabriel McKeon…..dont know if any of the songs have survived the test of time…..
Just to say Dave good call on the Vagabonds. They’ve got something really special about them. Been following since their early days, Brian Mac Gloinn really does have it all! It’s almost like he’s taken it full circle, back to the days of Sweeney!
Rattlin Roarin Willie