Good man Edd, I hope the 45 years since Dalymount have treated you well? Yes the Stones & Elton John have both played Anfield over the past few days. Just in from the Eagles concert, a great night, being a life long Evertonian it made a nice change to walk out of Anfield with a smile on my face..
R, I loved the tale about Mrs Boothroyd.
John, that bill that day featured a young ‘whipper snapper’ and his group. Out to make a name for themselves: Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats. They were great that afternoon.
Was at Dalymount, ’77, Lizzy were great, the Bad Reputation tour. Probably the boys at their best. So the Eagles at Anfield. Didn’t the Stones play there not long ago.
Hello Christy and All,
It sounds like a gorgeous gig with Phil Linnot’s searchlight bass guitar. I was 6 in 1977, just starting piano lessons with Miss Boothroyd. She, wore bloomers that you could see when she sat down and ate wall to wall mint imperials. Lessons cost 35p for half an hour and then 50p after she apologised to my Mum for raising prices.
A few years later I remember playing percussion outside in a local park with a brass band. My main memories of it are of sticking music to stands with pegs so you didn’t end up chasing it around the field and how different a snare drum sounds outside.
I’ve just been looking at some pictures of the Marquee in Cork. Wow! What a beauty!
Hi Christy, thinking about your upcoming Marquee concert got me reminiscing about the first all dayer/outside concert I attended in Ireland. It was 21 August 1977 in Dalymount Park billed as Phil Lynotts 28th birthday bash. Can’t remcall the full line up but it included Thin Lizzy, Graham Parker and the Rumour, Fairport Convention, The Boomtown Rats, The Radiators from Space, Stepaside, & Stagall. Dont recall a lot about the day as it was a 1:00 start, I was young and there was alcohol on sale. Things I do rememer were the concert took place abot five days after the death of Elvis & the facilities were a bit basic (none of your new fangled porta loos in them days). I also recall Dublin beat Kerry (sorry Hilary) in the All Ireland semi final that afternoon and a few thousand Dubs joined us for the hooley after the game as you could pay on the gate (£5, a bargin). I also remember ‘dancing in the moonlight’ as darkness decended and Phil Lynott deflecting the spotlight off the backing plate of his bass guitar back into the crowd like a search light. Still havent lost the love for live music, off to see the Eagles at Anfield tomorrow, hope its another ‘one of those nights’. .P.S. just wondered if any fellow 4711ers were in the crowd that day? PPS Happy Fathers day.
Christy's reply
i recall 3 open air gigs in DALYMOUNT Park….the one you mention plus a Bob Marley gig and a Judas Priest gig ..they were promoted by Pat Egan who still promotes gigs…I attended one and played at another
Word just received back from Meath Chronicle war correspondent,, that the Breffini County was captured on Friday night,, saying very little resistance was encountered, and no fatalities reported,, Beeswing was very well received,, and extra Father’s Day gifts are promised ,, unfortunately the old R.I.C Sergeant in Virginia pulled them over on way home and got done for overloading “The Honda Fifty” all to appear at special sitting of Cavan Court on Monday morning ,, also being charged with singing in a public place without a licence. Chronicle also reports that you and your army feasted at Grouse Hall after the surrender and wakened The Ghost of Paddy Jack (Pat Mac Donnell) and Sergeant Mullervy.
Latest unconfirmed reports say you and large regiment have been spotted marching South, intelligence reports suggest you are intent on capturing and taking control of the South East corner of the Country,, understood Cork will be first ,, little resistance expected there, it is believed Micheal Martin will wave the white Flag early,, guess you will then turn your attention to Waterford,, and Wexford,, that should see “The 26” under your control,, most likely you then head North again to secure The Orchard County before capturing Belfast, before Autumn
After that maybe consider taking “ Barrowlands” Spring 23 !!!
Christy's reply
I had”Hackler” loaded into the breach but forgot to pull the trigger…I was bedazzled by Sean Quinn’s chandeliers…..made it back to base in time for the dinner…planning now for next Saturday’s return to “DE BANKS”
as I crossed The Boyne on Fri & Sat,thoughts turned to The Cotton Mills, Ardmulchan,The Yellow Furze and on up to Stackallen where my good cousins are still firmly rooted
“Come All You Dreamers”
Hello Christy,
It would be a good place to sleep, under the, Japanese maple. The grass is dense and green, full of moss. A lovely bed, and full of so many possibles, as you said.
This place is a hive of creativity these days, filled up with people writing, singing, playing.
Here’s a little something I hope you find interesting. https://newartprojects.com/artists/matthew-askey/
Matthew is my brother.
How do you do it? You practise a lot.
Here’s to all creative people, especially the brave souls who don’t stop.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Begod Rebecca but your brother is surely a busy man
We miss old dagrab his links and the rest,
No doubt amongst us posters he remains the best,
Will we see his charmed likes again who indeed knows,
He hails from rainchester where the wet west wind blows,
What of his dulcimer is it still yet strummed,
I bet that his planxty tunes are now being hummed,
He wanders the sufragette city to find,
A second hand folk disc that some left behind,
His posts here dig rabbit holes and inside we dive,
While salford and hulme bees buzz round the old hive,
So come back old dagrab, its time for some more,
Your inspiring ideas are sure never to bore,
Fix the old laptop and treat us with glee,
To some folk tales and music notes while we supp black tea.
I know dave can read these Christy but he is stuck in a virtual vortex unable yet to post , let us hope his computer surgery is successful and soon.
Rory
Christy's reply
Jasus Rory but You’ve hit a purple patch there with the prose ‘n poetry rolling off your nib …your inkwell full to the brim
Much as we miss our comrade from United City we must allow him some breathing space…he’s been going full pelt here of late and needs to smell the Platt Field roses for a spell..
I know from personal experience that this great guest page can leave an auld lad feckin flagged out like a damp overcoat behind an open door that never closes..
That was a special moment, and a lovely request it was indeed.
Huge energy in that big room , some lovely singing along especially from further down the audience….
The jukebox was late into gear but they were great calls…. the Reel was perfection…. out of the blue ….
How do you do it….
Christy's reply
I practice a lot…then when the time comes I throw caution to the wind..I have the utmost trust in my good listeners…ye give me free rein….unfettered, I gallop towards fresh pastures
Up Down
Hello Christy,
My garden is full of trees and one of them I grew from a seed. It’s a Japanese maple. Small and slender with arching green branches that flutter in the breeze almost down to the ground.
I look after it myself.
Underneath it the space is cool and quiet. an other world. Good for standing still, general staring into space and drinking coffee. It slows you down.
I realised this morning, reading Rory’s post, that I’ve never played under it, too shy I guess, that end of the garden backs onto the pub, over an old wall.
I think today will be the day.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I decided to sleep under the Japanese Maple last night…..and I woke in California, many miles from Spancilhill
Dear Christy,
We came camping about a dozen miles from home, veggie and ordinary sausages sizzling on the primer, stewed tea in the pot, wee lad running amuck with brand new pals from the next tent up, marshmallows toasted and plenty fresh sunny air before ‘reading’ danny the chamion of the world to an open mouthed lad who forgot all about mobiles and gameboys ffor one night.
It just got me thinking about your early years on the road and that blue box van that appears in the video of a song of yours on youtube…i bet you camped out in that a few nights!
We are at lilliardsedge where the legend says….
Fair Maid Lilliard lies under this stane,
little was her stature but muckle was her fame,
upon the English loons she laid monie thumps,
and when her legs were cuttit off she fought upon her stumps.
AD 1544″.
All the best
Rory
Christy's reply
“Little was her stature
muckle was her fame”
thon “wee lad” will remember that camp-out for all his life time
A late Opportunity arose for A trip to the Slieve Russell….. so here we are , with thanks to a few people….. great to be out and about…
We won’t have any reason to visit Croke Park this summer , so might as well let the music keep the spirit high. Looking forward to the songs et al…..
Christy's reply
and there ye were, yourself and Ger, spread across Row 4711… alongside ye Queen H and other early arrivals from Tashkent, Istanbul, Bangkok and Liverpool…Sean Quinn’s chandeliers were tinkling as we segued into The Ballad of an Ordinary Man….its a great room to play,it functions well…I was 77 at the start of the gig but 10 minutes later ye had me revved up to 33….the years fell away off me until 90 minutes later the curtain fell around me and I soon reverted to reality….77,sated, full of gratitude ,in need of strong tea…..
outstanding memory of the night for me was the encore…that wee girl coming to the stage….”please sing Veronica for my grandmother Vonnie and for my Dad who is 40 today.”…..How that honoured the songs…three generations travelling together to the middle of nowhere to listen, to sing….when I picked up my first guitar in 1962, such a thing was far beyond my wildest dreams….I never dreamt that I would one day stand (sit !)upon a stage with listeners gathered from the four corners of life…
Thank You All
Aye my name is pronounced Shonnie. It’s Gaidhlig for John. Fluent speaker living in a non native land but the Cornish are sound people. Here you inspired me to finish the poem there. Here it is.
Cheers
Seonaidh
I’ve tried and I’ve tried and I’ve tried there some more,
Post fight, post graft what have I got to show?
Inflation, inflation. Just numbers pulled from the devils imagination.
Inflation, Inflation. Spoken as if tis gods own creation.
Nothing can be done as cost of living soars.
Businesses folding, close all their fucking doors.
But only close the ones of the poor, the small and unknown.
Unable to fight a fair fight with the capitalist crone.
Livliehoods destroyed, despair bursting the seams.
But no fret nor fear. The 1% will offer a deal.
A deal equal to the one of the old Highland Clearances
Nowt more hideous, barring their own veiled appearances.
So here I am now with nothing to show,
The 1% snapped the business, my land and my home.
What now for me? Well who’s to know.
Another 40 years of minimum wage grafters.
Or is it time for the rope hanging from the rafters?
Too easy for them for it to be that dark choice.
What they would do to rid the world of its fighters,
To rid the world of its voice.
Well this one’s not lost, more so inspired.
Show the fight and the strength of the men draped in the byard.
One thing I’ve learnt watching simmering stock,
Scums rises and rises right to the top.
So no longer do I look to replace the chief at the helm
For he’ll be just be replaced by more like minded men
So instead I ignore you and just look to the bottom
Eductate the children, the ones not yet rotten.
And over time we will see.
How life will then differ.
People in love with life
No longer tricked to feel bitter
Christy's reply
In these nether regions your name resounds as Séanie ( Shawnee) it having derived from John ( Seán)
I like your lines:
“I’ve learned to watch the simmering stock
scum rising right to the top”
you gotta lot of good stuff going on in that song but I gotta feeling it aint finished yet…I reckon it may need more work….the Highland Clearances ring out but need better lines around them..
but its your baby…if you think its finished..then its finished…but whatever you do…keep writing…you have it
I wrote this today after my business folded. Maybe Christy could put a tune to it. I have loads of this stuff.
Cheers
Seonaidh
I’ve tried and I’ve tried and I’ve tried there some more,
Post fight, post graft what have I got to show?
Inflation, inflation. Just numbers pulled from the devils imagination.
Inflation, Inflation. Spoken as if tis gods own creation.
Nothing can be done as cost of living soars.
Businesses folding, close all their fucking doors.
But only close the ones of the poor, the small and unknown.
Unable to fight a fair fight with the capitalist crone.
Livliehoods destroyed, despair bursting the seams.
But no fret nor fear. The 1% will offer a deal.
A deal equal to the one of the old Highland Clearances
Nowt more hideous, barring their own veiled appearances.
So here I am now with nothing to show,
The 1% snapped the business, the land and my home.
What now for me? Well who’s to know.
Another 40 years of minimum wage grafters.
Or is it time for the rope hanging from the rafters?
Christy's reply
better to die fighting the fuckers then throwing ropes across the rafters… I’m curious about your name..how do you pronounce it ? is it Scottish ..we have a similar name here that is pronounced “Show Na”..wish you well..hope you keep writing….protesting..opposing..satirising….fighting
The third act of the trilogy, Killashee/Tullamore/Slieve Russell takes place tonight. My twin daughters Aisling and Aine plus Emma (drafted in as a late substitution, wearing Senchalstown jersey No17) will be in attendance tonight,, Twins favourite is “Beeswing” they be thrilled if you could sing it,, it be the highlight of the year,, in what has been a very difficult year for Meath football,, a lot of suffering endured !!
Christy's reply
All Ireland Senior Champions at Women’s GAA…!!!
difficult year ?? suffering endured??
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for pointing me towards Johnstown Castle. I had a look and it looks beautiful. On the map the road from Cork looks to skate the coast for miles and miles. I hope we can get there.
It’s so good to see Rory back. I’ve been missing him and, Dave. Lovely to read your beautiful posts again Rory.
Please tell Dave from me to get himself one of those shiny, thin as paper mobile things, with the slithy screen and he’ll be away in no time. I’ve been training the most computer-shy of our local Councillors on how to use his ipad since January.
Once he’d seen his house from above on Google Earth and realised the thing knew all the sports news he was fine.
Seriously though, I hope the laptop is out of the hospital soon and busying itself to get Dave back here.
Hi christy
Dave has been spotted a few times in and around the suffragette city, once in a class wee basic cafe ( sourdough toast and jam £1.70) we found, once in a second hand record shop near piccadilly station, once in a computer shop in salford looking for a lowrie technician to sort his laptop and once in the hacienda strutting his ‘stuff’ before a night gorging himself in china town then heading home with a book on topic records and a year’s supply of rolling stone ( folk version).
The hunt goes on for our great friend, tracked only by his nokia signal and when he replies to a second class letter from the bray frontline.
I wish him well in his expedition to discover the true northwest pole.
Comrade rory
My youngest reminded me today of Bloomsday Christy,
I visited his house in Dublin ( Joyce that is, charlie is in Dennistoun).
Though his writing style tests the strength it is now, in modern times, kept alive by the novelist style of the brilliant, funny, intelligent, anarchistic talent of Will Self.
Joyce looked an unusual man, from the grainy photos , but rare talents rarely have a six pack….not looking at any singer-songwriter in particular.
Self often wrote in the New Statesman , spurred on by that thought i renewed my NS subscription tonight.
I saw beloved and brilliant Rik Mayall play the New Statesman on stage, a rare talent too.
A stream of consciousness Christy, but it needs to end in a song…Greenland is haunting beauty.
Rory
Christy's reply
Will Self,Rik Mayall,Jimmy Joyce….as good a front row as ever ran out….
you display a new side to yourself with this sudden interest in singer songwriter six packs…I spent quite a while last night lookin for my own in the mirror but, it being Bloomsday, me belly was full of devilled kidneys and black porter…I did the full tour yesterday in blazer and boater….ended up in Glass tool last night with a rake of scholarly types lorryin into wine and smelly cheese…it was all very Joycean until a row broke out near closin time and the Garda were called..they baton charged the revellers into Scotsman’s Bay which soon sobered up the Bloomsday crew…
…..
still working here on Greenland
……..
I’m missing our correspondant from Suffragette City
any further reports on the whereabouts of Dagrab ?
can we consider getting up a search party
I suggest we meet at Yates Wine Lodge near The Shambles
and proceed with caution
nothin happy about it the mornin after
“I woke up with an achin head,
as usual
drunk again goin to bed,
as usual,
I think I’ll see how much I’ve got
O Jesus Christ I drank the lot
I must have been a drunken Sot
as usual”
(Hamish Imlach ,Rutherglen Folk Club,circa 1967)
Good man Edd, I hope the 45 years since Dalymount have treated you well? Yes the Stones & Elton John have both played Anfield over the past few days. Just in from the Eagles concert, a great night, being a life long Evertonian it made a nice change to walk out of Anfield with a smile on my face..
R, I loved the tale about Mrs Boothroyd.
John, that bill that day featured a young ‘whipper snapper’ and his group. Out to make a name for themselves: Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats. They were great that afternoon.
Was at Dalymount, ’77, Lizzy were great, the Bad Reputation tour. Probably the boys at their best. So the Eagles at Anfield. Didn’t the Stones play there not long ago.
Hello Christy and All,
It sounds like a gorgeous gig with Phil Linnot’s searchlight bass guitar. I was 6 in 1977, just starting piano lessons with Miss Boothroyd. She, wore bloomers that you could see when she sat down and ate wall to wall mint imperials. Lessons cost 35p for half an hour and then 50p after she apologised to my Mum for raising prices.
A few years later I remember playing percussion outside in a local park with a brass band. My main memories of it are of sticking music to stands with pegs so you didn’t end up chasing it around the field and how different a snare drum sounds outside.
I’ve just been looking at some pictures of the Marquee in Cork. Wow! What a beauty!
Rebecca
Hi Christy, thinking about your upcoming Marquee concert got me reminiscing about the first all dayer/outside concert I attended in Ireland. It was 21 August 1977 in Dalymount Park billed as Phil Lynotts 28th birthday bash. Can’t remcall the full line up but it included Thin Lizzy, Graham Parker and the Rumour, Fairport Convention, The Boomtown Rats, The Radiators from Space, Stepaside, & Stagall. Dont recall a lot about the day as it was a 1:00 start, I was young and there was alcohol on sale. Things I do rememer were the concert took place abot five days after the death of Elvis & the facilities were a bit basic (none of your new fangled porta loos in them days). I also recall Dublin beat Kerry (sorry Hilary) in the All Ireland semi final that afternoon and a few thousand Dubs joined us for the hooley after the game as you could pay on the gate (£5, a bargin). I also remember ‘dancing in the moonlight’ as darkness decended and Phil Lynott deflecting the spotlight off the backing plate of his bass guitar back into the crowd like a search light. Still havent lost the love for live music, off to see the Eagles at Anfield tomorrow, hope its another ‘one of those nights’. .P.S. just wondered if any fellow 4711ers were in the crowd that day? PPS Happy Fathers day.
i recall 3 open air gigs in DALYMOUNT Park….the one you mention plus a Bob Marley gig and a Judas Priest gig ..they were promoted by Pat Egan who still promotes gigs…I attended one and played at another
Word just received back from Meath Chronicle war correspondent,, that the Breffini County was captured on Friday night,, saying very little resistance was encountered, and no fatalities reported,, Beeswing was very well received,, and extra Father’s Day gifts are promised ,, unfortunately the old R.I.C Sergeant in Virginia pulled them over on way home and got done for overloading “The Honda Fifty” all to appear at special sitting of Cavan Court on Monday morning ,, also being charged with singing in a public place without a licence. Chronicle also reports that you and your army feasted at Grouse Hall after the surrender and wakened The Ghost of Paddy Jack (Pat Mac Donnell) and Sergeant Mullervy.
Latest unconfirmed reports say you and large regiment have been spotted marching South, intelligence reports suggest you are intent on capturing and taking control of the South East corner of the Country,, understood Cork will be first ,, little resistance expected there, it is believed Micheal Martin will wave the white Flag early,, guess you will then turn your attention to Waterford,, and Wexford,, that should see “The 26” under your control,, most likely you then head North again to secure The Orchard County before capturing Belfast, before Autumn
After that maybe consider taking “ Barrowlands” Spring 23 !!!
I had”Hackler” loaded into the breach but forgot to pull the trigger…I was bedazzled by Sean Quinn’s chandeliers…..made it back to base in time for the dinner…planning now for next Saturday’s return to “DE BANKS”
as I crossed The Boyne on Fri & Sat,thoughts turned to The Cotton Mills, Ardmulchan,The Yellow Furze and on up to Stackallen where my good cousins are still firmly rooted
“Come All You Dreamers”
Hello Christy,
It would be a good place to sleep, under the, Japanese maple. The grass is dense and green, full of moss. A lovely bed, and full of so many possibles, as you said.
This place is a hive of creativity these days, filled up with people writing, singing, playing.
Here’s a little something I hope you find interesting.
https://newartprojects.com/artists/matthew-askey/
Matthew is my brother.
How do you do it? You practise a lot.
Here’s to all creative people, especially the brave souls who don’t stop.
Rebecca
Begod Rebecca but your brother is surely a busy man
Christy hi
We miss old dagrab his links and the rest,
No doubt amongst us posters he remains the best,
Will we see his charmed likes again who indeed knows,
He hails from rainchester where the wet west wind blows,
What of his dulcimer is it still yet strummed,
I bet that his planxty tunes are now being hummed,
He wanders the sufragette city to find,
A second hand folk disc that some left behind,
His posts here dig rabbit holes and inside we dive,
While salford and hulme bees buzz round the old hive,
So come back old dagrab, its time for some more,
Your inspiring ideas are sure never to bore,
Fix the old laptop and treat us with glee,
To some folk tales and music notes while we supp black tea.
I know dave can read these Christy but he is stuck in a virtual vortex unable yet to post , let us hope his computer surgery is successful and soon.
Rory
Jasus Rory but You’ve hit a purple patch there with the prose ‘n poetry rolling off your nib …your inkwell full to the brim
Much as we miss our comrade from United City we must allow him some breathing space…he’s been going full pelt here of late and needs to smell the Platt Field roses for a spell..
I know from personal experience that this great guest page can leave an auld lad feckin flagged out like a damp overcoat behind an open door that never closes..
I’m gonna get up now and put on the kettle
Hi C. Words have failed me ! Mile, mile buiochas arist. Beir bua agus beannacht.H
your actions speak louder
That was a special moment, and a lovely request it was indeed.
Huge energy in that big room , some lovely singing along especially from further down the audience….
The jukebox was late into gear but they were great calls…. the Reel was perfection…. out of the blue ….
How do you do it….
I practice a lot…then when the time comes I throw caution to the wind..I have the utmost trust in my good listeners…ye give me free rein….unfettered, I gallop towards fresh pastures
Up Down
Hello Christy,
My garden is full of trees and one of them I grew from a seed. It’s a Japanese maple. Small and slender with arching green branches that flutter in the breeze almost down to the ground.
I look after it myself.
Underneath it the space is cool and quiet. an other world. Good for standing still, general staring into space and drinking coffee. It slows you down.
I realised this morning, reading Rory’s post, that I’ve never played under it, too shy I guess, that end of the garden backs onto the pub, over an old wall.
I think today will be the day.
Rebecca
I decided to sleep under the Japanese Maple last night…..and I woke in California, many miles from Spancilhill
Dear Christy,
We came camping about a dozen miles from home, veggie and ordinary sausages sizzling on the primer, stewed tea in the pot, wee lad running amuck with brand new pals from the next tent up, marshmallows toasted and plenty fresh sunny air before ‘reading’ danny the chamion of the world to an open mouthed lad who forgot all about mobiles and gameboys ffor one night.
It just got me thinking about your early years on the road and that blue box van that appears in the video of a song of yours on youtube…i bet you camped out in that a few nights!
We are at lilliardsedge where the legend says….
Fair Maid Lilliard lies under this stane,
little was her stature but muckle was her fame,
upon the English loons she laid monie thumps,
and when her legs were cuttit off she fought upon her stumps.
AD 1544″.
All the best
Rory
“Little was her stature
muckle was her fame”
thon “wee lad” will remember that camp-out for all his life time
mobile/gameboy content, mindboggling/gobbledegook,
sez he/staring into his mac
A late Opportunity arose for A trip to the Slieve Russell….. so here we are , with thanks to a few people….. great to be out and about…
We won’t have any reason to visit Croke Park this summer , so might as well let the music keep the spirit high. Looking forward to the songs et al…..
and there ye were, yourself and Ger, spread across Row 4711… alongside ye Queen H and other early arrivals from Tashkent, Istanbul, Bangkok and Liverpool…Sean Quinn’s chandeliers were tinkling as we segued into The Ballad of an Ordinary Man….its a great room to play,it functions well…I was 77 at the start of the gig but 10 minutes later ye had me revved up to 33….the years fell away off me until 90 minutes later the curtain fell around me and I soon reverted to reality….77,sated, full of gratitude ,in need of strong tea…..
outstanding memory of the night for me was the encore…that wee girl coming to the stage….”please sing Veronica for my grandmother Vonnie and for my Dad who is 40 today.”…..How that honoured the songs…three generations travelling together to the middle of nowhere to listen, to sing….when I picked up my first guitar in 1962, such a thing was far beyond my wildest dreams….I never dreamt that I would one day stand (sit !)upon a stage with listeners gathered from the four corners of life…
Thank You All
Hola,
Aye my name is pronounced Shonnie. It’s Gaidhlig for John. Fluent speaker living in a non native land but the Cornish are sound people. Here you inspired me to finish the poem there. Here it is.
Cheers
Seonaidh
I’ve tried and I’ve tried and I’ve tried there some more,
Post fight, post graft what have I got to show?
Inflation, inflation. Just numbers pulled from the devils imagination.
Inflation, Inflation. Spoken as if tis gods own creation.
Nothing can be done as cost of living soars.
Businesses folding, close all their fucking doors.
But only close the ones of the poor, the small and unknown.
Unable to fight a fair fight with the capitalist crone.
Livliehoods destroyed, despair bursting the seams.
But no fret nor fear. The 1% will offer a deal.
A deal equal to the one of the old Highland Clearances
Nowt more hideous, barring their own veiled appearances.
So here I am now with nothing to show,
The 1% snapped the business, my land and my home.
What now for me? Well who’s to know.
Another 40 years of minimum wage grafters.
Or is it time for the rope hanging from the rafters?
Too easy for them for it to be that dark choice.
What they would do to rid the world of its fighters,
To rid the world of its voice.
Well this one’s not lost, more so inspired.
Show the fight and the strength of the men draped in the byard.
One thing I’ve learnt watching simmering stock,
Scums rises and rises right to the top.
So no longer do I look to replace the chief at the helm
For he’ll be just be replaced by more like minded men
So instead I ignore you and just look to the bottom
Eductate the children, the ones not yet rotten.
And over time we will see.
How life will then differ.
People in love with life
No longer tricked to feel bitter
In these nether regions your name resounds as Séanie ( Shawnee) it having derived from John ( Seán)
I like your lines:
“I’ve learned to watch the simmering stock
scum rising right to the top”
you gotta lot of good stuff going on in that song but I gotta feeling it aint finished yet…I reckon it may need more work….the Highland Clearances ring out but need better lines around them..
but its your baby…if you think its finished..then its finished…but whatever you do…keep writing…you have it
I wrote this today after my business folded. Maybe Christy could put a tune to it. I have loads of this stuff.
Cheers
Seonaidh
I’ve tried and I’ve tried and I’ve tried there some more,
Post fight, post graft what have I got to show?
Inflation, inflation. Just numbers pulled from the devils imagination.
Inflation, Inflation. Spoken as if tis gods own creation.
Nothing can be done as cost of living soars.
Businesses folding, close all their fucking doors.
But only close the ones of the poor, the small and unknown.
Unable to fight a fair fight with the capitalist crone.
Livliehoods destroyed, despair bursting the seams.
But no fret nor fear. The 1% will offer a deal.
A deal equal to the one of the old Highland Clearances
Nowt more hideous, barring their own veiled appearances.
So here I am now with nothing to show,
The 1% snapped the business, the land and my home.
What now for me? Well who’s to know.
Another 40 years of minimum wage grafters.
Or is it time for the rope hanging from the rafters?
better to die fighting the fuckers then throwing ropes across the rafters… I’m curious about your name..how do you pronounce it ? is it Scottish ..we have a similar name here that is pronounced “Show Na”..wish you well..hope you keep writing….protesting..opposing..satirising….fighting
The third act of the trilogy, Killashee/Tullamore/Slieve Russell takes place tonight. My twin daughters Aisling and Aine plus Emma (drafted in as a late substitution, wearing Senchalstown jersey No17) will be in attendance tonight,, Twins favourite is “Beeswing” they be thrilled if you could sing it,, it be the highlight of the year,, in what has been a very difficult year for Meath football,, a lot of suffering endured !!
All Ireland Senior Champions at Women’s GAA…!!!
difficult year ?? suffering endured??
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for pointing me towards Johnstown Castle. I had a look and it looks beautiful. On the map the road from Cork looks to skate the coast for miles and miles. I hope we can get there.
It’s so good to see Rory back. I’ve been missing him and, Dave. Lovely to read your beautiful posts again Rory.
Please tell Dave from me to get himself one of those shiny, thin as paper mobile things, with the slithy screen and he’ll be away in no time. I’ve been training the most computer-shy of our local Councillors on how to use his ipad since January.
Once he’d seen his house from above on Google Earth and realised the thing knew all the sports news he was fine.
Seriously though, I hope the laptop is out of the hospital soon and busying itself to get Dave back here.
Talk of Rick Mayall led me here
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bricriu
New to me and a wild wild story.
Rebecca
I was in Louhbrickland the same night myself….it was a right good hooley until Cúchalainn lost the head
Hi christy
Dave has been spotted a few times in and around the suffragette city, once in a class wee basic cafe ( sourdough toast and jam £1.70) we found, once in a second hand record shop near piccadilly station, once in a computer shop in salford looking for a lowrie technician to sort his laptop and once in the hacienda strutting his ‘stuff’ before a night gorging himself in china town then heading home with a book on topic records and a year’s supply of rolling stone ( folk version).
The hunt goes on for our great friend, tracked only by his nokia signal and when he replies to a second class letter from the bray frontline.
I wish him well in his expedition to discover the true northwest pole.
Comrade rory
My youngest reminded me today of Bloomsday Christy,
I visited his house in Dublin ( Joyce that is, charlie is in Dennistoun).
Though his writing style tests the strength it is now, in modern times, kept alive by the novelist style of the brilliant, funny, intelligent, anarchistic talent of Will Self.
Joyce looked an unusual man, from the grainy photos , but rare talents rarely have a six pack….not looking at any singer-songwriter in particular.
Self often wrote in the New Statesman , spurred on by that thought i renewed my NS subscription tonight.
I saw beloved and brilliant Rik Mayall play the New Statesman on stage, a rare talent too.
A stream of consciousness Christy, but it needs to end in a song…Greenland is haunting beauty.
Rory
Will Self,Rik Mayall,Jimmy Joyce….as good a front row as ever ran out….
you display a new side to yourself with this sudden interest in singer songwriter six packs…I spent quite a while last night lookin for my own in the mirror but, it being Bloomsday, me belly was full of devilled kidneys and black porter…I did the full tour yesterday in blazer and boater….ended up in Glass tool last night with a rake of scholarly types lorryin into wine and smelly cheese…it was all very Joycean until a row broke out near closin time and the Garda were called..they baton charged the revellers into Scotsman’s Bay which soon sobered up the Bloomsday crew…
…..
still working here on Greenland
……..
I’m missing our correspondant from Suffragette City
any further reports on the whereabouts of Dagrab ?
can we consider getting up a search party
I suggest we meet at Yates Wine Lodge near The Shambles
and proceed with caution
Happy Bloomsday Christy
nothin happy about it the mornin after
“I woke up with an achin head,
as usual
drunk again goin to bed,
as usual,
I think I’ll see how much I’ve got
O Jesus Christ I drank the lot
I must have been a drunken Sot
as usual”
(Hamish Imlach ,Rutherglen Folk Club,circa 1967)