27 years in a white man’s jail
27 years they couldn’t make him say..
On this day in 1990, South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk lifted the 30-year ban on the African National Congress, resulting in the release from prison of Nelson Mandela..
Will sing the Biko Drum tonight..
Christy's reply
it all came about after Wally & I met Bish Tutu at a late night lock-in…we got outside a rake of pints…come day break we all walked down an Easter Road….you could’nt make it up
Hello Christy and All,
I’m a day late but I don’t think she’ll mind. Always running to catch up here. https://youtu.be/EYoMIbSkCSc
The music starts part way through but I found the talking at the beginning equally engaging.
Sile Denvir
Louise Mulcahy
Caitlin Nic Gabhann
—
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Brigid was a deadly mot….we were force fed adoration…but developed a deep respect for her pagan ways…she pulled out of the wee county and jumped on the Cork bus but was overcome with vapours and got off the bus on The Curragh Plains where she has remained ever since
Hello Christy and All,
Flag shagging eh? Remind me again why I hate politicians. A short train of thought led me here https://youtu.be/OxXJ2XSMT6Q
And that’s just the women.
Dave, I had a quick look for Nadia Dobrianska but stopped because she’s not in the public eye and searching for her felt pretty creepy.
From what I saw very briefly, she’s a political analyst in Belfast who likes music.
Watching BBC news yesterday, I got distracted and then re engaged via some brilliant Irish music played in a Ukraine bar… I haven’t been able to find specific info,but caught the name of ‘Nadia Dobrianska’ – if anyone can find info about the Ukraine set up and share here, I think there’s a cracking good tale. The music sounded ace.
Great quote via Hazza… in lockdown times, numerous Tory politicians appeared on tv, with increasingly large Union Jack flags in the background. Amongst opponents/ anti fascists it became known as ‘flag shagging’ – it sums things up…
That’s a pity you can’t remember how that ending came about I love to know it’s just fantastic it’s what made me learn the song in the first place and I sung it at a zoom session last week and It was the biggest reaction I have received to a song on zoom to date how long roughly did it take you to write the original one that you sang in Belturbert for the first time
Christy's reply
Its a long time ago…..maybe a few weeks..the original was quite different to what evolved…the lyric maybe somewhere among the hape that lingers but I wont have time to look for it
Dear Christy,
Today arrived in the post from a Discogs shop in Germany my very own vinyl copy of John Reilly’s album recorded as The Bonny Gree Tree.
I am ecstatic.
I paid through the nose for it, but having sought it far and wide, and having long given up hope of ever owning a copy of the LP, i am now sated.
How lucky am i ?
I will treasure it and take great care of my beautiful LP .
Going through the extensive album sleevenotes whilst listening is a joy, among them that the author had not come across The Pride of Cloonkeen anywhere before.
Smiling from ear to ear.
Rory
Christy's reply
well done Rory..I understand your good feelings about that beautful album…
Thanks for the post concerning Ken Hilary funny how you can attend concerts & meet 4711ers from Ireland, Holland, Germany and even South America but not your own back yard, There is a pub called the Casa just down the road from the Phil. which is a favourite watering hole pre/post Christy gigs and was bought by the Liverpool dockers after the 95 strike (with the walls covered with International Brigade pictures and information). So although I never actually met Kent I probably stood next to him at the bar on more than one occasion. The next time I am in there I will raise a glass in his memory,.R.I.P. Ken
Hello Christy and All,
Ages ago you asked me if I’d listened to Laoise Kelly, you most probably dont remember, but it stuck, even though I hadn’t heard her. I was working hard on my voice at the time so the harp listening sat on a back burner.
Now I’ve started listening.
Had to share this, I love it. https://youtu.be/szrXTucSBAg
The clarity, sensitivity, shaping, sense of rhythm, both fluid and driving. She plays the harp like Liam played the pipes. I missed tradfest by two weeks. Hope to hear her live sometime.
I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Ken Forsyth. So many friends still to meet, and now one less.
Hi All. I feel it’s important to mark the passing of one of our 4711ers here, Ken Forsyth passed away yesterday RIP. He was a draughstman who worked in the Docks in Liverpool and was involved in the strike in 1995 or it seems it was more of a lock out. I first met Ken when he came to Knocknagoshel in 2013, he was charmed with the whole thing, the booking process, the village and of course the 2 gigs !! He was also a huge Cohen fan but always said that Knocknagoshel was a particular highlight. He came to many gigs over the years all around Ireland, but Vicar St was a very regular and special place for him. Many of us got to know him and his humour, he was widely travelled and loved theatre also. He was to join our table at Vicar St this Jan for 2 gigs and was booked to see The Faithhealer on his free night but thought it wiser not to travel. He had many friends here and around the world and often arranged to meet them at a Christy gig he introduced us to many other music lovers, he was also very welcoming in Liverpool and loved the Phil, he was a very keen follower of Andy Irvine and loved to see him there. His favourite song was Butterfly “Where the highway starts I parked my car I got out and stared up at the stars.” Fly with the stars now Ken. Suaimhneas síoraí ar anam uasal. H
Hello Christy you’re on the road album features the Lisdoonvarna live song how did the ending of that song come about with van the man going turn it up 6 times then up up up and a verse of I tell my ma it’s a brilliant ending
Christy's reply
all that stuff happens on the hoof…..
I’d forgotten completely about that ending to Lisdoon….
thanks for the prompt, must see if it can be revived
Kildare v Kerry.. Huge crowd in St.Conleths, a queue down the street.A draw was fair, our lads played well in second half scored the last four points. When the whistle blew they had Christy singing The Curragh of Kildare on the pa system and we sung and hummed along.
Christy's reply
good start for Glen….great to see such a good crowd in “The Pitch”…charmed to that the “Curragh” was played at the end…considering how it all began across the wall in Lunny’s front room
Hi Christy,
I had a cuppa and toast with dagrab today, a top man.
I asked him why Planxty were called Planxty. He gave me a good answer, can you corroborate that it is something like an irish name for a tune?
Cheers
Rory
Christy's reply
Back before Spotify, the well heeled and decent, the ascendency, the landed gentry and posh pricks would sometimes offer patronage to Musicians….Turlough O’Carolan was in great demand back in the early part of the 18th Century….if the patronage went well O’Carolan was known to write music in honour of the generous Patronage..such pieces were named thus…. Planxty Irwin, Planxty Hewlett, Planxty Brabazon, Planxty Power..far as I know there are about 14 known Planxty tunes of dedication.I hope to be corrected…..no record remains of what O’Carolan had to say about miserable,stingy patrons…..
Very sad to read about the passing of Norma Waterson. Her musical legacy is monumental, but it’s her family I’m thinking about today.
Dave
Christy's reply
I send love and condolence to Eliza and Martin
May lovely Norma sing high in the heavens tonight with Mike and Lal
The Watersons; Lal, Mike,Norma and cousin John…..I heard them first in 1967 and that gig remains with me ever since….their Sound, their Harmony, their Passion, their Repertoire,their Rootedness,..they carried me away that night in Hyde Folk Club ….. I still return to their songs, time and time again…
their will be a deep sadness in their Tribe…… but, doubtless, the singing will recommence …
Hi All.There were some great gigs at Tradfest , lovely venues, and some pals and collaborators of yours Christy. Ralph Mc Tell did a great set and mentioned you in the National.Stadium, I believe Jim Higgins played with Altan as part of the same gig with Cathal Haydn in Four Men and a Dog, also in the Stadium. I really enjoyed Laoise Kelly in Dublin Castle, and remembered that wonderful magical series of gigs run by Conor Byrne across 3 Mondays in July 2012 in the Button Factory. I spoke briefly with Laoise and she had great memories of that gig and getting to meet and play with both you and Liam Og. The river of sounds continues despite all the other stuff going on. Let the music keep our spirits high. Beir bua agus beannacht.H
Christy's reply
glad it all went well…. the Trad fest had high profile this year..hoped to get to Ralph but it went awry…Fairport and Samantha Mumba …its kickin off in the Trad these days..Noel Dempsey brings a lot to the table since moving from Leinster House to Temple Bar…Think Tank to Left Bank..fine as long as he dont upset the apple tart
some good memories recalled in your post..that night with Liam Óg and Laoise in the Button factory was just about perfect..Laoise drives that harp like Rachel Blackmore…Liam was in top order….I was in my element sitting between them
good draw in Newbridge yesterday, I watched it from Lunny’s wall behind the South End Goal….I know most Kerry supporters dont like getting mud on their shoes ’til the C.Ship kicks off…. but twas a good outing for us lesser mortals…as needs must, we dine on the crumbs
Sad to see Eliza Carthy announcing the passing of her mum Norma Waterson. She’s been ill for a while and I think the family have had a tough time with the lack of gigs impacting on the income of a truly musical family. Norma has left a fine legacy but sad to see her go. Very emotional day in Derry yesterday – sad remembrance of such deep personal loss to the families but combined with pride at the courage and tenacity they have shown. Our minds may have locked shut for a while but hopefully justice will be done. Great to see gigs reappearing again. Hopefully see you along the road soon.
Hello Christy and All,
I’ve been watching and listening to this programme with Laoise Kelly, on Hugh Higgins. https://youtu.be/Iqm-oI1w0Uw
Such a gorgeous sound and I’m fascinated by her right hand. I’ve never seen the harp played this way before so I need to do some more watching. She plays with nails on her right hand and it gives a very different noise to what I’m used to. So clear and bright.
There’s singing from around 29 minutes in.
Rebecca
27 years in a white man’s jail
27 years they couldn’t make him say..
On this day in 1990, South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk lifted the 30-year ban on the African National Congress, resulting in the release from prison of Nelson Mandela..
Will sing the Biko Drum tonight..
it all came about after Wally & I met Bish Tutu at a late night lock-in…we got outside a rake of pints…come day break we all walked down an Easter Road….you could’nt make it up
Hello Christy and All,
I’m a day late but I don’t think she’ll mind. Always running to catch up here.
https://youtu.be/EYoMIbSkCSc
The music starts part way through but I found the talking at the beginning equally engaging.
Sile Denvir
Louise Mulcahy
Caitlin Nic Gabhann
—
Rebecca
Brigid was a deadly mot….we were force fed adoration…but developed a deep respect for her pagan ways…she pulled out of the wee county and jumped on the Cork bus but was overcome with vapours and got off the bus on The Curragh Plains where she has remained ever since
Thanks, Rebecca… good points about privacy. Nadia and companeros make a fab sound… all the best Dave
Hello Christy and All,
Flag shagging eh? Remind me again why I hate politicians. A short train of thought led me here
https://youtu.be/OxXJ2XSMT6Q
And that’s just the women.
Dave, I had a quick look for Nadia Dobrianska but stopped because she’s not in the public eye and searching for her felt pretty creepy.
From what I saw very briefly, she’s a political analyst in Belfast who likes music.
Rebecca
Mornin’ Christy/ all
Watching BBC news yesterday, I got distracted and then re engaged via some brilliant Irish music played in a Ukraine bar… I haven’t been able to find specific info,but caught the name of ‘Nadia Dobrianska’ – if anyone can find info about the Ukraine set up and share here, I think there’s a cracking good tale. The music sounded ace.
Great quote via Hazza… in lockdown times, numerous Tory politicians appeared on tv, with increasingly large Union Jack flags in the background. Amongst opponents/ anti fascists it became known as ‘flag shagging’ – it sums things up…
Have a good day.
Dave
the raw bar travels well
Boris & Ukraine – Bob Dylan wrote “They say patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings…”
“Plagiarise” said Pete Seeger, we’re all at it ever since..he never spoke a truer word…..
which class you talkin about
That’s a pity you can’t remember how that ending came about I love to know it’s just fantastic it’s what made me learn the song in the first place and I sung it at a zoom session last week and It was the biggest reaction I have received to a song on zoom to date how long roughly did it take you to write the original one that you sang in Belturbert for the first time
Its a long time ago…..maybe a few weeks..the original was quite different to what evolved…the lyric maybe somewhere among the hape that lingers but I wont have time to look for it
Dear Christy,
Today arrived in the post from a Discogs shop in Germany my very own vinyl copy of John Reilly’s album recorded as The Bonny Gree Tree.
I am ecstatic.
I paid through the nose for it, but having sought it far and wide, and having long given up hope of ever owning a copy of the LP, i am now sated.
How lucky am i ?
I will treasure it and take great care of my beautiful LP .
Going through the extensive album sleevenotes whilst listening is a joy, among them that the author had not come across The Pride of Cloonkeen anywhere before.
Smiling from ear to ear.
Rory
well done Rory..I understand your good feelings about that beautful album…
Thanks for the post concerning Ken Hilary funny how you can attend concerts & meet 4711ers from Ireland, Holland, Germany and even South America but not your own back yard, There is a pub called the Casa just down the road from the Phil. which is a favourite watering hole pre/post Christy gigs and was bought by the Liverpool dockers after the 95 strike (with the walls covered with International Brigade pictures and information). So although I never actually met Kent I probably stood next to him at the bar on more than one occasion. The next time I am in there I will raise a glass in his memory,.R.I.P. Ken
Hello Christy and All,
Ages ago you asked me if I’d listened to Laoise Kelly, you most probably dont remember, but it stuck, even though I hadn’t heard her. I was working hard on my voice at the time so the harp listening sat on a back burner.
Now I’ve started listening.
Had to share this, I love it.
https://youtu.be/szrXTucSBAg
The clarity, sensitivity, shaping, sense of rhythm, both fluid and driving. She plays the harp like Liam played the pipes. I missed tradfest by two weeks. Hope to hear her live sometime.
I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Ken Forsyth. So many friends still to meet, and now one less.
Rebecca
Hi All. I feel it’s important to mark the passing of one of our 4711ers here, Ken Forsyth passed away yesterday RIP. He was a draughstman who worked in the Docks in Liverpool and was involved in the strike in 1995 or it seems it was more of a lock out. I first met Ken when he came to Knocknagoshel in 2013, he was charmed with the whole thing, the booking process, the village and of course the 2 gigs !! He was also a huge Cohen fan but always said that Knocknagoshel was a particular highlight. He came to many gigs over the years all around Ireland, but Vicar St was a very regular and special place for him. Many of us got to know him and his humour, he was widely travelled and loved theatre also. He was to join our table at Vicar St this Jan for 2 gigs and was booked to see The Faithhealer on his free night but thought it wiser not to travel. He had many friends here and around the world and often arranged to meet them at a Christy gig he introduced us to many other music lovers, he was also very welcoming in Liverpool and loved the Phil, he was a very keen follower of Andy Irvine and loved to see him there. His favourite song was Butterfly “Where the highway starts I parked my car I got out and stared up at the stars.” Fly with the stars now Ken. Suaimhneas síoraí ar anam uasal. H
Hello Christy you’re on the road album features the Lisdoonvarna live song how did the ending of that song come about with van the man going turn it up 6 times then up up up and a verse of I tell my ma it’s a brilliant ending
all that stuff happens on the hoof…..
I’d forgotten completely about that ending to Lisdoon….
thanks for the prompt, must see if it can be revived
Kildare v Kerry.. Huge crowd in St.Conleths, a queue down the street.A draw was fair, our lads played well in second half scored the last four points. When the whistle blew they had Christy singing The Curragh of Kildare on the pa system and we sung and hummed along.
good start for Glen….great to see such a good crowd in “The Pitch”…charmed to that the “Curragh” was played at the end…considering how it all began across the wall in Lunny’s front room
Hi Christy,
I had a cuppa and toast with dagrab today, a top man.
I asked him why Planxty were called Planxty. He gave me a good answer, can you corroborate that it is something like an irish name for a tune?
Cheers
Rory
Back before Spotify, the well heeled and decent, the ascendency, the landed gentry and posh pricks would sometimes offer patronage to Musicians….Turlough O’Carolan was in great demand back in the early part of the 18th Century….if the patronage went well O’Carolan was known to write music in honour of the generous Patronage..such pieces were named thus…. Planxty Irwin, Planxty Hewlett, Planxty Brabazon, Planxty Power..far as I know there are about 14 known Planxty tunes of dedication.I hope to be corrected…..no record remains of what O’Carolan had to say about miserable,stingy patrons…..
Hi Christy
Very sad to read about the passing of Norma Waterson. Her musical legacy is monumental, but it’s her family I’m thinking about today.
Dave
I send love and condolence to Eliza and Martin
May lovely Norma sing high in the heavens tonight with Mike and Lal
The Watersons; Lal, Mike,Norma and cousin John…..I heard them first in 1967 and that gig remains with me ever since….their Sound, their Harmony, their Passion, their Repertoire,their Rootedness,..they carried me away that night in Hyde Folk Club ….. I still return to their songs, time and time again…
their will be a deep sadness in their Tribe…… but, doubtless, the singing will recommence …
Hi All.There were some great gigs at Tradfest , lovely venues, and some pals and collaborators of yours Christy. Ralph Mc Tell did a great set and mentioned you in the National.Stadium, I believe Jim Higgins played with Altan as part of the same gig with Cathal Haydn in Four Men and a Dog, also in the Stadium. I really enjoyed Laoise Kelly in Dublin Castle, and remembered that wonderful magical series of gigs run by Conor Byrne across 3 Mondays in July 2012 in the Button Factory. I spoke briefly with Laoise and she had great memories of that gig and getting to meet and play with both you and Liam Og. The river of sounds continues despite all the other stuff going on. Let the music keep our spirits high. Beir bua agus beannacht.H
glad it all went well…. the Trad fest had high profile this year..hoped to get to Ralph but it went awry…Fairport and Samantha Mumba …its kickin off in the Trad these days..Noel Dempsey brings a lot to the table since moving from Leinster House to Temple Bar…Think Tank to Left Bank..fine as long as he dont upset the apple tart
some good memories recalled in your post..that night with Liam Óg and Laoise in the Button factory was just about perfect..Laoise drives that harp like Rachel Blackmore…Liam was in top order….I was in my element sitting between them
good draw in Newbridge yesterday, I watched it from Lunny’s wall behind the South End Goal….I know most Kerry supporters dont like getting mud on their shoes ’til the C.Ship kicks off…. but twas a good outing for us lesser mortals…as needs must, we dine on the crumbs
Sad to see Eliza Carthy announcing the passing of her mum Norma Waterson. She’s been ill for a while and I think the family have had a tough time with the lack of gigs impacting on the income of a truly musical family. Norma has left a fine legacy but sad to see her go. Very emotional day in Derry yesterday – sad remembrance of such deep personal loss to the families but combined with pride at the courage and tenacity they have shown. Our minds may have locked shut for a while but hopefully justice will be done. Great to see gigs reappearing again. Hopefully see you along the road soon.
I hope to walk The Walls again before too long
Hello Christy and All,
I’ve been watching and listening to this programme with Laoise Kelly, on Hugh Higgins.
https://youtu.be/Iqm-oI1w0Uw
Such a gorgeous sound and I’m fascinated by her right hand. I’ve never seen the harp played this way before so I need to do some more watching. She plays with nails on her right hand and it gives a very different noise to what I’m used to. So clear and bright.
There’s singing from around 29 minutes in.
Rebecca
And a gambol through the graveyard which is only here because I love it so much.
Someone who lived next to a graveyard once said to me, its not the dead you need to worry about, its the living.
This is my favourite song
https://youtu.be/SZPp2f6G0FQ
lovely hurlin