Haven’t heard the new album yet… but all good things come to those who wait! John Spillane what a nice guy. Met him a few years back in a local GAA club . He was in Belfast for a gig yesterday and had breakfast in Cultúrlann this morning…too early for chowder. Go well Christy.
Not sure if you got the pic of the chainsaw carving of The Galtee Mountain Boy or not. I posted a message earlier but God only knows where it went. Anyway I know I’ve plagued you down through the years to sing this song or that song for me at various concerts. However this is a different request (quite a cheeky one actually). The carving is now located in the village of Burncourt some 10 miles or so from Ardfinnan and I was wondering if you are ever down this neck of the woods sometime in the future what are the chances of me getting a photograph of you with the carving. It would be a wonderful thing to have seeing as its a terrific piece of work and the fact that you do give such a brilliant rendition of the song. They would really go hand in hand.
I’d love to hang it on my wall beside a shot of you and my son and daughter, taken in Killarney some 30 or so years ago.Enough waffling on, As the man said…if you don’t ask you will not receive. So I’ll live in hope.
Take care a while and stay safe.
Regards…..John O Neill (or as my two year old grandaughter
calls me Johnny Boy)
Here’s the link to the event on nch’s website https://www.nch.ie/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=Treaty-Songs-11Dec21&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=
Hello Christy,
The thing Dave said about a young man singing an old man’s song set my head going this morning.
When I sing songs I jump straight into the character, so old, young, it’s all the same.
This is why there are some songs I can’t sing. The time has come, it’s too much for me to be that person, even for 3 minutes, and I realise I have no defence against becoming them when I sing.
I like the naughty adventurous ones who stick two fingers up at aothority. Mcilhatton, love him.my favourite character to jump into, the guy in the reel in the flickering light. What an amazing evening he has.
Well, that was fun. I’ve always been weird. When I was very young my mum called me Alice in Wonderland.
Hope you have a, ball tonight.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
it promises to be a very interesting concert this evening..I’m looking forward to hearing all the contributions….I’m hoping to sing a song called “The Irish Free State” which was written by Patrick Galvin, Poet,Playwriter and Songster of Cork. Patrick died 10 years ago. He also wrote ” Where O ! where is our James Connolly”….John Spillane sings many of his songs
Starting the day with the box set. Opened it up and picked a colour at random…green…Soon I’m back to the early days of finding your music. The story of ‘The Old Man’s Song’ and the mellow, lilting ‘ Come by the hill’… fabulous in different ways.
It’s a funny old world, when you think that you were maybe early 20s when you found ‘ The Old Man’s Song’ – with very specific time references, but it didn’t matter that singer and audience were generations younger than the ‘old man’…Powerful writing by Ian Campbell and what an impact ‘the colour telly’ made.
Have a good day – and NCH night.
Dave
Christy's reply
Thanks for sharing Dave,
Nothin like an old flashback to get the day off to a good start…..Ian Cambell’s Folk Club was a big one…his Band was cutting edge and accomplished featuring, among others, Lorna Cambell , Dave Phillips and Dave Pegg….I think the club ran on Thursday nights, in Digbeth Civic Hall and was organised by Ian & Lorna’s parents Dave & Winnie ….I played there at least once..I stayed with Dave & Winnie, it was a leftist “political” club, a club of substance (rather then substances)….while it was the foremost folk club in the City there were others wortyhy of mention…Mick Hipkiss ran the Skillet Pot Club….The Munstermen had a lively club….John Swift & Tommy Dempsey had a trad club and I’m happy to recall good memories from all those gatherings..Twas at Ian’s club that I first heard him sing “The Old Man’s Song” and “The Sun Is Burning”….Luke Kelly spent time in Birmingham in his formative years..he too learned “Sun Burning”…I learned “Come By Hill” from Mick Hipkiss….
great times Dave…songs shared, friendships formed, long lasting memories created
Christy i really enjoy your Danny Boy ( box set) i still have not heard it like that before or since.
Shane MacGowan and the Popes do a grand, no nonsense, version.
I well remember Barry McGuigan’s dad singing it before his fights…in the days when you could watch a fight on free tv at 9 o’clock whereas now i gather its £25 at 4am.
Maybe i have posted this before….but i like your version.
Rory
Christy's reply
I remember that session…it was very much a case switch-the-recorder-on-and-lets -see-what-happens…….Brian Masterson engineered and Nigel Rolfe produced…I think it was the Summer of 1995…
my fave “Danny Boy” was by Rinty Monaghan after he won a Stock Car Derby in Shelbourne Park in 1957 ish….I was there with my Grandfather Jack Power…we got ice cream on the way home in Pacitti’s Ice Cream Parlour on Parkgate Street….then Jack pulled into Barrett’s Ball Alley House in Lucan for a few swift halves
Hi Christy, was saddened to see last weeks gig cancelled but delighted to say we secured tickets again for Tuesday the 14th in order to see you for the 5th time! My good friend Niall Moran is coming along for his first show and would love to hear Pair of Brown eyes if possible.
Best regards
Paul
Christy's reply
I’m in serious training here for next Tuesday….if poss, a rovin we might go ,but dont hold your breath
RIP Mike Nesmith…most famous for ‘The Monkees’ (quirky tv and LPs) but, afterwards a great country – ish artist.
He collaborated with Linda Ronstadt and wrote a song that’s one of my favourites from that genre…if you get chance, check out ‘ Propinquity’ (also a fab version by Iain Matthews)…
NCH sounds brilliant tomorrow – what a bill – have a great night.
Dave
Christy's reply
you’ve moved out of the realm of my listening experience there Dave….but sorry to hear of the Man passing
Hi Christy just a wee line or two to say love your new album. It’s great . I must apologise for your ears burning tonight. Iv just bought a karaoke machine and found lots of your songs on some karaoke site so it will be blazing out my house tonight. Hope you and yours have a safe and fantastic Christmas…..Graeme
Christy's reply
happy returns Graeme….I’m dreaming of Auld Reekie…..
Listening to the picturesque lyrics of John Spillane this morning.. can only marvel.. funny story about singing, “Johnny Don’t Go” in The Cobblestone some years ago and a fella from Ballincollig chastising him over the song, upon where he promised to write a lyric showing the town in a more positive light…”Beautiful Ballincollig” emerged..I’m sure you have heard it – here is a link for anyone interested.. hup Johnny Spillane: https://youtu.be/oArhhWYVt64
Christy's reply
How I love this..its years since I last heard it…Johnny takes us for another spin on his magic carpet..I’m looking forward to seeing him tomorrow night in the National Concert Hall
Saturday 11th December, 8pm
Treaty: Songs
Taking a central role in the 100th anniversary of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, NCH will present a special new project Treaty: Songs Lisa O’Neill, John Spillane, Karan Casey, Maija Sofia, Duke Special, Jonathan Nangle & Crash Ensemble, Adrian Crowley, Ailbhe Reddy, The Darkling Air & special guest Christy Moore
Hello Christy,
You said a while ago, “Quivitoq is coming”. I wondered what it was but couldn’t work it out.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
thank you for delving deeper…my practice seldom dives below the surface..I tend to become immersed in the words and music, to get lost in the surface picture…I was drawn in my Paul Doran’s version of his own song..kept listening …once I got his blessing to proceed, my journey to Greenland began…..now to hear of you (and others) probing the deep ..learning of Quivitok, of the Mandog….
“my soul is in the rock, in the grass , on the air
it moves between the Caribou and Puffin
dives beneath the ice sheets with the Narwhale and the Seal
feels the hunger of the Bear” ( from Greenland by Paul Doran)
Hello Christy,
Greenland sent me off looking for Quivitoq and the mother of the sea. There’s loads of stuff out there, some of it makes quivitoz sound like some from game of thrones or Tolkien.
I ended up with drum dancinf https://youtu.be/jVZFCB5iQaU
I love the way that people all over the world like hitting round flat things to express themselves.
Hi Christy, Would like to share with your guestbook the lyrics of a song I wrote 41 years ago. A Tribute to John Lennon, what a loss. A Tribute to John Lennon
John Lennon was a fine man
He was witty and dear
I cannot contain
He is no longer here
Singing his song
Rock and rolling along
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man
He was born in the heartland
Of old England
To be shot down in New York
By a maniac hand
But his spirit won’t die
Not as easy as that
He’ll continue to live
For a long, long, long time
John Lennon was a fine man
He was witty and dear
I cannot contain
He is no longer here
Singing his song
Rock and rolling along
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man
Calling out on the peace train
What are they fighting for ?
Singing love songs so sweetly
They went right to the core
Now a million tears falling
Falling on a cold shore
He’ll continue to live
For a long time, and more
John Lennon was a fine man
He was witty and dear
I cannot contain
He is no longer here
Singing his song
Rock and rolling along
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man
Well done tonight Christy, I loved that Patrick Galvin song. Great to see John Spillane up there too. Congrats to everyone.
Best Regards,
Phil.
so you’re in Leap are you
Haven’t heard the new album yet… but all good things come to those who wait! John Spillane what a nice guy. Met him a few years back in a local GAA club . He was in Belfast for a gig yesterday and had breakfast in Cultúrlann this morning…too early for chowder. Go well Christy.
He spoke to me about the Cultúrlann fry
Or banjo even
Not sure if you got the pic of the chainsaw carving of The Galtee Mountain Boy or not. I posted a message earlier but God only knows where it went. Anyway I know I’ve plagued you down through the years to sing this song or that song for me at various concerts. However this is a different request (quite a cheeky one actually). The carving is now located in the village of Burncourt some 10 miles or so from Ardfinnan and I was wondering if you are ever down this neck of the woods sometime in the future what are the chances of me getting a photograph of you with the carving. It would be a wonderful thing to have seeing as its a terrific piece of work and the fact that you do give such a brilliant rendition of the song. They would really go hand in hand.
I’d love to hang it on my wall beside a shot of you and my son and daughter, taken in Killarney some 30 or so years ago.Enough waffling on, As the man said…if you don’t ask you will not receive. So I’ll live in hope.
Take care a while and stay safe.
Regards…..John O Neill (or as my two year old grandaughter
calls me Johnny Boy)
hey Johnny Boy..Lets see what way the wind blows
This one might work
https://www.nch.ie/Online/default.asp
There’s a banner to the event page once you’re there
Here’s the link to the event on nch’s website
https://www.nch.ie/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=Treaty-Songs-11Dec21&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=
There’s a free live stream of the Treaty songs event tonighr
https://youtu.be/YwGXdOtgeWY
Hello Christy,
The thing Dave said about a young man singing an old man’s song set my head going this morning.
When I sing songs I jump straight into the character, so old, young, it’s all the same.
This is why there are some songs I can’t sing. The time has come, it’s too much for me to be that person, even for 3 minutes, and I realise I have no defence against becoming them when I sing.
I like the naughty adventurous ones who stick two fingers up at aothority. Mcilhatton, love him.my favourite character to jump into, the guy in the reel in the flickering light. What an amazing evening he has.
Well, that was fun. I’ve always been weird. When I was very young my mum called me Alice in Wonderland.
Hope you have a, ball tonight.
Rebecca
it promises to be a very interesting concert this evening..I’m looking forward to hearing all the contributions….I’m hoping to sing a song called “The Irish Free State” which was written by Patrick Galvin, Poet,Playwriter and Songster of Cork. Patrick died 10 years ago. He also wrote ” Where O ! where is our James Connolly”….John Spillane sings many of his songs
Mornin’ Christy
Starting the day with the box set. Opened it up and picked a colour at random…green…Soon I’m back to the early days of finding your music. The story of ‘The Old Man’s Song’ and the mellow, lilting ‘ Come by the hill’… fabulous in different ways.
It’s a funny old world, when you think that you were maybe early 20s when you found ‘ The Old Man’s Song’ – with very specific time references, but it didn’t matter that singer and audience were generations younger than the ‘old man’…Powerful writing by Ian Campbell and what an impact ‘the colour telly’ made.
Have a good day – and NCH night.
Dave
Thanks for sharing Dave,
Nothin like an old flashback to get the day off to a good start…..Ian Cambell’s Folk Club was a big one…his Band was cutting edge and accomplished featuring, among others, Lorna Cambell , Dave Phillips and Dave Pegg….I think the club ran on Thursday nights, in Digbeth Civic Hall and was organised by Ian & Lorna’s parents Dave & Winnie ….I played there at least once..I stayed with Dave & Winnie, it was a leftist “political” club, a club of substance (rather then substances)….while it was the foremost folk club in the City there were others wortyhy of mention…Mick Hipkiss ran the Skillet Pot Club….The Munstermen had a lively club….John Swift & Tommy Dempsey had a trad club and I’m happy to recall good memories from all those gatherings..Twas at Ian’s club that I first heard him sing “The Old Man’s Song” and “The Sun Is Burning”….Luke Kelly spent time in Birmingham in his formative years..he too learned “Sun Burning”…I learned “Come By Hill” from Mick Hipkiss….
great times Dave…songs shared, friendships formed, long lasting memories created
I used to be a Monkees fan but then I saw his face, now I’m a Belieber
enough said
Christy i really enjoy your Danny Boy ( box set) i still have not heard it like that before or since.
Shane MacGowan and the Popes do a grand, no nonsense, version.
I well remember Barry McGuigan’s dad singing it before his fights…in the days when you could watch a fight on free tv at 9 o’clock whereas now i gather its £25 at 4am.
Maybe i have posted this before….but i like your version.
Rory
I remember that session…it was very much a case switch-the-recorder-on-and-lets -see-what-happens…….Brian Masterson engineered and Nigel Rolfe produced…I think it was the Summer of 1995…
my fave “Danny Boy” was by Rinty Monaghan after he won a Stock Car Derby in Shelbourne Park in 1957 ish….I was there with my Grandfather Jack Power…we got ice cream on the way home in Pacitti’s Ice Cream Parlour on Parkgate Street….then Jack pulled into Barrett’s Ball Alley House in Lucan for a few swift halves
Hi Christy, was saddened to see last weeks gig cancelled but delighted to say we secured tickets again for Tuesday the 14th in order to see you for the 5th time! My good friend Niall Moran is coming along for his first show and would love to hear Pair of Brown eyes if possible.
Best regards
Paul
I’m in serious training here for next Tuesday….if poss, a rovin we might go ,but dont hold your breath
Hi Christy
RIP Mike Nesmith…most famous for ‘The Monkees’ (quirky tv and LPs) but, afterwards a great country – ish artist.
He collaborated with Linda Ronstadt and wrote a song that’s one of my favourites from that genre…if you get chance, check out ‘ Propinquity’ (also a fab version by Iain Matthews)…
NCH sounds brilliant tomorrow – what a bill – have a great night.
Dave
you’ve moved out of the realm of my listening experience there Dave….but sorry to hear of the Man passing
Hi Christy, hope you’re having a good day. Just saying thanks to Kevin for the info and the link to the John Spillane song 😊
that “Beautiful Ballincollig” is a cracker…..another ball in the back of the net from young Spillane……
Hi Christy just a wee line or two to say love your new album. It’s great . I must apologise for your ears burning tonight. Iv just bought a karaoke machine and found lots of your songs on some karaoke site so it will be blazing out my house tonight. Hope you and yours have a safe and fantastic Christmas…..Graeme
happy returns Graeme….I’m dreaming of Auld Reekie…..
Listening to the picturesque lyrics of John Spillane this morning.. can only marvel.. funny story about singing, “Johnny Don’t Go” in The Cobblestone some years ago and a fella from Ballincollig chastising him over the song, upon where he promised to write a lyric showing the town in a more positive light…”Beautiful Ballincollig” emerged..I’m sure you have heard it – here is a link for anyone interested.. hup Johnny Spillane: https://youtu.be/oArhhWYVt64
How I love this..its years since I last heard it…Johnny takes us for another spin on his magic carpet..I’m looking forward to seeing him tomorrow night in the National Concert Hall
Saturday 11th December, 8pm
Treaty: Songs
Taking a central role in the 100th anniversary of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, NCH will present a special new project Treaty: Songs Lisa O’Neill, John Spillane, Karan Casey, Maija Sofia, Duke Special, Jonathan Nangle & Crash Ensemble, Adrian Crowley, Ailbhe Reddy, The Darkling Air & special guest Christy Moore
Hello Christy,
You said a while ago, “Quivitoq is coming”. I wondered what it was but couldn’t work it out.
Rebecca
thank you for delving deeper…my practice seldom dives below the surface..I tend to become immersed in the words and music, to get lost in the surface picture…I was drawn in my Paul Doran’s version of his own song..kept listening …once I got his blessing to proceed, my journey to Greenland began…..now to hear of you (and others) probing the deep ..learning of Quivitok, of the Mandog….
“my soul is in the rock, in the grass , on the air
it moves between the Caribou and Puffin
dives beneath the ice sheets with the Narwhale and the Seal
feels the hunger of the Bear” ( from Greenland by Paul Doran)
Stuff on Greenland folklore
https://visitgreenland.com/articles/greenlands-myths-legends/
This site is aimed at tourists so it’s less gruesome than some others.
Hello Christy,
Greenland sent me off looking for Quivitoq and the mother of the sea. There’s loads of stuff out there, some of it makes quivitoz sound like some from game of thrones or Tolkien.
I ended up with drum dancinf
https://youtu.be/jVZFCB5iQaU
I love the way that people all over the world like hitting round flat things to express themselves.
Rebecca
Hi Christy, Would like to share with your guestbook the lyrics of a song I wrote 41 years ago. A Tribute to John Lennon, what a loss. A Tribute to John Lennon
John Lennon was a fine man
He was witty and dear
I cannot contain
He is no longer here
Singing his song
Rock and rolling along
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man
He was born in the heartland
Of old England
To be shot down in New York
By a maniac hand
But his spirit won’t die
Not as easy as that
He’ll continue to live
For a long, long, long time
John Lennon was a fine man
He was witty and dear
I cannot contain
He is no longer here
Singing his song
Rock and rolling along
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man
Calling out on the peace train
What are they fighting for ?
Singing love songs so sweetly
They went right to the core
Now a million tears falling
Falling on a cold shore
He’ll continue to live
For a long time, and more
John Lennon was a fine man
He was witty and dear
I cannot contain
He is no longer here
Singing his song
Rock and rolling along
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man
Now a million tears falling
For the loss of the man