A few days ago, Rebecca posted a link to an Irish Times article (The Soldiers’ Songs) Shellac discs now stored in Berlin, containing recordings of Irish PoWs in The Great War. It’s a superb read/ listen.
Great research by journaists, in particular, the profiles written by Ronan McGreevy. Also, recordings within the article.I’ve shared it with a few other WW1 geeks , none of whom had seen it – so, thanks again Rebecca.
I know Easter is a busy time, but I thought I’d give this a mention as it really is worth a shufti.
Have a great gig on the banks of the Shannon and enjoy Easter.
Good morning to you Christy, it’s good to see you in such fine fettle. Makes me think of your first ever reply to me on here. I asked for the name of the reel at the end of McIlhatton and was rewarded with a story about the Tyrone banjo player who had gone off to live in a yurt in Outer Mongolia.
That grandad of yours taught you well.
And it’s called Far from Home.
Thankyou for the lead towards the Blantyre evictions. You’re right, there are some fine songs in there.
There’s a man in Halifax who runs up and down Godley Cutting for hours when the weather is fine, dressed all in neon pink and shouting greetings to the cars and buses as he goes. We call him the pink runner. It’s, all true. I’d forgotten about him and then I saw him from the bus yesterday. He started the running as a cure for depression and he’s still at it.
Hi there .We are Belgian fans . We have tickets for the may 26 concert in Limerick . Is there afterwards a meet and greet with Christy ? i’died for a picture with christy ….Thx already
Christy's reply
Dear Boney….maybe its a meet ‘n greet you want…now listen here auld stock, when I does be finished with the singing its straight into the Oxygen tent for at least an hour…my personal dresser tries to peel the stage outfit from my exhausted body..some nights the last rites are administered by my own personal travelling chaplain.. ( she trained in Rome and once revived the Pope after he slipped coming out of the shower)
the last meet ‘n greet I did was back in 1996 after a gig in Wooloomaloo in Australia…I ended up going walkabout with three First Nation headbangers and did not get back for 6 months by which time the tour was over and the road crew back in Ballyshannon working with Big Seamus and the Shite Shovellers”..
rather then have you die I suggest you make your way to the stage when I break into “Lisdoonvarna”..stand below my throne and have your buddy snap a quick shot before the bouncer gives you right good kick up in the hole..(I’ll ask her to wear her slippers that night)
I used to love playing in Belgium..I was huge for a while over there but they soon got sense..some beautiful venues ..as for the beer..my jasus boney but ye sure know how to make a brew over there..I never left Belgium with a clear head..I was playing with Planxty one night in an old Circus venue and I believe we were brilliant, I don’t remember a thing..but I’m told I got a lift back to the hotel on Eddie Merck’s crossbar…see you in Limerick Boney
Hi Christy
Hope this finds you well after a very strange time!
Only a quick query; do you have any intention of visiting these UK shores and playing in London at all this year?
Best wishes
Gary
Christy's reply
no plans for foreign travel at this time Gary….London seems to get further away with passing time….but everything changes so rapidly of late…..I watch those ferries leave for Holyhead every day, steaming down the Liffey….who knows whats gonna happen next…..greetings to all good songsters over there….
Not been “over “since brexit….rees-mogg is not good for tourism
Hello Christy,
I’ve been listening to The Blantyre Explosion and By Clyde’s Bonny Banks.
They inspired me to do a bit of writing.
Here is my song about the same disaster. The tune is the same.
The Blantyre Belle
By Clyde’s bonny banks as one night I did wander
Under stars of High Blantyre such sorrow I found
I saw a pale woman all dressed in black mourning
She was weeping and wailing with never a sound.
She glided towards me her cheeks pale and glowing
And then as she saw me her voice made a sound
John Murphy my true love is never returning
She said as her tears didn’t reach to the ground.
A High Blantyre miner so young and so loving
Was slain that October, many years he lies cold
Children and men in that cruel pit explosion
90 widows were made and thrown out of their homes.
So I walk near the river, the pit heaps and graveyard
I cry for my lover but he can’t hear my cry
And I tell my sad story to those who will listen
And await his return year by year where he lies.
Her words faded softly, the shadows became her
And then she was gone and the air it was clear
Those miners and children and widows and orphans
Still live in the hearts of the ones they held dear.
—
Rebecca
Christy's reply
there is another story…within months of the Blantyre massacre the Dixon Family who owned the Blantyre Mine evicted bereaved famiies from tithe cottages…widows and orphans turned out with no where to go but poor houses…The Dixons continued their business for many years
ps sorry to be a pest… I’m always interested in Nigel Rolfe’s art and, if possible, would love a link to the piece that Lar mentioned, from Vicar Street.
Terrific post from Lar – a wonderful read, thanks. The kettle’s on here at the start of another day – I can’t imagine what is facing so many people in Ukraine…
Not sure I’ll ever get to Ukraine, but I hope Lar can send my best wishes to Viktoria and family – and have a coffee for me when they return to the streets of Kyiv.
All the best
Dave
Christy's reply
Let us all hope and wish for Putin to fail,the sooner the better….let us all do whatever we can to support those fighting fascism in Ukraine today…..
I met Viktoria in Kyiv one crisp morning in September three years ago. She was a tour guide in the magnificent city full of monuments, history and amazing and friendly people. We met in Monument square, a small group of us, and walked for 2 hours hearing the history and challenges of Kyiv. Viktoria is engaging and funny and is proud of her capital city, and I invited her to be a guest on a radio show I present and to tell listeners about Kyiv and how beautiful it was if they should wish to travel there. We ended up doing three shows over the couple of years and a piece about Christmas and it’s traditions in Kyiv and Ukraine. She is also an English teacher helping Ukrainians learn the language as they move to other countries for further education or travel, a noble profession.. Viktoria, along with her husband, Ivan, left Kyiv in late 2021 to go to Lviv, where just last January she gave birth to beautiful twin boys. The have all now moved to within 100 kilometres of the Polish border to be with her parents and her brother and his family…to be together, to feel safer…for now..her two boys are her focus, as they fear each day and not knowing how close they are to chaos. In Lviv, she was 20km form a military base that was destroyed. I am in contact with her every couple of days, usually into the early hours as that is her time for looking after the twins..and we chat by text..a connection, she wants people to know how proud they are of their fighters, president and of each other. And how aware they are of all of us so far away doing whatever we can , however simple it may seem…they hear us too… Thank you for an amazing gig on Monday, and to all involved that you mentioned. I sent photos to Viktoria and Ivan of the stage with Nigel Rolfe’s painting and of her national flag being unfurled in a theatre in Dublin, some 3,170kms away. I know it was appreciated and moving..I will send her your beautifully read Sunflowers in the coming days. Netflix have a film called Winter on Fire which I know is worth watching. Viktoria and I and her husband Ivan, along with their twin boys have agreed to meet and walk the beautiful streets of Ukraine again. The world is watching…thank you Christy x
Christy's reply
Dear Lar..Thanks for sharing this Journal…you have brought us all to Kyiv and Lviv this morning…I spotted you there on Monday night .. in an Island of 4711ers….thanks for being there…..
Hi Christy, just reading page 70 (‘The Galtee Mountain Boy’) of your great book ‘One Voice – My Life in Song’ where you talk about Annie Kehoe in Clonmel. I also worked in Bank of Ireland on Parnell St. in September 1990. Similar to yourself, I stayed in Annie Kehoe’s for the first few months where Nuala and John Griffin looked after me. I often wondered how they were – sad to see that Nuala passed in 2014 and John passed in 2016. I remember Annie sitting behind the Bar twiddling her thumbs – she talked about you often. Lovely article about Nuala here :
Thanks JB….I lodged in Annie’s way back in 1964-5…..Annie Kehoe was an outstanding woman….Nuala was still at school when I stayed there…my fellow lodgers were Mick Nevin, John Meade,Frank Spillane and Michael Egan..we were Annie’s “regulars”…we had our own rooms, 3 meals a day and it was 4 pounds a week “all found”….I could write a book about my experiences there but I’ll summarise by saying it was a wonderful experience…I still have love in my heart for Annie and her daughter Nuala…..
I appreciate your post and link
I hope you are well.
Christy just wondering if you are planning on doing a second gig in Kilashee in June?
Unfortunately I missed out on tickets for the 2nd June.
Gutted to have missed out as probably the frist time in a number of years I have missed a home gig.
Be great if you are
But if not we will catch you around the country.
Take care and stay safe.
Up the Lillywhites
Martin
Christy's reply
I’ve no idea Martin….with the passing of time the number of gigs gotta be on the wane…I love that Kilashee room…I have History in those parts…lets see what happens…thank you for your support….le cónamh Dé beimid thar nais i Nás na Rí ag déanamh ceol le chéile
Many thanks, Rebecca – great to see the source and follow Mike’s/your versions… from collection to interpretation – and away it goes to take on a life of its own…
A sunny afternoon here – hard to imagine what’s happening in many suburbs in Eastern Ukraine. Credit to all who draw attention to wrongs and those who take action to help.
Dave
Christy's reply
We must do all we can to keep Ukraine top of the news…as long as the murder and rape of Ukraine continues it cannot become yesterdays story
Hello Christy,
I’ve separated the links out for the resources behind you poetry reading of Sunflowers.
Here’s Mike’s initial inspiration https://youtu.be/L17Bi7zBJHI
I’m really interested in seeing the Mike Harding piece that Rebecca sourced. I don’t use facebook, so if there’s anyway of finding it elsewhere, I’d appreciate the link. Don’t want anyone going to epic hassles though…thanks.
I’ve just replayed your recital – superb and very thought provoking.
Hi everyone,
Yesterday I posted the message you find below.
Thanks for your reaction Christy.
But probably, it would have been handy if I putted my emailadress in it. marten.de.jaeger@gmail.com
This was my message.
Thanks a lot.
Hi Christy,
Hi you all,
we are fans from Belgium and would like to come to a gig in your home country.
It would be very nice to score tickets for Galway on the 20th of august.
I tell you why.
My wife and I married the 12th of august 2005 and in our wedding ceremony a few excellent musicians brought a splendig version of your “the voyage”. It was fantastic.
To celebrate our wedding day we would like to come to Ireland and enjoy a performance of yours.
But…
I saw that the gig in Galway has already a full house. Do you know if there is a way to swap tickets?
Or maybe, is there anyone who is reading this and who has 2 tickets that we eventually can buy?
You never know, I could only ask. We would be very very grateful.
Ciao, Marten
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for posting the video that Adam made of your reading of Sunflowers.
I love the way you work with the words, softening them to allow them to get through better. Like butter for spreading.
I’m so glad you like the stuff I found on the recordings of the First World War Irish soldiers.
I found it both touching and gripping to hear their voices time travelling to us here. It’s like magic that their living voices still sound.
I thought about the few rough recordings I’ve made. The last one of Scarborough Fair gives a sound that I’m starting to feel more at ease with. I feel like I’ve started to make a noise.
It has only been posted here, as a get well present for Christy, but it’s out there, in the wild. Very strange thing to think about.
From your comment it seems like you beat me to the wake up call by a few minutes today…the dawn chorus played a noisy gig here.
I woke up thinking of ‘Sunflowers’ imagery, leading me to the fine old song, ‘Barbara Allan’ – there’s usually a trad song waiting in the wings…
Fair play to all involved with Monday’s gig – superb for Red Cross to be boosted by 50 000 Euros – that’s a lot of good work to be done for the people of Ukraine.
Belated thanks to Rebecca for the Great War info – heartening that archives and stories are preserved. Back to the trad, I guess…
and to Adam for the film and Mike Harding for great writing… such a wonderful, profound piece.
It’s ages since I was at a gig – brilliant to see you sounding and looking so well.
Terrific work.
Dave
Christy's reply
fair play to Adam…..he does a great job with the videos and photos….he plays a vital part in the 4711 collective, always a great presence at gigs when his schedule permits
Hi Christy
A few days ago, Rebecca posted a link to an Irish Times article (The Soldiers’ Songs) Shellac discs now stored in Berlin, containing recordings of Irish PoWs in The Great War. It’s a superb read/ listen.
Great research by journaists, in particular, the profiles written by Ronan McGreevy. Also, recordings within the article.I’ve shared it with a few other WW1 geeks , none of whom had seen it – so, thanks again Rebecca.
I know Easter is a busy time, but I thought I’d give this a mention as it really is worth a shufti.
Have a great gig on the banks of the Shannon and enjoy Easter.
Dave
hard at prep here…avoiding all rabbit holes….
Good morning to you Christy, it’s good to see you in such fine fettle. Makes me think of your first ever reply to me on here. I asked for the name of the reel at the end of McIlhatton and was rewarded with a story about the Tyrone banjo player who had gone off to live in a yurt in Outer Mongolia.
That grandad of yours taught you well.
And it’s called Far from Home.
Thankyou for the lead towards the Blantyre evictions. You’re right, there are some fine songs in there.
There’s a man in Halifax who runs up and down Godley Cutting for hours when the weather is fine, dressed all in neon pink and shouting greetings to the cars and buses as he goes. We call him the pink runner. It’s, all true. I’d forgotten about him and then I saw him from the bus yesterday. He started the running as a cure for depression and he’s still at it.
Thanks again for the Blantyre second chapter.
Rebecca
sound
Hi there .We are Belgian fans . We have tickets for the may 26 concert in Limerick . Is there afterwards a meet and greet with Christy ? i’died for a picture with christy ….Thx already
Dear Boney….maybe its a meet ‘n greet you want…now listen here auld stock, when I does be finished with the singing its straight into the Oxygen tent for at least an hour…my personal dresser tries to peel the stage outfit from my exhausted body..some nights the last rites are administered by my own personal travelling chaplain.. ( she trained in Rome and once revived the Pope after he slipped coming out of the shower)
the last meet ‘n greet I did was back in 1996 after a gig in Wooloomaloo in Australia…I ended up going walkabout with three First Nation headbangers and did not get back for 6 months by which time the tour was over and the road crew back in Ballyshannon working with Big Seamus and the Shite Shovellers”..
rather then have you die I suggest you make your way to the stage when I break into “Lisdoonvarna”..stand below my throne and have your buddy snap a quick shot before the bouncer gives you right good kick up in the hole..(I’ll ask her to wear her slippers that night)
I used to love playing in Belgium..I was huge for a while over there but they soon got sense..some beautiful venues ..as for the beer..my jasus boney but ye sure know how to make a brew over there..I never left Belgium with a clear head..I was playing with Planxty one night in an old Circus venue and I believe we were brilliant, I don’t remember a thing..but I’m told I got a lift back to the hotel on Eddie Merck’s crossbar…see you in Limerick Boney
Hi Christy
Hope this finds you well after a very strange time!
Only a quick query; do you have any intention of visiting these UK shores and playing in London at all this year?
Best wishes
Gary
no plans for foreign travel at this time Gary….London seems to get further away with passing time….but everything changes so rapidly of late…..I watch those ferries leave for Holyhead every day, steaming down the Liffey….who knows whats gonna happen next…..greetings to all good songsters over there….
Not been “over “since brexit….rees-mogg is not good for tourism
Hello Christy,
I’ve been listening to The Blantyre Explosion and By Clyde’s Bonny Banks.
They inspired me to do a bit of writing.
Here is my song about the same disaster. The tune is the same.
The Blantyre Belle
By Clyde’s bonny banks as one night I did wander
Under stars of High Blantyre such sorrow I found
I saw a pale woman all dressed in black mourning
She was weeping and wailing with never a sound.
She glided towards me her cheeks pale and glowing
And then as she saw me her voice made a sound
John Murphy my true love is never returning
She said as her tears didn’t reach to the ground.
A High Blantyre miner so young and so loving
Was slain that October, many years he lies cold
Children and men in that cruel pit explosion
90 widows were made and thrown out of their homes.
So I walk near the river, the pit heaps and graveyard
I cry for my lover but he can’t hear my cry
And I tell my sad story to those who will listen
And await his return year by year where he lies.
Her words faded softly, the shadows became her
And then she was gone and the air it was clear
Those miners and children and widows and orphans
Still live in the hearts of the ones they held dear.
—
Rebecca
there is another story…within months of the Blantyre massacre the Dixon Family who owned the Blantyre Mine evicted bereaved famiies from tithe cottages…widows and orphans turned out with no where to go but poor houses…The Dixons continued their business for many years
Many thanks, Christy – I realised the stunning ‘eye’ image is by Nigel R – really powerful. I’m glad it’s so well used D
ps sorry to be a pest… I’m always interested in Nigel Rolfe’s art and, if possible, would love a link to the piece that Lar mentioned, from Vicar Street.
Many thanks D
I’ll try and sort that
Mornin’ Christy
Terrific post from Lar – a wonderful read, thanks. The kettle’s on here at the start of another day – I can’t imagine what is facing so many people in Ukraine…
Not sure I’ll ever get to Ukraine, but I hope Lar can send my best wishes to Viktoria and family – and have a coffee for me when they return to the streets of Kyiv.
All the best
Dave
Let us all hope and wish for Putin to fail,the sooner the better….let us all do whatever we can to support those fighting fascism in Ukraine today…..
I met Viktoria in Kyiv one crisp morning in September three years ago. She was a tour guide in the magnificent city full of monuments, history and amazing and friendly people. We met in Monument square, a small group of us, and walked for 2 hours hearing the history and challenges of Kyiv. Viktoria is engaging and funny and is proud of her capital city, and I invited her to be a guest on a radio show I present and to tell listeners about Kyiv and how beautiful it was if they should wish to travel there. We ended up doing three shows over the couple of years and a piece about Christmas and it’s traditions in Kyiv and Ukraine. She is also an English teacher helping Ukrainians learn the language as they move to other countries for further education or travel, a noble profession.. Viktoria, along with her husband, Ivan, left Kyiv in late 2021 to go to Lviv, where just last January she gave birth to beautiful twin boys. The have all now moved to within 100 kilometres of the Polish border to be with her parents and her brother and his family…to be together, to feel safer…for now..her two boys are her focus, as they fear each day and not knowing how close they are to chaos. In Lviv, she was 20km form a military base that was destroyed. I am in contact with her every couple of days, usually into the early hours as that is her time for looking after the twins..and we chat by text..a connection, she wants people to know how proud they are of their fighters, president and of each other. And how aware they are of all of us so far away doing whatever we can , however simple it may seem…they hear us too… Thank you for an amazing gig on Monday, and to all involved that you mentioned. I sent photos to Viktoria and Ivan of the stage with Nigel Rolfe’s painting and of her national flag being unfurled in a theatre in Dublin, some 3,170kms away. I know it was appreciated and moving..I will send her your beautifully read Sunflowers in the coming days. Netflix have a film called Winter on Fire which I know is worth watching. Viktoria and I and her husband Ivan, along with their twin boys have agreed to meet and walk the beautiful streets of Ukraine again. The world is watching…thank you Christy x
Dear Lar..Thanks for sharing this Journal…you have brought us all to Kyiv and Lviv this morning…I spotted you there on Monday night .. in an Island of 4711ers….thanks for being there…..
Hi Christy, just reading page 70 (‘The Galtee Mountain Boy’) of your great book ‘One Voice – My Life in Song’ where you talk about Annie Kehoe in Clonmel. I also worked in Bank of Ireland on Parnell St. in September 1990. Similar to yourself, I stayed in Annie Kehoe’s for the first few months where Nuala and John Griffin looked after me. I often wondered how they were – sad to see that Nuala passed in 2014 and John passed in 2016. I remember Annie sitting behind the Bar twiddling her thumbs – she talked about you often. Lovely article about Nuala here :
https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/local-news/159400/Nuala-was-like-a-mother-to.html
Thanks JB….I lodged in Annie’s way back in 1964-5…..Annie Kehoe was an outstanding woman….Nuala was still at school when I stayed there…my fellow lodgers were Mick Nevin, John Meade,Frank Spillane and Michael Egan..we were Annie’s “regulars”…we had our own rooms, 3 meals a day and it was 4 pounds a week “all found”….I could write a book about my experiences there but I’ll summarise by saying it was a wonderful experience…I still have love in my heart for Annie and her daughter Nuala…..
I appreciate your post and link
Hi Christy .
I hope you are well.
Christy just wondering if you are planning on doing a second gig in Kilashee in June?
Unfortunately I missed out on tickets for the 2nd June.
Gutted to have missed out as probably the frist time in a number of years I have missed a home gig.
Be great if you are
But if not we will catch you around the country.
Take care and stay safe.
Up the Lillywhites
Martin
I’ve no idea Martin….with the passing of time the number of gigs gotta be on the wane…I love that Kilashee room…I have History in those parts…lets see what happens…thank you for your support….le cónamh Dé beimid thar nais i Nás na Rí ag déanamh ceol le chéile
Hi Christy
Many thanks, Rebecca – great to see the source and follow Mike’s/your versions… from collection to interpretation – and away it goes to take on a life of its own…
A sunny afternoon here – hard to imagine what’s happening in many suburbs in Eastern Ukraine. Credit to all who draw attention to wrongs and those who take action to help.
Dave
We must do all we can to keep Ukraine top of the news…as long as the murder and rape of Ukraine continues it cannot become yesterdays story
And here’s the page with the poem text and Mike’s reading
https://www.all-things-considered.org/sunflowers
Dave, it took no time and I’m glad you like the soldier recordings too.
Hello Christy,
I’ve separated the links out for the resources behind you poetry reading of Sunflowers.
Here’s Mike’s initial inspiration
https://youtu.be/L17Bi7zBJHI
Rebecca
Dear Mr. Moore,
Thank you for the Brigada and Sunflowers.
I wish the only available video of the Brigada on YouTube also included your commentary.
Sincerely,
Yegor
Hi Christy
I’m really interested in seeing the Mike Harding piece that Rebecca sourced. I don’t use facebook, so if there’s anyway of finding it elsewhere, I’d appreciate the link. Don’t want anyone going to epic hassles though…thanks.
I’ve just replayed your recital – superb and very thought provoking.
Dave
Hi everyone,
Yesterday I posted the message you find below.
Thanks for your reaction Christy.
But probably, it would have been handy if I putted my emailadress in it.
marten.de.jaeger@gmail.com
This was my message.
Thanks a lot.
Hi Christy,
Hi you all,
we are fans from Belgium and would like to come to a gig in your home country.
It would be very nice to score tickets for Galway on the 20th of august.
I tell you why.
My wife and I married the 12th of august 2005 and in our wedding ceremony a few excellent musicians brought a splendig version of your “the voyage”. It was fantastic.
To celebrate our wedding day we would like to come to Ireland and enjoy a performance of yours.
But…
I saw that the gig in Galway has already a full house. Do you know if there is a way to swap tickets?
Or maybe, is there anyone who is reading this and who has 2 tickets that we eventually can buy?
You never know, I could only ask. We would be very very grateful.
Ciao, Marten
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for posting the video that Adam made of your reading of Sunflowers.
I love the way you work with the words, softening them to allow them to get through better. Like butter for spreading.
Here’s a link to a Facebook post. It gives a link to the original video that inspired Mike Harding to write the poem, plus a link to the text and his reading.
https://www.facebook.com/105730165395291/photos/this-is-a-poem-by-mike-harding-written-after-seeing-the-video-of-a-woman-in-ukra/114372834531024/
—
I’m so glad you like the stuff I found on the recordings of the First World War Irish soldiers.
I found it both touching and gripping to hear their voices time travelling to us here. It’s like magic that their living voices still sound.
I thought about the few rough recordings I’ve made. The last one of Scarborough Fair gives a sound that I’m starting to feel more at ease with. I feel like I’ve started to make a noise.
It has only been posted here, as a get well present for Christy, but it’s out there, in the wild. Very strange thing to think about.
Rebecca
Mornin’ Christy
From your comment it seems like you beat me to the wake up call by a few minutes today…the dawn chorus played a noisy gig here.
I woke up thinking of ‘Sunflowers’ imagery, leading me to the fine old song, ‘Barbara Allan’ – there’s usually a trad song waiting in the wings…
Fair play to all involved with Monday’s gig – superb for Red Cross to be boosted by 50 000 Euros – that’s a lot of good work to be done for the people of Ukraine.
Belated thanks to Rebecca for the Great War info – heartening that archives and stories are preserved. Back to the trad, I guess…
Have a good day
Dave
Thanks for ‘Sunflowers’, Christy
and to Adam for the film and Mike Harding for great writing… such a wonderful, profound piece.
It’s ages since I was at a gig – brilliant to see you sounding and looking so well.
Terrific work.
Dave
fair play to Adam…..he does a great job with the videos and photos….he plays a vital part in the 4711 collective, always a great presence at gigs when his schedule permits