Great to read the positive reviews of the gigs and that you are still in top form. My sister and brother in law (Rosemary & Fergal) are making the long trek to the Kingdom and will be at the gig on Saturday night. Hopefully it won’t be too long until my next gig too. Hard to believe that it’s over 2 years now since my last one. Best wishes to all the crew – it’s great to see the “family” that surround you back on the road again.
Christy's reply
must time to climb over the Walls again…full throttle thru Magheramason
I’m compelled to post about Tuesday night’s gig in the NCH. As a long hauler, it was a stand out gig for me, in the company of my daughter Emma. Form, sensitivity, passion, humour, gusto, top marks for all….the storm is most definitely still in the t-shirt !!
The inclusion of Mike Harding’s beautiful poem was a lovely touch too, poignant in such sad times.
As a fellow strummer, I definitely noticed a difference in your finger picking and chord playing, especially on Beeswing and Mattie, not that an improvement was ever needed, but I thought you played with great confidence and clarity, fair play.
The strings were ringing out !!
It was great to see Lar, Kieran Kelly and young Hil there too….sure where else would they be??
Continued good health Christy to shine for all of us, as only you can do.
Take care and thanks as always for your time.
Decky.
Christy's reply
Welcome back Decky…Its been a while since…..its good to be out on the road again after two years of lying low….great to met up with friends and listeners…to open up the voice box, to fill the lungs,reverberate the vocal chords and sing out….are you back gigging yourself ?
Hello Christy of all the concert venues that you preform in which are your favourite ones
Christy's reply
Top 10 at time of writing
DE Barras Clonakilty
Carnegie Hall new York
Albert Hall London
Rakish Paddys Lanesboro
NCH Dublin
Waterfront Belfast
The Dogs Bollocks New Zealand
Sydney State Theatre
Merriman Scariff
Neesons Newbridge
I am an old, old fan of Christy’s and have loved his music for years and years. Believe it or not, I’ll be in Ireland for the FIRST time in my life after many, many unsuccessful attempts to get there. I have no idea if this is possible but I’ll be in Dublin on May 8th and am wondering if one can get a ticket out front to see Christy’s show. It’s a life long dream of mine and I have no idea of this is even possible. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Mark
Christy's reply
we’ll check that out and get back to you…fingers crossed
Sounds like an ace gig last night – very different to have a full house, but fair play to all who set up/ played the NCH lockdown gigs. The first time I experienced Lisa O’Neill’s magic.
‘Beeswing’ is a rare song, for sure. Everything about it…every time I play it, I go back to the Free Trade Hall – early 90s. Richard Thompson, solo/ acoustic. A few songs in and he hits ‘Beeswing’. No one in the full house knew it (recorded, but not yet released) one of those songs that absorbs, but unusual when an audience doesn’t know the song. After the final line, there was a moment of total silence, then thunderous applause. Couldn’t wait to track it down via the next release…magnificent and also superb to hear you and Declan weave the ‘Beeswing ‘ magic at The Bridgewater, a time or two.
I’m tuning up for weekend. No gigs in sight, but Fred (my partner in crime )and I are heading to the Peak District for the weekend. Getting holed up in a small village, playing ourselves daft and sampling the local fare and surroundings… not exactly the NET, but the crack will be mighty.
Hello Christy,
You’re right, the Commercial is a great pub. Just thinking back, we did a lovely song about green and wheat, I knew the tune but not the words, so it was mainly vocalising.
We did I’ll tell me Ma, that always takes me straight Lisdoonvarna but I don’t know it. Some great thing about a turkey in the straw too.
There’s a good fiddler there called Stuart. You know when you just keep sparking off each other and the thing takes off and it’s bouncing round the room. I want to play more with him. We’re on the same wavelength, no bumping into each others elbows. It just goes. It’s good when it happens.
Singing is the thing for me, but the bodhran is fab. It let’s me join in.
I enjoyed Thomas Mccarthy talking about the spiritual side of singing. Same with the bodhran, when you get right inside the rhythm. Everything bends inwards.
I have been to quite a few gigs now but tonight was probably the best yet and I heard many others say the same after the gig. I’ve lost my voice from singing along!
Beeswing is a very special song to me, it was a classmate from colleges favourite song and was played at her funeral after she took her own life in her early 20s, the first time I heard you play it live wasn’t long after and a very emotional experience. Throughout the pandemic I listened to a lot of your music and I wondered would I ever see you play it again live and tonight when you played it was another a very emotional experience. Like the lady in Athlone I also know every word but unlike her I am not a beautiful singer! Thank you for bringing some joy back into life after a very tough 2 years. Never change Christy.
Christy's reply
Beeswing is a beautiful song to sing….I was smitten the first time I heard Richard Thompson sing it….By now I’ve sung it a thousand times, yet it still draws me into its embrace….I had two attempts at it last night….on my first attempt I played the opening chords but started an entirely different song….Joni Mitchell’s Magdalen Laundry, appeared from nowhere, I was halfway thru the first verse before I realised I was singing a different song then intended….the spirit of the night evoked Joni’s powerful words and beautiful melody…..two great songwriters, what a privilidge it is to have access to their compositions…..
Great to see you back on the road again and reports are good. Brilliant work on the concert for Ukraine and the funds raised . Got a message from a friend who has contacts out there and the message was along the lines of “don’t be sending us your love and compassion, we need food and water”. They were in a bunker for the best part of 5 weeks with explosions all around. Hard to imagine what those people are suffering and what new world they will face when this war finally ends – I guess it puts our “sufferings” during lockdown into a better perspective. “for all of our languages, we can’t communicate”. Stay safe Christy and keep doing what you do – you’ve kept our spirits high throughout.
I was listening to Liam Clancy today and he was great as a solo artist. I was shocked to the core, as he told of the vile deeds of the Tans in the West of Ireland.
I fell in love with you and your music when I was studying in Portsmouth. I think it was your album “Prosperous” that I encountered. I’m drunk with Thatcher’s Gold, not that old Hoare! I love you always as you have lifted my darkest days! I heard the “Foxy Devil” and that pleased me. Any chance of you performing it soon?
Hugs & Love, I hope to see you in concert one day. Keep sending the love!
Christy's reply
The Foxy Devil, written by “Galway”Joe Dolan, long since retired to its lair….has not seen the light of day for nigh on 40 years or ….if memory serves twas on an album called “The Iron Behind The Velvet”from way back circa 1976…..featured, among others, Trip to Jerusalem,Morrissey & The Russian Sailor,Joe McCann and St Patrick’s Arrival……
Greetings to Malvern and all surrounding Folk Clubs
Returning to the NCH to a full house.. happy days…remembering the lockdown live stream gigs and grateful for the efforts by all to have gigs back. Hope it’s a good one! Managed to nab a couple of tickets for Ed Sheeran in Vicar St tomorrow eve. He might give us a blast of Ride On…
Christy's reply
Ed sure knocks some good sounds outa his Loudens….hope he has a good visit..
Always enjoyed your music, having been exposed to it as a young fella by my father. I only learned in recent years that you lived in Clonmel when you were young and even gate crashed my mothers 21st birthday and sand a few songs!
Anyway, best of luck to you!
Paddy
Christy's reply
its been a long time now Paddy since I dwelt in that Golden Vale…I was 18/19 so work it out….money was scarce but porter was plentiful , as long as I kept singing…gave it the lash at manys the mighty session…line up The Dannos and we’ll go at it again…from Clonmel up to Ballymac,Hillview to Kilmanahan…..we nailed it in The Collins Hall and soldered it in Irishtown…Skirts & Kidneys in Annie Keogh’s and Crubeens at the Westgate….
I was an unsuccessful Bank Clerk but things always took a turn for the better when the days work was done….got paid once a month and lived on the slate..
this is along shot…
did I, by any chance, leave a Bodhrán after me at your Mother’s party…it was a right good rattler and I never met the bate of it since
I loved old Clonmel..still miss those great times….. but we gotta move on Paddy… 58 years later and I’m singing in The National Concert Hall tonight…. but I still remember The Collins Hall like it was last week…. and I never had such lodgings as I had on Parnell Street with Annie Keogh and Nuala Griffin ( nee Keogh)
May those two wonderful Ladies Rest in Peace
Hello Christy,
I went to a folk session in Brighouse last night. It’s a kind of hybrid thing with music and songs and everyone is a proper folkie. In the Commercial Inn, it has Irish commections. Lovely pub, friendly, dominoes, pool, musician, sandwiches.
Anyway, I took the bodhran and knuckled my way through loads of stuff. I’m probably about 10 times better at it now than I was yesterday teatime.
I sang Musgrave and Scarborough Fair.
We had pipes, singer, singer (a capella) guitar, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, harp, singer and bodhran.
I watched the Thomas McCarthy documentary. Loved his talking and his singing. The song’s are so inside him.
It set me off hearing and thinking. It’s gig day for you and I know you won’t have time, but I just want to share where it took me. Sorry, please bear with me.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
The Commercial Inn in Brighouse sounds just like my kinda venue….I loved all those Folk Club Rooms….no two the same….no sound systems…gallons of ale…mainly good listeners…devoted organisers…no sponsors…varied genres…trad,contemporary, political, comedic and some a blend of all….some had brilliant resident Bands where the visiting guest was always a secondary….I think of The Marsden Rattlers, The High Level Ranters, The Stockton Fettlers, Ian Cambell Band,The Beggarmen, Jacqui & Bridie, The Valley Folk,The Yetties, The Blackpool Taverners,The Union Folk and,to be sure….The Watersons…..
I agree with you about books in their original format. It’s rare that revisions improve the original. My copy of ‘One Voice’ dates back to the original publication and has been enjoyed for decades now.
Easter 1916 was commemorated so well in David Rooney’s art. Today, I spent awhile reading about the subjects in my prints. Poignant history, rightly remembered.
Hello Christy earlier this year I put up a video of John Murphys song about your self this is his latest song it’s about Mauripol in Ukraine I put it up a couple of weeks ago but I don’t think you saw it with the virus https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DQqhQ3t_MeM
I have a certain affection for that old book….the publishers often express an interest in updating it but I like it as it is…40 years on it still sells a few copies every year…some great Derek Spier’s photographs and a few too by the late Fergus Bourke….. both Derek Spiers and the Editor of the Book Frank Connolly were at the Ukraine Gig last week….
the 2001 book “One Voice ” was republished paperback and I was never happy with it..the hard back ages very well, the photos are spread throughout the book rather then gathered in the centre..makes it cheaper to publish but the pics lose signicance when removed from relevent text….
its quiet here today, unlike Easter Monday 1916
Great to read the positive reviews of the gigs and that you are still in top form. My sister and brother in law (Rosemary & Fergal) are making the long trek to the Kingdom and will be at the gig on Saturday night. Hopefully it won’t be too long until my next gig too. Hard to believe that it’s over 2 years now since my last one. Best wishes to all the crew – it’s great to see the “family” that surround you back on the road again.
must time to climb over the Walls again…full throttle thru Magheramason
Good morning Christy,
I’m compelled to post about Tuesday night’s gig in the NCH. As a long hauler, it was a stand out gig for me, in the company of my daughter Emma. Form, sensitivity, passion, humour, gusto, top marks for all….the storm is most definitely still in the t-shirt !!
The inclusion of Mike Harding’s beautiful poem was a lovely touch too, poignant in such sad times.
As a fellow strummer, I definitely noticed a difference in your finger picking and chord playing, especially on Beeswing and Mattie, not that an improvement was ever needed, but I thought you played with great confidence and clarity, fair play.
The strings were ringing out !!
It was great to see Lar, Kieran Kelly and young Hil there too….sure where else would they be??
Continued good health Christy to shine for all of us, as only you can do.
Take care and thanks as always for your time.
Decky.
Welcome back Decky…Its been a while since…..its good to be out on the road again after two years of lying low….great to met up with friends and listeners…to open up the voice box, to fill the lungs,reverberate the vocal chords and sing out….are you back gigging yourself ?
Hello Christy,
Hope you are doing ok this morning.
Rebecca
all good..thanks
Hello Christy of all the concert venues that you preform in which are your favourite ones
Top 10 at time of writing
DE Barras Clonakilty
Carnegie Hall new York
Albert Hall London
Rakish Paddys Lanesboro
NCH Dublin
Waterfront Belfast
The Dogs Bollocks New Zealand
Sydney State Theatre
Merriman Scariff
Neesons Newbridge
I am an old, old fan of Christy’s and have loved his music for years and years. Believe it or not, I’ll be in Ireland for the FIRST time in my life after many, many unsuccessful attempts to get there. I have no idea if this is possible but I’ll be in Dublin on May 8th and am wondering if one can get a ticket out front to see Christy’s show. It’s a life long dream of mine and I have no idea of this is even possible. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Mark
we’ll check that out and get back to you…fingers crossed
Mornin’ Christy
Sounds like an ace gig last night – very different to have a full house, but fair play to all who set up/ played the NCH lockdown gigs. The first time I experienced Lisa O’Neill’s magic.
‘Beeswing’ is a rare song, for sure. Everything about it…every time I play it, I go back to the Free Trade Hall – early 90s. Richard Thompson, solo/ acoustic. A few songs in and he hits ‘Beeswing’. No one in the full house knew it (recorded, but not yet released) one of those songs that absorbs, but unusual when an audience doesn’t know the song. After the final line, there was a moment of total silence, then thunderous applause. Couldn’t wait to track it down via the next release…magnificent and also superb to hear you and Declan weave the ‘Beeswing ‘ magic at The Bridgewater, a time or two.
I’m tuning up for weekend. No gigs in sight, but Fred (my partner in crime )and I are heading to the Peak District for the weekend. Getting holed up in a small village, playing ourselves daft and sampling the local fare and surroundings… not exactly the NET, but the crack will be mighty.
All the best – Dave
don’t forget your can opener
Hello Christy,
You’re right, the Commercial is a great pub. Just thinking back, we did a lovely song about green and wheat, I knew the tune but not the words, so it was mainly vocalising.
We did I’ll tell me Ma, that always takes me straight Lisdoonvarna but I don’t know it. Some great thing about a turkey in the straw too.
There’s a good fiddler there called Stuart. You know when you just keep sparking off each other and the thing takes off and it’s bouncing round the room. I want to play more with him. We’re on the same wavelength, no bumping into each others elbows. It just goes. It’s good when it happens.
Singing is the thing for me, but the bodhran is fab. It let’s me join in.
I enjoyed Thomas Mccarthy talking about the spiritual side of singing. Same with the bodhran, when you get right inside the rhythm. Everything bends inwards.
Sounds like you had a great gig last night.
Rebecca
shine on Rebecca
I have been to quite a few gigs now but tonight was probably the best yet and I heard many others say the same after the gig. I’ve lost my voice from singing along!
Beeswing is a very special song to me, it was a classmate from colleges favourite song and was played at her funeral after she took her own life in her early 20s, the first time I heard you play it live wasn’t long after and a very emotional experience. Throughout the pandemic I listened to a lot of your music and I wondered would I ever see you play it again live and tonight when you played it was another a very emotional experience. Like the lady in Athlone I also know every word but unlike her I am not a beautiful singer! Thank you for bringing some joy back into life after a very tough 2 years. Never change Christy.
Beeswing is a beautiful song to sing….I was smitten the first time I heard Richard Thompson sing it….By now I’ve sung it a thousand times, yet it still draws me into its embrace….I had two attempts at it last night….on my first attempt I played the opening chords but started an entirely different song….Joni Mitchell’s Magdalen Laundry, appeared from nowhere, I was halfway thru the first verse before I realised I was singing a different song then intended….the spirit of the night evoked Joni’s powerful words and beautiful melody…..two great songwriters, what a privilidge it is to have access to their compositions…..
Great to see you back on the road again and reports are good. Brilliant work on the concert for Ukraine and the funds raised . Got a message from a friend who has contacts out there and the message was along the lines of “don’t be sending us your love and compassion, we need food and water”. They were in a bunker for the best part of 5 weeks with explosions all around. Hard to imagine what those people are suffering and what new world they will face when this war finally ends – I guess it puts our “sufferings” during lockdown into a better perspective. “for all of our languages, we can’t communicate”. Stay safe Christy and keep doing what you do – you’ve kept our spirits high throughout.
Remembering Lyra McKee…..
Good to hear from you John
I was listening to Liam Clancy today and he was great as a solo artist. I was shocked to the core, as he told of the vile deeds of the Tans in the West of Ireland.
I fell in love with you and your music when I was studying in Portsmouth. I think it was your album “Prosperous” that I encountered. I’m drunk with Thatcher’s Gold, not that old Hoare! I love you always as you have lifted my darkest days! I heard the “Foxy Devil” and that pleased me. Any chance of you performing it soon?
Hugs & Love, I hope to see you in concert one day. Keep sending the love!
The Foxy Devil, written by “Galway”Joe Dolan, long since retired to its lair….has not seen the light of day for nigh on 40 years or ….if memory serves twas on an album called “The Iron Behind The Velvet”from way back circa 1976…..featured, among others, Trip to Jerusalem,Morrissey & The Russian Sailor,Joe McCann and St Patrick’s Arrival……
Greetings to Malvern and all surrounding Folk Clubs
Returning to the NCH to a full house.. happy days…remembering the lockdown live stream gigs and grateful for the efforts by all to have gigs back. Hope it’s a good one! Managed to nab a couple of tickets for Ed Sheeran in Vicar St tomorrow eve. He might give us a blast of Ride On…
Ed sure knocks some good sounds outa his Loudens….hope he has a good visit..
Always enjoyed your music, having been exposed to it as a young fella by my father. I only learned in recent years that you lived in Clonmel when you were young and even gate crashed my mothers 21st birthday and sand a few songs!
Anyway, best of luck to you!
Paddy
its been a long time now Paddy since I dwelt in that Golden Vale…I was 18/19 so work it out….money was scarce but porter was plentiful , as long as I kept singing…gave it the lash at manys the mighty session…line up The Dannos and we’ll go at it again…from Clonmel up to Ballymac,Hillview to Kilmanahan…..we nailed it in The Collins Hall and soldered it in Irishtown…Skirts & Kidneys in Annie Keogh’s and Crubeens at the Westgate….
I was an unsuccessful Bank Clerk but things always took a turn for the better when the days work was done….got paid once a month and lived on the slate..
this is along shot…
did I, by any chance, leave a Bodhrán after me at your Mother’s party…it was a right good rattler and I never met the bate of it since
I loved old Clonmel..still miss those great times….. but we gotta move on Paddy… 58 years later and I’m singing in The National Concert Hall tonight…. but I still remember The Collins Hall like it was last week…. and I never had such lodgings as I had on Parnell Street with Annie Keogh and Nuala Griffin ( nee Keogh)
May those two wonderful Ladies Rest in Peace
And then I ended up here and it was time to go to the folk thing so I stopped
https://youtu.be/ulQGI5-ZCmo
If you’re still with me and managed a few seconds of each, I thank you for your patience.
For some reason all this feels important to me.
I hope it’s a good gig tonight.
Rebecca
hard at prep here..will click in tomorrow
This is where it led me next
https://youtu.be/GgFa7mbwujg
…..
This is the Adhnan
https://youtu.be/4_LN0hznp-A
I hope I spelt that right
This is where I started
https://youtu.be/NW_INVG38Y8
…
Hello Christy,
I went to a folk session in Brighouse last night. It’s a kind of hybrid thing with music and songs and everyone is a proper folkie. In the Commercial Inn, it has Irish commections. Lovely pub, friendly, dominoes, pool, musician, sandwiches.
Anyway, I took the bodhran and knuckled my way through loads of stuff. I’m probably about 10 times better at it now than I was yesterday teatime.
I sang Musgrave and Scarborough Fair.
We had pipes, singer, singer (a capella) guitar, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, harp, singer and bodhran.
I watched the Thomas McCarthy documentary. Loved his talking and his singing. The song’s are so inside him.
It set me off hearing and thinking. It’s gig day for you and I know you won’t have time, but I just want to share where it took me. Sorry, please bear with me.
Rebecca
The Commercial Inn in Brighouse sounds just like my kinda venue….I loved all those Folk Club Rooms….no two the same….no sound systems…gallons of ale…mainly good listeners…devoted organisers…no sponsors…varied genres…trad,contemporary, political, comedic and some a blend of all….some had brilliant resident Bands where the visiting guest was always a secondary….I think of The Marsden Rattlers, The High Level Ranters, The Stockton Fettlers, Ian Cambell Band,The Beggarmen, Jacqui & Bridie, The Valley Folk,The Yetties, The Blackpool Taverners,The Union Folk and,to be sure….The Watersons…..
Hi Christy
I agree with you about books in their original format. It’s rare that revisions improve the original. My copy of ‘One Voice’ dates back to the original publication and has been enjoyed for decades now.
Easter 1916 was commemorated so well in David Rooney’s art. Today, I spent awhile reading about the subjects in my prints. Poignant history, rightly remembered.
All the best for Tuesday’s gig.
Dave
Hello Christy earlier this year I put up a video of John Murphys song about your self this is his latest song it’s about Mauripol in Ukraine I put it up a couple of weeks ago but I don’t think you saw it with the virus https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DQqhQ3t_MeM
Thank You
Great point about the song book, Christy.
Hopefully, no harm done for Kara’s searches… Dave
I have a certain affection for that old book….the publishers often express an interest in updating it but I like it as it is…40 years on it still sells a few copies every year…some great Derek Spier’s photographs and a few too by the late Fergus Bourke….. both Derek Spiers and the Editor of the Book Frank Connolly were at the Ukraine Gig last week….
the 2001 book “One Voice ” was republished paperback and I was never happy with it..the hard back ages very well, the photos are spread throughout the book rather then gathered in the centre..makes it cheaper to publish but the pics lose signicance when removed from relevent text….
its quiet here today, unlike Easter Monday 1916