There were around 100 of us recording Dec 1942 the other night. One of them was just to my left. You could see all the little square lights. Next couple of days it should be whizzing all over the world.
I love John’s comment about breaking into the music business. We could keep each other company. I’d get started with the singing and playing right away though, 3-4 years in and my performances are just beginning to stop embarrassing me. Tell you what, I’ll race you!
I have a couple more short videos from the marquee gig, again nothing much going on visually but the sound is quite realistic. I’ll post them.
Rebecah, an interested in your comments on the capital of the south, Cork. So there’s some acknowledgement or recognition given to the great Rory Gallagher, so a bar called after him. I know that place, McCurtain St/Patricks Hill junction. Now, just opposite that place, was the famous Crowleys music shop, a haunt of music lovers down through the years including the young Rory. I gather it’s gone, sadly. I recall Coburg Street and that funeral home but I dont recall that Sin E pub beside it. I’ll leave it to time and memory, which can lapse as years go by. I used to live in that locality. I saw Charlies mentioned, another great haunt for musicians.
I watched the video, yep, the visuals are a bit ‘off’, is there another mobile held up recording? But the sound is great.
C: what a review by the I Examiner. I’d frame it for that workroom if I was you. Smashing.
Hello Christy,
Here’s the video of December 1942 from last night, all shared on YouTube and Facebook. https://youtu.be/IJRxOEYURCU
David Meade is one hell of a sound man.
I was right at the back of the tent and my little mobile has picked up the audio much better than I thought it would. Not so lucky withe visual, it’s a fair representation of my view ( thank goodness for those two lovely big screens) apart from the world being the wrong way up.
Anyway, it’s a beautiful performance, hopefully being shared far and wide by an army of 4711ers on videos of many varieties.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Yes indeed… I am very fortunate to have met such a fine Sound Engineer…….David sticks with me every note of the way…whether I whisper or roar he’ll move the dials accordingly….along with John, Dickon, Geoff,Michael and Paddy, he makes up as good a team as any singer could hope for
Fair play to you Christy, with you playing the Marquee at 77, Maca topping the bill at Glastonbury at 80 & a quest appearance by that 72 year old whipper snapper Springsteen maybe there is still a chance for a young 65 year old like myself to break onto the music scene. All I have to do now is learn how to sing and play an instrument..
Superb gig in The Marquee last night! Still buzzing from it- you were churning out the hits! Delighted to hear classics like Well Below the Valley, and with the bodhrán and all, awesome! Also, God bless those Americans that requested Fairytale of New York- I thought it was rather fitting given the date being 25th Jun, or as I call it “Half-Christmas”.
Mighty stuff Christy
Yes, I’d be Billy’s well watered down cousin – a 23 and me job. My old lad, his namesake, still swinging at 90, would be closer to your boyhood pal. You were different gravy last night Christy. I’d say physically half the man you used to be but the voice is as good as I’ve ever heard it and I’ve been following you for over forty years. Delighted also that your family were there to bask in the reception.
For those without access to D’Paper I’m taking the liberty of enclosing their review, which hits the nail. Ride On Christy.
……………………………………..
(Copyright Joe Dermody Irish Examiner)
“The night bucketed rain from start to finish. And yet Christy, engaging, ebullient and even taking requests, for just shy of two hours brought us nothing but warmth and joy – just as he promised in his opening salvo.
This was our first time seeing him solo in the tent. Unaccompanied, he’s simply in a different league. Was this the best performance the Marquee has ever seen? Is Christy the most entertaining star this storied Big Top has ever seen? I’ve seen a fair few myself over the 15 years of the series, I can’t recall a better night.
Kicking off with Ordinary Man, Black Is The Colour and I Love Politicians, he powered through his jukebox of career hits from City of Chicago, The Voyage, Cliffs of Dooneen,Viva La Quinta Brigada, Joxer and Ride On, before closing the show with Lisdoonvarna.
He also squeezed in John Spillane’s The Ballad of Patrick Murphy, and thanked Jimmy Crowley for teaching him Johnny Jumping Up over a three-night lock-in back in 1976. Returning for an encore, he listened amiably as audience members called out encore requests.
“What? Ordinary Man? We played that an hour and half ago while you were still supping up in Charlie’s. Nancy Spain? Yes, I’ll do that for you next after I do this one first.” ‘This one’ was a barnstorming Weekend In Amsterdam, “every word of it true” he said.
Two young people sat in front of me were in convulsions: “Big dildos, blow-up dolls, snap-on tools and hairy balls; Vibrators, whips and chains and fanny ticklers.”
This was one of several songs performed a capella, plus some with the bodhrán. Playing solo, these intervals change the emotion beautifully. But, my god and crucially, he’s one fantastic guitarist, sometimes savagely rhythmic, sometimes gentle as a dove. Just like his remarkable voice.
With two big screens overhead, you couldn’t help notice that he mostly sings with his eyes closed. Aged 77, singing several thousand words uninterrupted, no teleprompter. Outside of his musical talents, he also clearly has the gift of total recall.
Well, let’s say it’s a mix of total recall and muscle memory. Either way, this Arnold Schwarzenegger of folk was in the best form of his life. More than in top form, he was in Big Top form.
“I’d like to request that ye take out yer phones and share this next song, which was given to me last year by Ricky Lynch, called December 1942. I was born in 1945. Not once in primary school do I remember the nuns speaking of the Holocaust.”
A soft and moving song reflecting upon the trainloads of people who were ferried to the gas chambers, Christy thanked people for their attention: “A hard song to sing and a hard song to listen to.”
December 1942 is from Christy’s latest album, Flying Into Mystery, from which he also played Clock Winds Down, the Jim Page climate change song, which references Greta Thunberg, the melting ice caps and the destruction of the Amazon rain forests.
Christy has that rare gift of guiding an audience seamlessly through reflective topical protest songs, upbeat stompers and soft heartfelt ballads, raising the pitch to great heights and then quickly bringing the crowd to churchlike silence.
He (in)famously doesn’t like the disruption of mistimed hand-claps. At one point, he shouted out: “Hang on, I’m the only drummer here.” Then, with a cheeky grin, he gave the crowd the (correct) beat and motioned that we clap along.
One cranky auld bollix? Tick. One uniquely gifted legend of folk? Tick. With Christy – no surnames for deities like Elvis, Christy, Aretha and Beyonce – you feel you’re getting 100% of the person all the time. He’s not bending over backwards for our affection, and so it is that we love him.
“Did someone say Bright Blue Rose? Noble call, I’ll give you that one.” And he did.
“I had another request for Shane MacGown’s Fairytale Of New York from an American couple we met yesterday. They came up to me when we stopped off for a coffee on the way down, and they told me they were going to the show. I tried explaining to them that it’s not Christmas [dramatic pause]. But sure, they’ve come a long way. Charlie and Margo, this one’s for you.”
Live At The Marquee started in 2005, with the pandemic disrupting the series for the past two years. Only Christy has starred in all 15 years of LATM. Has there a better LATM show than this one? If there was, I’m gutted that I wasn’t there to see it”
Christy's reply
Tomás….
I often think of Billy…we were good pals over 50 years ago, we were neighbours too… Billy was 5 years my senior but a great fondness for porter bonded us together…Many great memories come tumbling out…we travelled to many a race meeting…we usually hitch hiked to save the precious few bob…Racecourses like Baldoyle & Phoenix Park, both long gone, were on our itinerary…we were both “on” Santa Clause at 18/1 on its first outing…we met Billy Burke the night before in The Harp in Kildare ..he gave us “the nod”…..I rem when his Mother left Newbridge to live in Redhills…when his Sister moved to Leitrim…when Billy finally got his exams we celebrated fittingly in Neesons,McCabes, The Standhouse and The Harp….he was a dear friend always fondly remembered
I should add that Billy also played Minor for Kildare… I was 14 when I saw him play for the Lily Whites in Croke Park..
Good morning Christy.Just a few lines thanking you for a magic night on the banks of the Lee.I first saw you in the opera house in 1981.Last night must rank as your greatest concert that iv seen you down here.Im still buzzing after the request for my Jimmy Mc favourite.To cap it all mentioning Timoleague in Listoonvarna.A cousin of mine the same age as yourself was at her first gig of yours. She was blown away.Tony Murphy sang the night away last night at the tent.Long may you keep entertaining us here by the Lee and all over Ireland. Thanks again Christy.Let the music keep our spirits high. Next stop MONKS lane for my usual Sunday Rost.
Christy's reply
I hear that Gavin was on leave of absence from Monks Lane…he went suppin the old soup de jour in the tour de france..
you were in pole position on Sat Night…a good man to have in my corner…
Amazing as always Christy. Every time I see you it just gets better. What better way to pass a wet windy evening than listing and singing along with the man himself.
Believe it or not those tickets I had the date on them was 2020, when things got tough due to COVID I very nearly got a refund, boy am I glad my fiance Niamh talked me out of it, we’ve seen you all over, from traveling down the country in the back of my parents 2 seater fiesta when I was you younger to some of the most memorable nights in the likes of vicar street, the marquee is always one of the best.
here’s hoping the story about you being invited to the marquee every year since It started 15 years ago wasn’t your way of saying goodbye to it as I know their was talk of that at one point…
Keep banging out that beautiful Holocaust song.
Well done Christy and co
Best regards
Jason
Christy's reply
Morra Jason & Niamh….
Thanks for hanging to your 2020 tickets thru thick & thin.. the world has come thru a lot since they were purchased….we owe everything to all those who strove tirelessly to keep us alive through the trauma of it all…right thru 20/21 we existed in abeyance…I wondered would I ever gig again…come last Saturday was like a dream come true ( Or Thru ?)….neither wind nor rain impacted upon gratitude…The Marquee was back !….from the first A minor to the last G major I enjoyed every moment…afterwards Peter Aiken, the creator and promoter of the Marquee phenomenon, reckoned we were good for another 10 years…I’d better keep doing the press-ups, taking the tablets, practicing the 3 chords
Hello Christy,
There’s been such a buzz in Cork today about your gig.
The guy in Gallaghers at lunchtime was chatting to us and saying he was going, and on the way back afterwards we stopped off at Charlie’s at Union Quay. They were giving a free pint ijn exchange for a ticket stub. Hank Wedel is, appearing there tomorrow night.
One or two big highlights for me right now, all the a capella stuff, I love it. , the bodhran, Bright Blue Rose for Chloe May, the shout out for John Meade and Noreen the big local guard. And, Dec 1942 was beautiful. I videoed it (as you asked the crowd to do) but I was right at the back so there may be many better recordings that people took. I’ll have a listen tomorrow and see how it is.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Hank Wedel is a great singer….I love watchin his gig….Hank’s the real deal….I love singing his song “Listen”…..I sings it regular here in the work room but never (yet) managed to work it into the gig set but (hopefully) theres time yet….
that line “see the snow fall gently on the mining town” gets me every time…takes me to a place I’ve never been or seen, a place that feels momentarily like home…
“listen to the whisper of moonlight on the water ”
for whatever reason, last night just flew by, the gig played itself almost like as if I was a witness to it…the songs picked themselves, the spirit of the room just carried me along..I stumbled briefly once or twice, the start of “Patrick Murphy”, the end of “Beeswing” but it mattered not a hap’wort….tell you the truth I could’a gone out and done another dozen but the crew was exhausted …David frazzled at the desk, Johnny exhausted runnin in and out with the Taks, Dikon frozen solid at the console, Geoff suffering over exposure to lights, Michael wondering would he make it back to Croke Park in time for Kerry v Mayo,Paddy worried about gettin back to Lisdoonvarna in time for Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny (who are gigging tonight in The Royal Spa (still a few tickets left)
I hope you and Steve have a safe trip back to Brighouse….be careful going into Todmorden, theres a few bad bends around them parts,( there was no “road over top” when I was hangin out in Causeway Foot)
Hi Christy what can i say about your gig it was high energy from the off … my self and Dave madden had a grand time .. we did miss Hilary .. hope she is feeling better soon… Hopefully it won’t be to long before we will see you again .. take care safe travels… Tony …
Christy's reply
There was no dip switch on the lights last night…I could see nothin boy….EXCEPT yourself and young Madden in the middle of the front row….
and fair play to Dave….only for him I’d not have sung Blue Rose….and then I remembered little Chloe May….it was a moment
I loves the Marquee Tony…it’s a special place….I’ve played it every year but one since it first began….different line ups over the years but last night was my first solo go at it…
“Saturday Night, packed in tight,
all together in the big Marquee”
Hello Christy
Landed at last 4 days ago on our favourite island ☘️ Only 6 days to go before we see you! The last time we were in Wexford was in 2013 for your gig at the Opera House, Declan’s mother was also there at that time at the age of 96!! And Hillary took a picture of us. Nice memories…Take care and see you soon in Waterford.
Chris
How ya Christy hope all is well with by all the comments you are in flying form long may it continue best of luck tonight in the big tent put the long ball into the forwards and face the puck out
Christy's reply
I tried that long ball into the forward line the last time I played here..the cork full back took the head off our full forward every time..I’m goin with a different (fender)strategy this time…we have two good wing half forwards and its goin to be low hard balls out to the wings which will give our full forward time to sink the butt into thon number 3….a good crowd coming in for the minor match….I’m about to go into my routine here…30 mins reiki, 30 mins yoga, then 4 large bottle and 2 grams of Bolivian marching powder…..
hope all well in Bullaune..are ye giggin tonight ?
Hi Christy and all
Rory, please don’t consider your messages ‘witterings ‘.
We all have things going on in our lives, some bigger than others – heartfelt sympathies to you Ruth.
But personally I get huge pleasure from the guestbook, and your messages are always absorbing, must admit like us all, am missing our friend from ‘Suffragette City’.
Tonights concert sounds amazing, have a great time all who are going. Thanks Christy for everything you give us. Pam
Christy's reply
just warming up here Pam…its a bit windy…the marquee is wafting in the breeze…just hopin it dont take off
Hi Christy
I was struck by Ruth’s heartfelt message , goodness how awful but also how brave and loving of Ruth to share that.
You touch us all with your music in so many ways, some of us ( me included) witter on and on and then a diamond like Ruth’s Chloe May is touched and remembered and we realise that our own regularly spilled feelings ,and all too mundane posts ,are third class in comparison.
There is a place for all 4711ers but to Ruth and Daragh musical love from
Scotland, thanks for sharing.
Rory
hi Christy, I hope this finds you well. you may (or maybe not) remember me. we saw you in the marquee in 2019 where you very kindly played a request for our little warrior Chloë May. sadly, she’s now our heavenly guardian angel. Chloë May passed in February 2020, just before the world shut down (aged 8 and three quarters). we are lost at sea without her but rise every day in her honour and memory and try to live our best lives. I wrote in 2021 (not sure if you got the letter as I didn’t have an exact address). I just wanted to let you know… your request and that night in the marquee are amongst our most treasured memories. sending you love and hugs. have a great night in the tent… Ruth, Daragh and Chloë May Xx
Christy's reply
Ruth & Daragh…
Yes, I well remember singing for Chloe May…
Its heartbreaking to read your loss…
Really looking forward to the big tent tomorrow night. Had the great fortune to see Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny in Glengarriff last week – the boys were on fire. Many’s the sweet tune …
Christy's reply
Is that Parkinson ?
if so,
any connection to my old pal Billy ?
Hello Christy.Here I am in my humble abode here in Timoleague waiting for tommorow night to come.Two years is a long time since we were lucky to have you here on the Banks of the Lee. Ihave no doubt that tommorow nights will be electric as all of your gigs are.The very best of luck tommorow night at the Tent.looking forward to it .Spare a thought for our leader in the 4711ers Hillary who will be absent due to covid.Let the music keep our spirits high’. Go for it Christy’
Christy's reply
Morning Dave..
All packed here up and ready to roll
The crew landed there last night
New strings, bodhrán shaved,
two bumps Josie and away we go
Here’s the amazing bodhran solo from the end of Well below the valley
https://youtu.be/ns0Dhdl2YH0
The crowd went nuts.
There were around 100 of us recording Dec 1942 the other night. One of them was just to my left. You could see all the little square lights. Next couple of days it should be whizzing all over the world.
I love John’s comment about breaking into the music business. We could keep each other company. I’d get started with the singing and playing right away though, 3-4 years in and my performances are just beginning to stop embarrassing me. Tell you what, I’ll race you!
I have a couple more short videos from the marquee gig, again nothing much going on visually but the sound is quite realistic. I’ll post them.
Hello Christy and All,
We’re just packing up to leave Cork this morning, so I popped downstairs to get some pics for Ed of what Mac Curtain Street, Coburg Street and Bridge Street look like now.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02jhCWU14Tn7Fb6ZYi7TRUJu1yYgXB1hPPM8wQVNLGtTwnpGxX1LETHnYnx65TTYqQl&id=847680135
Posted onto Facebook.
The music shop is gone, wondering which building it was in?
Rebecca
Rebecah, an interested in your comments on the capital of the south, Cork. So there’s some acknowledgement or recognition given to the great Rory Gallagher, so a bar called after him. I know that place, McCurtain St/Patricks Hill junction. Now, just opposite that place, was the famous Crowleys music shop, a haunt of music lovers down through the years including the young Rory. I gather it’s gone, sadly. I recall Coburg Street and that funeral home but I dont recall that Sin E pub beside it. I’ll leave it to time and memory, which can lapse as years go by. I used to live in that locality. I saw Charlies mentioned, another great haunt for musicians.
I watched the video, yep, the visuals are a bit ‘off’, is there another mobile held up recording? But the sound is great.
C: what a review by the I Examiner. I’d frame it for that workroom if I was you. Smashing.
Great reading in here from folk all down the banks of the Lee. I want to return. Something of interest somebody has said here.
Hello Christy,
Here’s the video of December 1942 from last night, all shared on YouTube and Facebook.
https://youtu.be/IJRxOEYURCU
David Meade is one hell of a sound man.
I was right at the back of the tent and my little mobile has picked up the audio much better than I thought it would. Not so lucky withe visual, it’s a fair representation of my view ( thank goodness for those two lovely big screens) apart from the world being the wrong way up.
Anyway, it’s a beautiful performance, hopefully being shared far and wide by an army of 4711ers on videos of many varieties.
Rebecca
Yes indeed… I am very fortunate to have met such a fine Sound Engineer…….David sticks with me every note of the way…whether I whisper or roar he’ll move the dials accordingly….along with John, Dickon, Geoff,Michael and Paddy, he makes up as good a team as any singer could hope for
Fair play to you Christy, with you playing the Marquee at 77, Maca topping the bill at Glastonbury at 80 & a quest appearance by that 72 year old whipper snapper Springsteen maybe there is still a chance for a young 65 year old like myself to break onto the music scene. All I have to do now is learn how to sing and play an instrument..
Its never to late John
Superb gig in The Marquee last night! Still buzzing from it- you were churning out the hits! Delighted to hear classics like Well Below the Valley, and with the bodhrán and all, awesome! Also, God bless those Americans that requested Fairytale of New York- I thought it was rather fitting given the date being 25th Jun, or as I call it “Half-Christmas”.
Mighty stuff Christy
There has never been a tent like….Thanks Peter
Yes, I’d be Billy’s well watered down cousin – a 23 and me job. My old lad, his namesake, still swinging at 90, would be closer to your boyhood pal. You were different gravy last night Christy. I’d say physically half the man you used to be but the voice is as good as I’ve ever heard it and I’ve been following you for over forty years. Delighted also that your family were there to bask in the reception.
For those without access to D’Paper I’m taking the liberty of enclosing their review, which hits the nail. Ride On Christy.
……………………………………..
(Copyright Joe Dermody Irish Examiner)
“The night bucketed rain from start to finish. And yet Christy, engaging, ebullient and even taking requests, for just shy of two hours brought us nothing but warmth and joy – just as he promised in his opening salvo.
This was our first time seeing him solo in the tent. Unaccompanied, he’s simply in a different league. Was this the best performance the Marquee has ever seen? Is Christy the most entertaining star this storied Big Top has ever seen? I’ve seen a fair few myself over the 15 years of the series, I can’t recall a better night.
Kicking off with Ordinary Man, Black Is The Colour and I Love Politicians, he powered through his jukebox of career hits from City of Chicago, The Voyage, Cliffs of Dooneen,Viva La Quinta Brigada, Joxer and Ride On, before closing the show with Lisdoonvarna.
He also squeezed in John Spillane’s The Ballad of Patrick Murphy, and thanked Jimmy Crowley for teaching him Johnny Jumping Up over a three-night lock-in back in 1976. Returning for an encore, he listened amiably as audience members called out encore requests.
“What? Ordinary Man? We played that an hour and half ago while you were still supping up in Charlie’s. Nancy Spain? Yes, I’ll do that for you next after I do this one first.” ‘This one’ was a barnstorming Weekend In Amsterdam, “every word of it true” he said.
Two young people sat in front of me were in convulsions: “Big dildos, blow-up dolls, snap-on tools and hairy balls; Vibrators, whips and chains and fanny ticklers.”
This was one of several songs performed a capella, plus some with the bodhrán. Playing solo, these intervals change the emotion beautifully. But, my god and crucially, he’s one fantastic guitarist, sometimes savagely rhythmic, sometimes gentle as a dove. Just like his remarkable voice.
With two big screens overhead, you couldn’t help notice that he mostly sings with his eyes closed. Aged 77, singing several thousand words uninterrupted, no teleprompter. Outside of his musical talents, he also clearly has the gift of total recall.
Well, let’s say it’s a mix of total recall and muscle memory. Either way, this Arnold Schwarzenegger of folk was in the best form of his life. More than in top form, he was in Big Top form.
“I’d like to request that ye take out yer phones and share this next song, which was given to me last year by Ricky Lynch, called December 1942. I was born in 1945. Not once in primary school do I remember the nuns speaking of the Holocaust.”
A soft and moving song reflecting upon the trainloads of people who were ferried to the gas chambers, Christy thanked people for their attention: “A hard song to sing and a hard song to listen to.”
December 1942 is from Christy’s latest album, Flying Into Mystery, from which he also played Clock Winds Down, the Jim Page climate change song, which references Greta Thunberg, the melting ice caps and the destruction of the Amazon rain forests.
Christy has that rare gift of guiding an audience seamlessly through reflective topical protest songs, upbeat stompers and soft heartfelt ballads, raising the pitch to great heights and then quickly bringing the crowd to churchlike silence.
He (in)famously doesn’t like the disruption of mistimed hand-claps. At one point, he shouted out: “Hang on, I’m the only drummer here.” Then, with a cheeky grin, he gave the crowd the (correct) beat and motioned that we clap along.
One cranky auld bollix? Tick. One uniquely gifted legend of folk? Tick. With Christy – no surnames for deities like Elvis, Christy, Aretha and Beyonce – you feel you’re getting 100% of the person all the time. He’s not bending over backwards for our affection, and so it is that we love him.
“Did someone say Bright Blue Rose? Noble call, I’ll give you that one.” And he did.
“I had another request for Shane MacGown’s Fairytale Of New York from an American couple we met yesterday. They came up to me when we stopped off for a coffee on the way down, and they told me they were going to the show. I tried explaining to them that it’s not Christmas [dramatic pause]. But sure, they’ve come a long way. Charlie and Margo, this one’s for you.”
Live At The Marquee started in 2005, with the pandemic disrupting the series for the past two years. Only Christy has starred in all 15 years of LATM. Has there a better LATM show than this one? If there was, I’m gutted that I wasn’t there to see it”
Tomás….
I often think of Billy…we were good pals over 50 years ago, we were neighbours too… Billy was 5 years my senior but a great fondness for porter bonded us together…Many great memories come tumbling out…we travelled to many a race meeting…we usually hitch hiked to save the precious few bob…Racecourses like Baldoyle & Phoenix Park, both long gone, were on our itinerary…we were both “on” Santa Clause at 18/1 on its first outing…we met Billy Burke the night before in The Harp in Kildare ..he gave us “the nod”…..I rem when his Mother left Newbridge to live in Redhills…when his Sister moved to Leitrim…when Billy finally got his exams we celebrated fittingly in Neesons,McCabes, The Standhouse and The Harp….he was a dear friend always fondly remembered
I should add that Billy also played Minor for Kildare… I was 14 when I saw him play for the Lily Whites in Croke Park..
Thanks too for posting that review of the gig
Good morning Christy.Just a few lines thanking you for a magic night on the banks of the Lee.I first saw you in the opera house in 1981.Last night must rank as your greatest concert that iv seen you down here.Im still buzzing after the request for my Jimmy Mc favourite.To cap it all mentioning Timoleague in Listoonvarna.A cousin of mine the same age as yourself was at her first gig of yours. She was blown away.Tony Murphy sang the night away last night at the tent.Long may you keep entertaining us here by the Lee and all over Ireland. Thanks again Christy.Let the music keep our spirits high. Next stop MONKS lane for my usual Sunday Rost.
I hear that Gavin was on leave of absence from Monks Lane…he went suppin the old soup de jour in the tour de france..
you were in pole position on Sat Night…a good man to have in my corner…
Marquee 2022
Amazing as always Christy. Every time I see you it just gets better. What better way to pass a wet windy evening than listing and singing along with the man himself.
Believe it or not those tickets I had the date on them was 2020, when things got tough due to COVID I very nearly got a refund, boy am I glad my fiance Niamh talked me out of it, we’ve seen you all over, from traveling down the country in the back of my parents 2 seater fiesta when I was you younger to some of the most memorable nights in the likes of vicar street, the marquee is always one of the best.
here’s hoping the story about you being invited to the marquee every year since It started 15 years ago wasn’t your way of saying goodbye to it as I know their was talk of that at one point…
Keep banging out that beautiful Holocaust song.
Well done Christy and co
Best regards
Jason
Morra Jason & Niamh….
Thanks for hanging to your 2020 tickets thru thick & thin.. the world has come thru a lot since they were purchased….we owe everything to all those who strove tirelessly to keep us alive through the trauma of it all…right thru 20/21 we existed in abeyance…I wondered would I ever gig again…come last Saturday was like a dream come true ( Or Thru ?)….neither wind nor rain impacted upon gratitude…The Marquee was back !….from the first A minor to the last G major I enjoyed every moment…afterwards Peter Aiken, the creator and promoter of the Marquee phenomenon, reckoned we were good for another 10 years…I’d better keep doing the press-ups, taking the tablets, practicing the 3 chords
Hello Christy,
There’s been such a buzz in Cork today about your gig.
The guy in Gallaghers at lunchtime was chatting to us and saying he was going, and on the way back afterwards we stopped off at Charlie’s at Union Quay. They were giving a free pint ijn exchange for a ticket stub. Hank Wedel is, appearing there tomorrow night.
One or two big highlights for me right now, all the a capella stuff, I love it. , the bodhran, Bright Blue Rose for Chloe May, the shout out for John Meade and Noreen the big local guard. And, Dec 1942 was beautiful. I videoed it (as you asked the crowd to do) but I was right at the back so there may be many better recordings that people took. I’ll have a listen tomorrow and see how it is.
Rebecca
Hank Wedel is a great singer….I love watchin his gig….Hank’s the real deal….I love singing his song “Listen”…..I sings it regular here in the work room but never (yet) managed to work it into the gig set but (hopefully) theres time yet….
that line “see the snow fall gently on the mining town” gets me every time…takes me to a place I’ve never been or seen, a place that feels momentarily like home…
“listen to the whisper of moonlight on the water ”
for whatever reason, last night just flew by, the gig played itself almost like as if I was a witness to it…the songs picked themselves, the spirit of the room just carried me along..I stumbled briefly once or twice, the start of “Patrick Murphy”, the end of “Beeswing” but it mattered not a hap’wort….tell you the truth I could’a gone out and done another dozen but the crew was exhausted …David frazzled at the desk, Johnny exhausted runnin in and out with the Taks, Dikon frozen solid at the console, Geoff suffering over exposure to lights, Michael wondering would he make it back to Croke Park in time for Kerry v Mayo,Paddy worried about gettin back to Lisdoonvarna in time for Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny (who are gigging tonight in The Royal Spa (still a few tickets left)
I hope you and Steve have a safe trip back to Brighouse….be careful going into Todmorden, theres a few bad bends around them parts,( there was no “road over top” when I was hangin out in Causeway Foot)
Hi Christy what can i say about your gig it was high energy from the off … my self and Dave madden had a grand time .. we did miss Hilary .. hope she is feeling better soon… Hopefully it won’t be to long before we will see you again .. take care safe travels… Tony …
There was no dip switch on the lights last night…I could see nothin boy….EXCEPT yourself and young Madden in the middle of the front row….
and fair play to Dave….only for him I’d not have sung Blue Rose….and then I remembered little Chloe May….it was a moment
I loves the Marquee Tony…it’s a special place….I’ve played it every year but one since it first began….different line ups over the years but last night was my first solo go at it…
“Saturday Night, packed in tight,
all together in the big Marquee”
Hello Christy
Landed at last 4 days ago on our favourite island ☘️ Only 6 days to go before we see you! The last time we were in Wexford was in 2013 for your gig at the Opera House, Declan’s mother was also there at that time at the age of 96!! And Hillary took a picture of us. Nice memories…Take care and see you soon in Waterford.
Chris
Right So Chris….
See you down The Quay…
How ya Christy hope all is well with by all the comments you are in flying form long may it continue best of luck tonight in the big tent put the long ball into the forwards and face the puck out
I tried that long ball into the forward line the last time I played here..the cork full back took the head off our full forward every time..I’m goin with a different (fender)strategy this time…we have two good wing half forwards and its goin to be low hard balls out to the wings which will give our full forward time to sink the butt into thon number 3….a good crowd coming in for the minor match….I’m about to go into my routine here…30 mins reiki, 30 mins yoga, then 4 large bottle and 2 grams of Bolivian marching powder…..
hope all well in Bullaune..are ye giggin tonight ?
Hi Christy and all
Rory, please don’t consider your messages ‘witterings ‘.
We all have things going on in our lives, some bigger than others – heartfelt sympathies to you Ruth.
But personally I get huge pleasure from the guestbook, and your messages are always absorbing, must admit like us all, am missing our friend from ‘Suffragette City’.
Tonights concert sounds amazing, have a great time all who are going. Thanks Christy for everything you give us. Pam
just warming up here Pam…its a bit windy…the marquee is wafting in the breeze…just hopin it dont take off
Hi Christy
I was struck by Ruth’s heartfelt message , goodness how awful but also how brave and loving of Ruth to share that.
You touch us all with your music in so many ways, some of us ( me included) witter on and on and then a diamond like Ruth’s Chloe May is touched and remembered and we realise that our own regularly spilled feelings ,and all too mundane posts ,are third class in comparison.
There is a place for all 4711ers but to Ruth and Daragh musical love from
Scotland, thanks for sharing.
Rory
Morning Rory,
Thank You…
hi Christy, I hope this finds you well. you may (or maybe not) remember me. we saw you in the marquee in 2019 where you very kindly played a request for our little warrior Chloë May. sadly, she’s now our heavenly guardian angel. Chloë May passed in February 2020, just before the world shut down (aged 8 and three quarters). we are lost at sea without her but rise every day in her honour and memory and try to live our best lives. I wrote in 2021 (not sure if you got the letter as I didn’t have an exact address). I just wanted to let you know… your request and that night in the marquee are amongst our most treasured memories. sending you love and hugs. have a great night in the tent… Ruth, Daragh and Chloë May Xx
Ruth & Daragh…
Yes, I well remember singing for Chloe May…
Its heartbreaking to read your loss…
but Thank You for sharing ….
Really looking forward to the big tent tomorrow night. Had the great fortune to see Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny in Glengarriff last week – the boys were on fire. Many’s the sweet tune …
Is that Parkinson ?
if so,
any connection to my old pal Billy ?
Hello Christy.Here I am in my humble abode here in Timoleague waiting for tommorow night to come.Two years is a long time since we were lucky to have you here on the Banks of the Lee. Ihave no doubt that tommorow nights will be electric as all of your gigs are.The very best of luck tommorow night at the Tent.looking forward to it .Spare a thought for our leader in the 4711ers Hillary who will be absent due to covid.Let the music keep our spirits high’. Go for it Christy’
Morning Dave..
All packed here up and ready to roll
The crew landed there last night
New strings, bodhrán shaved,
two bumps Josie and away we go