Ah yes Christy, Ned sherrin, saturday mornings were never the same after Loose Ends.
Mind you he came from a long line of good old neds.
Ned Kelly
Yound Ned of the hill
A right bunch of neds!
Riry
Hi Christy,
Only know the Neville’s are from Bury.
A friend’s daughter was at Elton high school with Tracey Neville, which is around Walshaw area, so presume they hailed from there. Don’t know whether you know that district, it’s heading up towards Tottington?
Nice to know we’re famous for something else other than tripe and black puds. Pam
Hi C. On the basis that there can never be enough BBR, here is John Horgan in the original video that went viral in 2015 now with nearly half a million views https://youtu.be/vEkUzJIjwvA . He has since recorded his own CD which was launched in 2016 in The Munster Arms in Bandon a venue I think you may be familiar with ? Our very own Dave Madden from Tigh Molaige also does a very fine version of it, what is it with these Rebels ?? I guess they have to be good at something !!!! Only 2 more sleeps, safe travelling all. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
He’s greatly missed for sure… Part of his genius was in convincing the BBC that satire was/is a good idea… I was about 10 when ‘That was the week that was’ hit the black and white tv…not sure I ever heard my parents laugh as much at any other show. There are clips of it on youtube…brilliant to re visit and see David Frost et al looking c 15. Ned was the behind the scenes guru.
How TW3 is needed now!
Dave
Christy's reply
Ned always concluded Loose Ends with…
” if anyone wishes to join me in the pub, the first drink is on me “
Good luck with the gig – I’m sure it will be brilliant…
Great to get news of events – latest being from Drogheda Arts Centre http://www.droichead.com with a fascinating programme. I’ve just enjoyed a few minutes of piano music from Una Keane c/o her website. Drogheda is one of my favourite towns and it’s terrific for there to be a vibrant arts scene through thick, thin and thinner…
I’m with you all the way about Radio 4. So many gems and good to look back on ‘Desert Island Discs’ – ‘Home Truths’ and numerous brilliant docs. Long may it remain as a beacon…like the shipping forecasts!
Enjoy the day
Dave
Christy's reply
I’ve always had a soft spot for Droichead Átha….the way The Boyne divides the Town, the great viaduct bridge, the sound of The Pressgang, the late Sean Corcoran,
there used to be a great gig there in th 1980s…I think it was called The White Swan…I used to play there on Monday nights..always jammed with great listeners…the man of the house was a music man and always gave me a great reception ..any one else remember this venue…
earlier again was the wonderful Cherry Tree venue out in Clogherhead ..I’ve written about it before..it was a much favoured gig of Planxty and was hosted by the great Ned Byrne…we’d always linger after the gig and sip Celebration Cream sherry with the bould Ned…the Sun would be well up by the time we struggled out to the van the following morning…
its almost 50 years ago but the music still resounds in this old head ….
a Planxty set from back then:
3 Drunken People !
Sally Brown
The Jolly Beggar/The Dublin Reel
Cúnla/ The Frieze Britches
The Raggle Taggle/tabhair dom do Lámh
Only Our Rivers
Sí Bheag Sí Mhór
Merrily Kiss The Quaker
Follow me up to Carlow
The West Coast of Clare
The Hare in The Corn
Sweet Thames Flow Softly
an Phis Fhliuc
When First Unto this Country
Arthur McBride
Lord MacDonalds
then we’d limp back to base with that mixture of contentment and hangover
Hi Christy and all,
Radio 4 has kept me sane for the past month (specially A Book at Bedtime!) been staying with elderly relative at the bottom of the country who won’t have TV on – so Guestbook, thanks for all the links, have checked in most days but too exhausted to respond to anything.
Now I’m home with the smell of Black Pudding in the air, 2 confused dogs and 6 happy grandkids.
Can’t wait for new album Christy, and Rebecca all best wishes for your upcoming performance. Cheers Pam
Christy's reply
Good to see you are back on your home turf Pam..
I learned last night that the Neville brothers hail from Bury…do you happen to know what part of the Borough ?
Hello Christy,
Those street names are awful. I hate politics and the rest of the time I don’t understand it. The whole things seems to be about who’s the best at saying black is white.
I’ve always liked that spike thing outside the GPO.
I don’t know if you’ll remember the last time you played the Bridgewater Hall. It was when brexit was getting right into its stupidity. You said something about going into the city streets to get a, feel of the place and how people were. And we were all quietly getting on with life. You sang Its the least we can do. I felt proud os us that day. There is some sense in Northerners. Or maybe it’s just stubbornness.
My practice is going ok right now. Now I’ve stopped panicking about having an actual gig where there might be actual people.
Hi Christy..all the best for Thursdays return to HQ..really looking forward to it.. I’ve had “Allende” stuck in me head this past few days.. reading up on him tonight I see the anniversary of his death was just 10 days ago (11 Sept 73′)..it’s a song that carries emotion..slight anger..great air to it.. amazing the links to other South America referenced songs like Companeros and Victor Jara..
“And the bullets read U S of A..”
Christy's reply
Kevin, I could be wrong here,
but as far as I can recall its the first time I’ve heard a call-out for this great song….
the setting,both visually and aurally,brings me right into that place of danger, corruption and murder as Reagan and the CIA collude with Pinochet’s fascists to bring down a democratically elected government and murder President Allende…Pinochet, (greatly admired by Thatcher) subsequently murdered Victor Jara and thousands were disappeared ….
but the song also has beauty in its lines
It was written and originally recorded by Don Lange. I learned “Allende” from his original recording after hearing it on the radio.
Hi Christy, i agree about radio 4.
From our own correspondent.
Desert Island Discs
Today
Tweet of the day
The shipping forecast
I’m sorry i havnt a clue
In our time
Etc etc
Great listening.
Rory
Dear Christy ,
Today a location of Shalimar street came across the bows, and that made me wonder whether there are others out there such as Planxty Mews, Moving Hearts Avenue, Christy Moore Drove Road, Jacko Highway or even Hamish Imlach Parade?
Just a thought.
Regards
Rory
Christy's reply
No Rory, but we’re still stuck with some right old relics of colonial imposition…Ailsbury Rd, Shrewsbury Rd,York Rd, Sussex St,George’s St,Dorset St, to name but a few of hundreds….
One of the things I enjoy most about this place is hearing lots of different local words, and the way we all put them together.
Here’s a list of some Yorkshire dialect words https://the-yorkshireman.com/yorkshire-slang/
I don’t know all of them, I’m West Yorkshire. Some of them come from East Yorkshire (sometimes called humberside, but it’s not). They’re the ones I don’t know.
Hello Christy,
Its gorgeous. I read it a few months ago and wanted to dive straight in. The chords! I had no chance with them. It was a brick wall.
Here’s Mary coughlan’s recording https://youtu.be/OzWDxNWEd1k
This song made me think of a poem by Robert Herrick. I don’t know if it’s ever been set to music. We were taught it in primary school by a teacher who must have lost her marbles that day. I came back to it years later and nearly fell off my chair. Anyway, I loved the rhythm of it when I was 10 and read a lot more Robert Herrick off the back of it.
The Hag (1648)
Robert Herrick
The Hag is astride,
This night for to ride;
The Devill and shee together:
Through thick, and through thin,
Now out, and then in,
Though ne’r so foule be the weather.
A Thorn or a Burr
She takes for a Spurre:
With a lash of a Bramble she rides now,
Through Brakes and through Bryars,
O’re Ditches, and Mires,
She follows the Spirit that guides now.
No Beast, for his food,
Dares now range the wood;
But husht in his laire he lies lurking:
While mischiefs, by these,
On Land and on Seas,
At noone of Night are a working.
The storme will arise,
And trouble the skies;
This night, and more for the wonder,
The ghost from the Tomb
Affrighted shall come,
Cal’d out by the clap of the Thunder.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Good stuff
Different topic…good prog on BBC Radio 4 yesterday between 5 & 6 on dialect poetry….
a personal appeal…please, may Radio 4 never dumb down…
Hello Christy,
Thanks Hilary, that was brilliant. Jimmy Mac connects to his songs in such an intense way, doesn’t he.
He’s right when he says “you will be glad to sing it”
I first heard it in Vicar street, maybe 11th December 2018. Christy turned the jukebox on and loads of requests started shouting. He said, I heard Bright Blue Rose. And there the beauty was.
I started to learn it straight away.
When I sing it it feels kind of like casting a spell or weaving a web.
Thinking about the intensity of Jimmy Mac, singing a song is where it happens for me, when I breath air through it. That’s when I really find the song.
I’m trying to imagine what it feels like to sing such a thing that you’ve written yourself. There’s nothing like singing your own song. The freedom of it, and meeting it so purely.
And the openness to know it can develop and grow.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Ancient Rain…by Jimmy MacCarthy
I tried to sing this song 30 years ago but could not do it justice. Mary Coughlan did a good version.
Summer time has almost gone
And every clock, an hour put on
Last night we danced and merry-made
Under the full moon, madness played
An older witch, he danced with me
Later he sat on my knee
A fiddler flashed his fiddler’s grin
To hell and back, from lock to chain
The witch was clean, washed al fine
But born one day after me
We were told was lock and key
He left me in the morn
I slept on till one o’clock
My head felt like a concrete block
I drink some whiskey lord, I drink it hot
On the first day of winter
Ancient rain, pouring down
Wears my bones to the ground
Ancient rain, pouring down
Wears my bones to the ground
The demons taunt in pagan times
The past and present now in rhyme
Two hands that squeeze my life away
On this the holy All Saints Day
Hi All… Ahh BBR,,, my absolute most favourite song and my favourite version is from the 2006 Point Depot DVD/CD with the mighty intro by Declan, actually from the Soundcheck, although it is hard to beat the version on The Voyage with the duelling pipers. !! In his book ” Ride On ” published by Jimmy Mac 2002 he writes : ” I decided to head to Kenmare to some celebration or other but by Saturday evening I felt really ill….. Then a woman healer who shall remain nameless approached me and said you look very unwell . Let me give you a blast. We went to my hotel room where she asked to me to sit on a chair and take my shirt off. I felt unbelievable heat coming from her hands onto my back, even thought she was not making physical contact with me. Within twenty minutes or so I got a surge of energy. I returned to the celebrations where I sang four or five songs with Chris Meehan and his Red Neck Friends, if my memory serves me well. Before going to bed this healer gave me another blast and I awoke on Sunday morning totally recovered. From the bedside locker I picked up my ever present notepad with work in progress and wrote the completing lines .. I generally regard a chorus as a logical conclusion so, picking up my guitar I sang the chorus which came spontaneously, put it on paper and said “Yes there is a God and thanks be to God’. I sang it to the girls who came to do the room, and sang it at least another dozen times during the same day sometimes accompanied by Joe Thoma on fiddle. I could dissect aspects of the BBR and wax lyrical about it’s creation until the cows come home, but it happened exactly as I have described. It is a mysterious piece and nothing I could disclose would let you know anything more about it, but I can honestly say, you will be glad to sing it ” page 128…. Amazing some talent. I must mention and thank Lar/Elvis who arranged for Jimmy to sign the sheet music for me, 4711ers are the best ! To conclude, finally, the very best of luck in HQ on Thurs. Beir bua agus beannacht… H
Christy's reply
I still carry that memory of Liam Óg and Paddy Moloney in Lansdowne Studio playing together on that outro from Bright Blue Rose….that was in the late 1980s
the seed was sown twenty years earlier when they played together at “the afters” of my Sisters wedding to Davoc Rynne….in the cellar of Downings House there was an all night session of the highest degree….at one stage Liam and Paddy faced each other, their chanters barely inches apart…they played a long set of unplanned reels and I was sitting right there beside them…what a night that was
while I’m here let me add that Anne and Davoc are still making music….my Sister Anne Rynne is currently working on her third album, my Brother in Law Davoc Rynne is working towards his second album….
Their eldest Son Davóg Rynne lives in France with his family. He too is a musician.
PS I still love John Horgan’s verion (The Singing Barman)
Christy you have produced a sea of calm against the storm of a day.
Trying to do paperwork with a kid shooting foam bullets at imaginary targets, making him grub, workman in the next room fixing the wall, while needing to get organised to scoot off to sell raffle tickets and run the touch flag at the rugby soon.
Then up popped you at the point with Bright Blue Rose 2006 at the point.
Serenity for 4 beautiful minutes, just glorious thanks to you, declan and jimmy mac.
However that was temporary and madness is resuming all around…..come on hawick rfc the green machine
Cheers
Rory
Christy's reply
Such a song as this I’ve never heard before.
It always brings on varying degree of peace, sense of serenity, in a mysterious
As I write this I believe it to be Jimmy MaCarthy’s most powerful song.
I’m going to turn away from this infernal machine now..I’m gonna put it to sleep for the night ..gonna close my eyes and sing Jimmy Mack’s “Bright Blue Rose”
Hello Christy and All,
The first serious music show I saw was The Tube. I was way out of my depth. It had Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders playing gawky teenagers. I once had a go on Jools holland’s piano in a shop in Leeds. The keys were as heavy as lead. He must have very strong fingers.
My mum and dad have bought tickets to my gig. I’m not going to be singing to an empty room!!!
She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an agate stone
On the forefinger of an alderman,
Drawn with a team of little atomies
Over men’s noses as they lie asleep;
Romeo and juliet
There’s a woodland path near here, where I like to wander. Right now there are berries everywhere. Bright red on the hawthorn.
Great that you’ve worked with Bob Harris – someone I’d like to meet and say thanks for so much ace presenting/ programming…
I’m with you all the way about ‘Help’ – stunning drama-so hard hitting. My Mum spent the last years of her life in a home very similar to the one portrayed. I thought of the staff many times during Covid/ during ‘Help’…Stephen Graham is always class – Jodie Comer – awesome…having seen her in ‘Killing Eve’, I assumed she was a bilingual European actor – I got a shock when I saw her interviewed when ‘Help’ was being made! Fair play to all involved in the production and further shame on many politicians.
On the Beeb/ down memory lane…in the company of ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris – reviewing the wonders of ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ 30 years after the last show…brilliant stuff.
I wonder if you ever crossed paths with Bob or the programme.
Happy days
Dave
Christy's reply
did two Radio shows with Bob Harris…a charming man totally focused on his music..
Just watched “Help” with Stephen Graham and Jodie Comer plus a stellar cast….
Riveting, heart breaking, essential viewing
Ah yes Christy, Ned sherrin, saturday mornings were never the same after Loose Ends.
Mind you he came from a long line of good old neds.
Ned Kelly
Yound Ned of the hill
A right bunch of neds!
Riry
Hi Christy,
Only know the Neville’s are from Bury.
A friend’s daughter was at Elton high school with Tracey Neville, which is around Walshaw area, so presume they hailed from there. Don’t know whether you know that district, it’s heading up towards Tottington?
Nice to know we’re famous for something else other than tripe and black puds. Pam
Hi C. On the basis that there can never be enough BBR, here is John Horgan in the original video that went viral in 2015 now with nearly half a million views
https://youtu.be/vEkUzJIjwvA . He has since recorded his own CD which was launched in 2016 in The Munster Arms in Bandon a venue I think you may be familiar with ? Our very own Dave Madden from Tigh Molaige also does a very fine version of it, what is it with these Rebels ?? I guess they have to be good at something !!!! Only 2 more sleeps, safe travelling all. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
ps welcome back to the North, Pam!
Get down to Bury market for a good fry up! D
Heavens above Dave…give the girl time to draw her breath !!!! x
Great call about Ned Sherrin, Christy
He’s greatly missed for sure… Part of his genius was in convincing the BBC that satire was/is a good idea… I was about 10 when ‘That was the week that was’ hit the black and white tv…not sure I ever heard my parents laugh as much at any other show. There are clips of it on youtube…brilliant to re visit and see David Frost et al looking c 15. Ned was the behind the scenes guru.
How TW3 is needed now!
Dave
Ned always concluded Loose Ends with…
” if anyone wishes to join me in the pub, the first drink is on me “
Mornin’ Christy
Good luck with the gig – I’m sure it will be brilliant…
Great to get news of events – latest being from Drogheda Arts Centre http://www.droichead.com with a fascinating programme. I’ve just enjoyed a few minutes of piano music from Una Keane c/o her website. Drogheda is one of my favourite towns and it’s terrific for there to be a vibrant arts scene through thick, thin and thinner…
I’m with you all the way about Radio 4. So many gems and good to look back on ‘Desert Island Discs’ – ‘Home Truths’ and numerous brilliant docs. Long may it remain as a beacon…like the shipping forecasts!
Enjoy the day
Dave
I’ve always had a soft spot for Droichead Átha….the way The Boyne divides the Town, the great viaduct bridge, the sound of The Pressgang, the late Sean Corcoran,
there used to be a great gig there in th 1980s…I think it was called The White Swan…I used to play there on Monday nights..always jammed with great listeners…the man of the house was a music man and always gave me a great reception ..any one else remember this venue…
earlier again was the wonderful Cherry Tree venue out in Clogherhead ..I’ve written about it before..it was a much favoured gig of Planxty and was hosted by the great Ned Byrne…we’d always linger after the gig and sip Celebration Cream sherry with the bould Ned…the Sun would be well up by the time we struggled out to the van the following morning…
its almost 50 years ago but the music still resounds in this old head ….
a Planxty set from back then:
3 Drunken People !
Sally Brown
The Jolly Beggar/The Dublin Reel
Cúnla/ The Frieze Britches
The Raggle Taggle/tabhair dom do Lámh
Only Our Rivers
Sí Bheag Sí Mhór
Merrily Kiss The Quaker
Follow me up to Carlow
The West Coast of Clare
The Hare in The Corn
Sweet Thames Flow Softly
an Phis Fhliuc
When First Unto this Country
Arthur McBride
Lord MacDonalds
then we’d limp back to base with that mixture of contentment and hangover
Hi Christy and all,
Radio 4 has kept me sane for the past month (specially A Book at Bedtime!) been staying with elderly relative at the bottom of the country who won’t have TV on – so Guestbook, thanks for all the links, have checked in most days but too exhausted to respond to anything.
Now I’m home with the smell of Black Pudding in the air, 2 confused dogs and 6 happy grandkids.
Can’t wait for new album Christy, and Rebecca all best wishes for your upcoming performance. Cheers Pam
Good to see you are back on your home turf Pam..
I learned last night that the Neville brothers hail from Bury…do you happen to know what part of the Borough ?
Hello Christy,
Those street names are awful. I hate politics and the rest of the time I don’t understand it. The whole things seems to be about who’s the best at saying black is white.
I’ve always liked that spike thing outside the GPO.
I don’t know if you’ll remember the last time you played the Bridgewater Hall. It was when brexit was getting right into its stupidity. You said something about going into the city streets to get a, feel of the place and how people were. And we were all quietly getting on with life. You sang Its the least we can do. I felt proud os us that day. There is some sense in Northerners. Or maybe it’s just stubbornness.
My practice is going ok right now. Now I’ve stopped panicking about having an actual gig where there might be actual people.
Rebecca
keep up the good work Rebecca
Hi Christy..all the best for Thursdays return to HQ..really looking forward to it.. I’ve had “Allende” stuck in me head this past few days.. reading up on him tonight I see the anniversary of his death was just 10 days ago (11 Sept 73′)..it’s a song that carries emotion..slight anger..great air to it.. amazing the links to other South America referenced songs like Companeros and Victor Jara..
“And the bullets read U S of A..”
Kevin, I could be wrong here,
but as far as I can recall its the first time I’ve heard a call-out for this great song….
the setting,both visually and aurally,brings me right into that place of danger, corruption and murder as Reagan and the CIA collude with Pinochet’s fascists to bring down a democratically elected government and murder President Allende…Pinochet, (greatly admired by Thatcher) subsequently murdered Victor Jara and thousands were disappeared ….
but the song also has beauty in its lines
It was written and originally recorded by Don Lange. I learned “Allende” from his original recording after hearing it on the radio.
Hi Christy, i agree about radio 4.
From our own correspondent.
Desert Island Discs
Today
Tweet of the day
The shipping forecast
I’m sorry i havnt a clue
In our time
Etc etc
Great listening.
Rory
I still miss Ned Sherrin
Dear Christy ,
Today a location of Shalimar street came across the bows, and that made me wonder whether there are others out there such as Planxty Mews, Moving Hearts Avenue, Christy Moore Drove Road, Jacko Highway or even Hamish Imlach Parade?
Just a thought.
Regards
Rory
No Rory, but we’re still stuck with some right old relics of colonial imposition…Ailsbury Rd, Shrewsbury Rd,York Rd, Sussex St,George’s St,Dorset St, to name but a few of hundreds….
One of the things I enjoy most about this place is hearing lots of different local words, and the way we all put them together.
Here’s a list of some Yorkshire dialect words
https://the-yorkshireman.com/yorkshire-slang/
I don’t know all of them, I’m West Yorkshire. Some of them come from East Yorkshire (sometimes called humberside, but it’s not). They’re the ones I don’t know.
Rebecca
brings me reet back to Causeway Foot
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/search?q=Tongue%20and%20Talk%3A%20The%20Dialect%20Poets&suggid=urn%3Abbc%3Aprogrammes%3Ab0b3m9sh
This one? I’ll have a listen, thank you. Yesterday was South Wales.
I’m waiting for a book of Yorkshire dialect poems to get here.
There’s some good Yorkshire dialect in Wuthering Heights.
thanks for sending link..great stuff
Hello Christy,
Its gorgeous. I read it a few months ago and wanted to dive straight in. The chords! I had no chance with them. It was a brick wall.
Here’s Mary coughlan’s recording
https://youtu.be/OzWDxNWEd1k
This song made me think of a poem by Robert Herrick. I don’t know if it’s ever been set to music. We were taught it in primary school by a teacher who must have lost her marbles that day. I came back to it years later and nearly fell off my chair. Anyway, I loved the rhythm of it when I was 10 and read a lot more Robert Herrick off the back of it.
The Hag (1648)
Robert Herrick
The Hag is astride,
This night for to ride;
The Devill and shee together:
Through thick, and through thin,
Now out, and then in,
Though ne’r so foule be the weather.
A Thorn or a Burr
She takes for a Spurre:
With a lash of a Bramble she rides now,
Through Brakes and through Bryars,
O’re Ditches, and Mires,
She follows the Spirit that guides now.
No Beast, for his food,
Dares now range the wood;
But husht in his laire he lies lurking:
While mischiefs, by these,
On Land and on Seas,
At noone of Night are a working.
The storme will arise,
And trouble the skies;
This night, and more for the wonder,
The ghost from the Tomb
Affrighted shall come,
Cal’d out by the clap of the Thunder.
Rebecca
Good stuff
Different topic…good prog on BBC Radio 4 yesterday between 5 & 6 on dialect poetry….
a personal appeal…please, may Radio 4 never dumb down…
Hello Christy,
Thanks Hilary, that was brilliant. Jimmy Mac connects to his songs in such an intense way, doesn’t he.
He’s right when he says “you will be glad to sing it”
I first heard it in Vicar street, maybe 11th December 2018. Christy turned the jukebox on and loads of requests started shouting. He said, I heard Bright Blue Rose. And there the beauty was.
I started to learn it straight away.
When I sing it it feels kind of like casting a spell or weaving a web.
Thinking about the intensity of Jimmy Mac, singing a song is where it happens for me, when I breath air through it. That’s when I really find the song.
I’m trying to imagine what it feels like to sing such a thing that you’ve written yourself. There’s nothing like singing your own song. The freedom of it, and meeting it so purely.
And the openness to know it can develop and grow.
Rebecca
Ancient Rain…by Jimmy MacCarthy
I tried to sing this song 30 years ago but could not do it justice. Mary Coughlan did a good version.
Summer time has almost gone
And every clock, an hour put on
Last night we danced and merry-made
Under the full moon, madness played
An older witch, he danced with me
Later he sat on my knee
A fiddler flashed his fiddler’s grin
To hell and back, from lock to chain
The witch was clean, washed al fine
But born one day after me
We were told was lock and key
He left me in the morn
I slept on till one o’clock
My head felt like a concrete block
I drink some whiskey lord, I drink it hot
On the first day of winter
Ancient rain, pouring down
Wears my bones to the ground
Ancient rain, pouring down
Wears my bones to the ground
The demons taunt in pagan times
The past and present now in rhyme
Two hands that squeeze my life away
On this the holy All Saints Day
Hi All… Ahh BBR,,, my absolute most favourite song and my favourite version is from the 2006 Point Depot DVD/CD with the mighty intro by Declan, actually from the Soundcheck, although it is hard to beat the version on The Voyage with the duelling pipers. !! In his book ” Ride On ” published by Jimmy Mac 2002 he writes : ” I decided to head to Kenmare to some celebration or other but by Saturday evening I felt really ill….. Then a woman healer who shall remain nameless approached me and said you look very unwell . Let me give you a blast. We went to my hotel room where she asked to me to sit on a chair and take my shirt off. I felt unbelievable heat coming from her hands onto my back, even thought she was not making physical contact with me. Within twenty minutes or so I got a surge of energy. I returned to the celebrations where I sang four or five songs with Chris Meehan and his Red Neck Friends, if my memory serves me well. Before going to bed this healer gave me another blast and I awoke on Sunday morning totally recovered. From the bedside locker I picked up my ever present notepad with work in progress and wrote the completing lines .. I generally regard a chorus as a logical conclusion so, picking up my guitar I sang the chorus which came spontaneously, put it on paper and said “Yes there is a God and thanks be to God’. I sang it to the girls who came to do the room, and sang it at least another dozen times during the same day sometimes accompanied by Joe Thoma on fiddle. I could dissect aspects of the BBR and wax lyrical about it’s creation until the cows come home, but it happened exactly as I have described. It is a mysterious piece and nothing I could disclose would let you know anything more about it, but I can honestly say, you will be glad to sing it ” page 128…. Amazing some talent. I must mention and thank Lar/Elvis who arranged for Jimmy to sign the sheet music for me, 4711ers are the best ! To conclude, finally, the very best of luck in HQ on Thurs. Beir bua agus beannacht… H
I still carry that memory of Liam Óg and Paddy Moloney in Lansdowne Studio playing together on that outro from Bright Blue Rose….that was in the late 1980s
the seed was sown twenty years earlier when they played together at “the afters” of my Sisters wedding to Davoc Rynne….in the cellar of Downings House there was an all night session of the highest degree….at one stage Liam and Paddy faced each other, their chanters barely inches apart…they played a long set of unplanned reels and I was sitting right there beside them…what a night that was
while I’m here let me add that Anne and Davoc are still making music….my Sister Anne Rynne is currently working on her third album, my Brother in Law Davoc Rynne is working towards his second album….
Their eldest Son Davóg Rynne lives in France with his family. He too is a musician.
PS I still love John Horgan’s verion (The Singing Barman)
Christy you have produced a sea of calm against the storm of a day.
Trying to do paperwork with a kid shooting foam bullets at imaginary targets, making him grub, workman in the next room fixing the wall, while needing to get organised to scoot off to sell raffle tickets and run the touch flag at the rugby soon.
Then up popped you at the point with Bright Blue Rose 2006 at the point.
Serenity for 4 beautiful minutes, just glorious thanks to you, declan and jimmy mac.
However that was temporary and madness is resuming all around…..come on hawick rfc the green machine
Cheers
Rory
Such a song as this I’ve never heard before.
It always brings on varying degree of peace, sense of serenity, in a mysterious
As I write this I believe it to be Jimmy MaCarthy’s most powerful song.
I’m going to turn away from this infernal machine now..I’m gonna put it to sleep for the night ..gonna close my eyes and sing Jimmy Mack’s “Bright Blue Rose”
Then go down and watch M.O.T.D.
Hello Christy and All,
The first serious music show I saw was The Tube. I was way out of my depth. It had Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders playing gawky teenagers. I once had a go on Jools holland’s piano in a shop in Leeds. The keys were as heavy as lead. He must have very strong fingers.
My mum and dad have bought tickets to my gig. I’m not going to be singing to an empty room!!!
She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an agate stone
On the forefinger of an alderman,
Drawn with a team of little atomies
Over men’s noses as they lie asleep;
Romeo and juliet
There’s a woodland path near here, where I like to wander. Right now there are berries everywhere. Bright red on the hawthorn.
Rebecca
Mornin’ Christy
Great that you’ve worked with Bob Harris – someone I’d like to meet and say thanks for so much ace presenting/ programming…
I’m with you all the way about ‘Help’ – stunning drama-so hard hitting. My Mum spent the last years of her life in a home very similar to the one portrayed. I thought of the staff many times during Covid/ during ‘Help’…Stephen Graham is always class – Jodie Comer – awesome…having seen her in ‘Killing Eve’, I assumed she was a bilingual European actor – I got a shock when I saw her interviewed when ‘Help’ was being made! Fair play to all involved in the production and further shame on many politicians.
Have a good day
Dave
Hi Christy
On the Beeb/ down memory lane…in the company of ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris – reviewing the wonders of ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ 30 years after the last show…brilliant stuff.
I wonder if you ever crossed paths with Bob or the programme.
Happy days
Dave
did two Radio shows with Bob Harris…a charming man totally focused on his music..
Just watched “Help” with Stephen Graham and Jodie Comer plus a stellar cast….
Riveting, heart breaking, essential viewing