Altar boys?, Christy. What about altar girls swinging the thurible nowadays? Would we have able for that scenario? Have my doubts and I thought that you had graduated to be a thurible (not terrible) swinger.
I enlisted during all the Post-Vatican changes. I never learnt Latin. The Mass reverted to English as I joined up to offer my valuable services to the church. I have a memory of someone saying to me how lucky I was to have avoided learning all the Latin. I recall liking it plus being able to do it. Holding the patten at Communion, that’s a memory as the good folk, sparse attendance, at early Mass, stuck out their tounges!
You reminiscing on your altar server days reminds me of one morning. 8 Mass. Two of us came out, with the priest, we faced the altar. The second fellow alerted me; we both were on the same side. We should have been one each side of the priest. ‘Disaster’ your young mind is frantically racing(!) I decided there and then I’d like a ferret, scurry over behind the priest. Just as I did, he began to genuflect and I stumbled over his extended foot. I’d reckon he didnt know what was happening. I managed to stay on my feet and scurried over to where I should have been pretending nothing happening. To the right side where I should have been in the first place.
Such ‘disasters’ when you’re young. No letter posted to Rome, we think, on our depredations.
Christy's reply
Altar Boys….I could write a book about it…the half seven of a frosty morning was no joke..especially if you were serving a cranky auld bollix of an alcoholic curate..but there were good men too and great companeros…I loved benediction ..weddings and funerals were great for the few bob…holding the patten beneath the chins of hundreds of receivers was always interesting….can vegetarians consume the body of christ these days ? ….I gave up when they dropped the Latin..it made more sense when we could’nt understand it…
I remember a Bride fainting at the altar during her wedding ceremony..it took 6 men to carry her out….another morning an aged man dropped during early mass..they carried him to the Sacristy where he drew his last breath..the sacristan had rolled up my new duffel coat to make a pillow for the poor man..
Isnt there a lad, was he from Birr? Has done a lot to revive and collect traveller songs. Carty. I watched a Tommy Tiernan interview with him.
Christy's reply
you are right there Ed..the lad you mention is Tom McCarthy as referenced in Rory’s post a few days back… he is a great singer and carrier of his peoples tradition..if you ever get the chance I’d recommend hearing him
Thanks Christy
You are right, absolutely right.
Show Racism the Red Card is a group i am supporting, racism of any kind is a scourge on society, the roma people have been prejudiced for hundreds of years, hitler was one of those who further exploited the inner prejudice of so many with his vile black triangle and brown triangle.
I should not pretend to understand anything about the fine humans who are the travelling people.
I shall visit Boyle again to see both plaques and to wish i had been there.
Rory
Hi christy,
Is that a new plaque Ed?
I have a photo of the old one proudly adorning the wall in my office.
Christy your memories of, and passion for, john reilly is marvellous, the music of the travelling people of our lands is so heartfelt and genuine it would be great to have a festival or museum dedicated to it/them ( maybe there is?).
Jacko, pecker, margaret barry, the stewarts,jeannie robertson, tom mccarthy etc etc and good old topic records did their part.
We need some permanent keeper of the flame, or maybe that is just a stupid settled person’s view.
We all came from travellers millenia ago…
Rory
Christy's reply
as far as I can tell Rory…..The “old”plaque commemorates John “Jacko”…the new one, to be unveiled later today, will mark the home of the Grehan Sisters…
commemorating the music and culture of Travellers can be very complex …from my own experience I’ve learned that its best to keep it simple…gather,learn,sing,share,attribute,..where possible,do a good turn,….I’ve met all those you mention, heard them sing, fell beneath their spell….
John Hoban,the singer and musician from Castlebar,County Mayo, carries the flame…. Ewan MacColl wrote a whole series of powerful songs , among them..”Travelling People” “Go Move Shift” “Terror Time” “40 Foot Trailer”
Liam Weldon’s legacy is powerful too…his “Blue Tar Road” still shimmers…Daoiri Farrell carries Liam’s flame….we still get to hear his hear his Wife Nellie sing at the Góilín Singers Club
While we sing the songs, Travellers still suffer the hardships of living in this racist society that we all inhabit…we must never stand idly by…we must speak up and be counted wherever we witness anti Traveller slurs or activities…
Christy: a plaque unveiling ceremony tomorrow, Saturday, Boyle, at 2pm. Plaque on the site of the former Grehan sisters’ family pub at the Parade, Boyle. It’s now a restaurant I believe.
Christy's reply
I’m back in the old world…everything in black and white…Grehan’s is thronged with Fleadh goers…a mingling mass of music lovers descending from all sides…then the big picture starts…Francie,Marie and Helen appear behind the counter with Banjo-Mandolin, Spoons and Guitar….suddenly my world is a better place….we forget that we are broke as those three voices carry us from the Shores of Loch Gara to the Lonely Woods of Upton far away…we lean across the Half Door as Patsy McCann marries the Daughter and Tips it up to Nancy….I glimpse Patsy Hanly playing Concert Flute, Mairtín Byrnes has the Fiddle tucked firmly beneath his chin, nothing in the world matters except whats happening around us…..music, love,drink, cigarette smoke, its raining outside,we have no where to stay,but the moment is magical and the memory lingers
Hello Christy,
I read your advice while sitting in the tunnel at the Shay yesterday afternoon. Thank you. Your honesty, care and sincerity touched my heart. I thought about it during my playing and it helped me so much. Thank you!!!
It was a good day. Thank you to Pat for his kind and generous comments.
I spent the afternoon sheltering from the sun in the tunnel, mollycoddling the harp.
It was ructions all afternoon. The big screen’s temperature got up to 65 degrees and it refused to work. All the laptops overheated. There was a fire in the local electrical substation which put all the power out for a couple of hours just as they were trying to get the electrical stuff working. I thought I’d be doing an acoustic set. A megaphone was mentioned. It was complete chaos.
They got it all back up and working about half an hour before kick off. I had a good sound check and the guys were great to work with. They really knew what they were doing.
After all that, singing and playing was a complete doddle.
I had a total ball. Best day ever!
I did five songs before the livestream started and 3 more once we we off. Those 3 are the ones Pat mentioned.
Raggle Taggle
Bright Blue Rose
Lullaby of London
Yellow Furze Woman
There was another one
—
January Man
Scarborough Fair
Spancil Hill
To anyone who watched any of the livestream, I’m sorry for the weird camera position and inadequate microphone. They’re not something I had any control over.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Well done Rebecca….
I did not see your stream but you describe it beautifully…
A fine selection of songs in the heat of a Halifax summers day
Well, compliments to one of the regular posters here, Rebecca, on a beautiful performance on stage. A three song set to open a local award giving show. Pity it wasn’t a 5 song set! I didn’t know Scarborough was in your locality Rebecca, but you delivered the song with great feeling. And the sensitivity of singing Spancil Hill, and the telling of the story of Michael Considine was beautiful.
Just a question. What was it like to have to sit there on stage, ready to go, and listen to the opening speech? A bit daunting I would have thought.
Christy, Lily is a great song and is very much appreciated and made a huge impression on the natives that I know. My mother used to say that you had to die or go to America before you would be appreciated. It’s not true but the silent majority still fall down on the job. So, I’m trying to rectify that. Don’t stop now but it’s not so easy to get up the town nowadays.
Christy's reply
Frankie,
Its my turn to swing the thurible at that funeral tomorrow…your always leaving me holding the feckin incense boat…..you always ringing the bell at mass and leaving me to put out the candles and all the crowd gone up the town….if things dont change in the Sacristy I’m gonna hang up my soutane and surplice…I’m seriously thinking of starting an altar boys union ( ABU St Conleth’s Branch) and also writing to Tusla….I’ve already spoken to Fr JIm Gorman about it but he fell asleep…
I’m gonna need a bit of back up here….any suggestions for Shop-Stewart ?….someone has already suggested Dermot Cox
Perhaps Lily not being mentioned in the song had something to do with that Christy. Nevertheless I think its a great title..it’s a lovely name too.. keep singing it anyway..I’ll give it a blast over the weekend on the dreadnought..
Christy's reply
the song “Lily” is a new song about an old town that no longer exists… except in my memory…..I sent the song to some of those mentioned but never heard anything back…I still love to sing it….played it once to a lad I grew up with…who lived thru the time …it meant nothing to him….yet I still love to sing it…it revives very precious memories..old faces, pubs, shops, events, friends, bands, soldiers, jockeys, factories, horses,a time before TV came to town
Hi Christy.. hope you’re in good form and looking forward to “going at it again” .season 57.. some going.. Left ears on Lily yesterday and just wanted to say what a great song I think it is.. I walk through our town most mornings to work and it’s always a great/quiet time to remember old characters, past businesses and buildings.. Even though the song is about your home place, it lets the listener draw comparisons..
“The Roo, The Goo and Gandy, every nickname brings a smile..” – We had/have “The Bowie, Matchbox and N’yucky!”
Christy's reply
I appreciate that Kevin…. the song made little or no impact in the home place…I think I erred with the title…The Roo ,The Goo and Gandy still fresh in my mind from those halcyon days over 60years ago
Hello Christy,
Well today’s the day and I feel like a bride.
I have a big list of things I need to take. Lots of things for tuning and running repairs on the harp. The song words and chords all ready in a folder, in order. I think we’re ready.
I miss Dave too. His posts and personality.
I think Thousands are Sailing was sung by Andy Irvine. It’s on the Planxty Words and Music album. I was listening to it yesterday.
It’s a challenge trying to work out what the Irish words mean in posts.
I worked out that when Colm said
an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch
It means the sun is splitting the stones.
We say a similar thing here
It’s cracking the flags
There’s a couple of very familiar tunes on the Beauty an Oileain blasket islands CD. The one that The Boys of Mullabawn goes to, and the one that Myra’s Caboose goes to.
When I was nearly 18 I was living in student digs in Manchester and starting to develop a love of very old music. It’s still got me.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Hope it goes well for you…you are well prepared…when the moment comes, try and play to your hearts content…if you are relaxed and playing within yourself the audience may well follow…
Tonight i played dearly departed Philip Chevron’s ‘Thousands are sailing’ loud and repeatedly to mark the sad death of Darrell Hunt the bass player of The Pogues ( after Cait left) .
Met him but once, unfailingly polite and kind, may god rest his soul. He was a good friend of a pal of mine.
I think you were still in Planxty when you sang a very different song but of the same name ‘thousands are sailing’, do you have memories of those days or that song from about 40 years ago?
Regards
Rory
Christy's reply
yes indeed Rory, Darrell played from the shadows but always held the rhythms down….himself, Andrew, (Philip and Terrry) a tight Rhythm section holding the ship steady as others cavorted and gambolled thru uncharted waters….sorry to hear of his passing…the ranks are thinning as new shoots emerge
Christy hi,
I so miss Dagrab’s positive, inclusive and interesting posts and so am teed off at the lack of a government tax to buy him a new computer.
Our correspondent is ‘missing in action’ scowering the streets of the suffragette city for a computer to start penning you some posts.
I know he follows the guestbook and its varied contributors, with a wry smile, from his roost under piccadilly station) but until a fuel subsidy is forthcoming from the fat cats he may remain computerless ( which is actually a freeing sounding status).
I feel like we should start up a petition to get dagrab back posting like he wants to, but petitions only allow some eejit to ask a question of another eejit on green benches in a town that does not know where madchesta is.
We know where we’re going but we don’t know where we’ve been ….as the talented scot David Byrne once sang
Rory
Christy's reply
like you Rory, I miss the musings from Suffragette City…Dagrab has posted many sign posts here that led to worthwhile destinations….I hope he is happy and healthy , that he returns before the evenings draw in
Hi. Shay Healys Dad lived in Tralee for many years that poem shared by CS was his party piece. Today is the Gathering Day of Puck, tomorrow is the Fair Day and 12th the Scattering Day it will be mobbed after the C19 absence and with the good weather. ” The Festival ” is next week, a busy time san Riocht ! Looking forward to Gallimh. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
I met Shay’s Father way back…a good memory rekindled…
a busy time ahead for Kingdom dwellers..between King Puck, a pending Rose and Sam Maguire there will be light in the Black Valley…
we’re busy here servicing instruments and vehicles as we prepare to kick off season 57 of the ongoing Folk & Ballad Tour….
the troupe is gatherning to descend once more upon the City of Tribes..we’ll gather at The Spanish Arch and proceed out to thon Hanger….we’ll camp in Salthill and hope for cool evenings…
ar agaidh linn
CM
Tá an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch anseo i gConamara.
Reminds me of John Locke often recited by Dad .
“Oh, Ireland, isn’t it grand, you look
Like a bride in a rich adorning,
And with all the pent-up love of my heart
I bid you the top of the morning!”
Enjoy the sun. Scaoil amach an pocaide!
CS (beagnach 18)
Christy's reply
A scorcher today in the Sunny South East
I’m thinking back to 1963 agus mé féin beagnách 18…
I went to Naas with 10 shillings and my birth cert to get the driving licence
Hello Christy,
A beautiful new book popped through my door yesterday.
Beauty an Oileain
About the music of the Blasket Islands.
Have you got it yet?
It’s got a cd with it too of original recordings and new recordings made since 1992 and in 2020.
I’m hoping to listen to it today.
It’s got me wandering round the Internet chasing the music of the fairies, Port na bPucai.
Loads of beautiful recordings, including the one from Seamus Heaney and Liam O’Flynn.
But this one made me catch my breath https://youtu.be/4i3QEkc4hTw
Space and purity are full of it.
Altar boys?, Christy. What about altar girls swinging the thurible nowadays? Would we have able for that scenario? Have my doubts and I thought that you had graduated to be a thurible (not terrible) swinger.
O Salutaris Hostia
Quae Coeli Pandis Ostium
(American Papers Please Copy)
I enlisted during all the Post-Vatican changes. I never learnt Latin. The Mass reverted to English as I joined up to offer my valuable services to the church. I have a memory of someone saying to me how lucky I was to have avoided learning all the Latin. I recall liking it plus being able to do it. Holding the patten at Communion, that’s a memory as the good folk, sparse attendance, at early Mass, stuck out their tounges!
cur me persequeris ?
You reminiscing on your altar server days reminds me of one morning. 8 Mass. Two of us came out, with the priest, we faced the altar. The second fellow alerted me; we both were on the same side. We should have been one each side of the priest. ‘Disaster’ your young mind is frantically racing(!) I decided there and then I’d like a ferret, scurry over behind the priest. Just as I did, he began to genuflect and I stumbled over his extended foot. I’d reckon he didnt know what was happening. I managed to stay on my feet and scurried over to where I should have been pretending nothing happening. To the right side where I should have been in the first place.
Such ‘disasters’ when you’re young. No letter posted to Rome, we think, on our depredations.
Altar Boys….I could write a book about it…the half seven of a frosty morning was no joke..especially if you were serving a cranky auld bollix of an alcoholic curate..but there were good men too and great companeros…I loved benediction ..weddings and funerals were great for the few bob…holding the patten beneath the chins of hundreds of receivers was always interesting….can vegetarians consume the body of christ these days ? ….I gave up when they dropped the Latin..it made more sense when we could’nt understand it…
I remember a Bride fainting at the altar during her wedding ceremony..it took 6 men to carry her out….another morning an aged man dropped during early mass..they carried him to the Sacristy where he drew his last breath..the sacristan had rolled up my new duffel coat to make a pillow for the poor man..
Isnt there a lad, was he from Birr? Has done a lot to revive and collect traveller songs. Carty. I watched a Tommy Tiernan interview with him.
you are right there Ed..the lad you mention is Tom McCarthy as referenced in Rory’s post a few days back… he is a great singer and carrier of his peoples tradition..if you ever get the chance I’d recommend hearing him
Thanks Christy
You are right, absolutely right.
Show Racism the Red Card is a group i am supporting, racism of any kind is a scourge on society, the roma people have been prejudiced for hundreds of years, hitler was one of those who further exploited the inner prejudice of so many with his vile black triangle and brown triangle.
I should not pretend to understand anything about the fine humans who are the travelling people.
I shall visit Boyle again to see both plaques and to wish i had been there.
Rory
Ps well done rebeccah
Seems to be Rory. I dont know a lot about it.
Hi christy,
Is that a new plaque Ed?
I have a photo of the old one proudly adorning the wall in my office.
Christy your memories of, and passion for, john reilly is marvellous, the music of the travelling people of our lands is so heartfelt and genuine it would be great to have a festival or museum dedicated to it/them ( maybe there is?).
Jacko, pecker, margaret barry, the stewarts,jeannie robertson, tom mccarthy etc etc and good old topic records did their part.
We need some permanent keeper of the flame, or maybe that is just a stupid settled person’s view.
We all came from travellers millenia ago…
Rory
as far as I can tell Rory…..The “old”plaque commemorates John “Jacko”…the new one, to be unveiled later today, will mark the home of the Grehan Sisters…
commemorating the music and culture of Travellers can be very complex …from my own experience I’ve learned that its best to keep it simple…gather,learn,sing,share,attribute,..where possible,do a good turn,….I’ve met all those you mention, heard them sing, fell beneath their spell….
John Hoban,the singer and musician from Castlebar,County Mayo, carries the flame…. Ewan MacColl wrote a whole series of powerful songs , among them..”Travelling People” “Go Move Shift” “Terror Time” “40 Foot Trailer”
Liam Weldon’s legacy is powerful too…his “Blue Tar Road” still shimmers…Daoiri Farrell carries Liam’s flame….we still get to hear his hear his Wife Nellie sing at the Góilín Singers Club
While we sing the songs, Travellers still suffer the hardships of living in this racist society that we all inhabit…we must never stand idly by…we must speak up and be counted wherever we witness anti Traveller slurs or activities…
Christy: a plaque unveiling ceremony tomorrow, Saturday, Boyle, at 2pm. Plaque on the site of the former Grehan sisters’ family pub at the Parade, Boyle. It’s now a restaurant I believe.
I’m back in the old world…everything in black and white…Grehan’s is thronged with Fleadh goers…a mingling mass of music lovers descending from all sides…then the big picture starts…Francie,Marie and Helen appear behind the counter with Banjo-Mandolin, Spoons and Guitar….suddenly my world is a better place….we forget that we are broke as those three voices carry us from the Shores of Loch Gara to the Lonely Woods of Upton far away…we lean across the Half Door as Patsy McCann marries the Daughter and Tips it up to Nancy….I glimpse Patsy Hanly playing Concert Flute, Mairtín Byrnes has the Fiddle tucked firmly beneath his chin, nothing in the world matters except whats happening around us…..music, love,drink, cigarette smoke, its raining outside,we have no where to stay,but the moment is magical and the memory lingers
Sounded like an interesting day Rebecca – and the sun and heat! If you’re happy with it yourself, great. Well done.
Hello Christy,
I read your advice while sitting in the tunnel at the Shay yesterday afternoon. Thank you. Your honesty, care and sincerity touched my heart. I thought about it during my playing and it helped me so much. Thank you!!!
It was a good day. Thank you to Pat for his kind and generous comments.
I spent the afternoon sheltering from the sun in the tunnel, mollycoddling the harp.
It was ructions all afternoon. The big screen’s temperature got up to 65 degrees and it refused to work. All the laptops overheated. There was a fire in the local electrical substation which put all the power out for a couple of hours just as they were trying to get the electrical stuff working. I thought I’d be doing an acoustic set. A megaphone was mentioned. It was complete chaos.
They got it all back up and working about half an hour before kick off. I had a good sound check and the guys were great to work with. They really knew what they were doing.
After all that, singing and playing was a complete doddle.
I had a total ball. Best day ever!
I did five songs before the livestream started and 3 more once we we off. Those 3 are the ones Pat mentioned.
Raggle Taggle
Bright Blue Rose
Lullaby of London
Yellow Furze Woman
There was another one
—
January Man
Scarborough Fair
Spancil Hill
To anyone who watched any of the livestream, I’m sorry for the weird camera position and inadequate microphone. They’re not something I had any control over.
Rebecca
Well done Rebecca….
I did not see your stream but you describe it beautifully…
A fine selection of songs in the heat of a Halifax summers day
Well, compliments to one of the regular posters here, Rebecca, on a beautiful performance on stage. A three song set to open a local award giving show. Pity it wasn’t a 5 song set! I didn’t know Scarborough was in your locality Rebecca, but you delivered the song with great feeling. And the sensitivity of singing Spancil Hill, and the telling of the story of Michael Considine was beautiful.
Just a question. What was it like to have to sit there on stage, ready to go, and listen to the opening speech? A bit daunting I would have thought.
Good to hear from you Pat
Christy, Lily is a great song and is very much appreciated and made a huge impression on the natives that I know. My mother used to say that you had to die or go to America before you would be appreciated. It’s not true but the silent majority still fall down on the job. So, I’m trying to rectify that. Don’t stop now but it’s not so easy to get up the town nowadays.
Frankie,
Its my turn to swing the thurible at that funeral tomorrow…your always leaving me holding the feckin incense boat…..you always ringing the bell at mass and leaving me to put out the candles and all the crowd gone up the town….if things dont change in the Sacristy I’m gonna hang up my soutane and surplice…I’m seriously thinking of starting an altar boys union ( ABU St Conleth’s Branch) and also writing to Tusla….I’ve already spoken to Fr JIm Gorman about it but he fell asleep…
I’m gonna need a bit of back up here….any suggestions for Shop-Stewart ?….someone has already suggested Dermot Cox
Perhaps Lily not being mentioned in the song had something to do with that Christy. Nevertheless I think its a great title..it’s a lovely name too.. keep singing it anyway..I’ll give it a blast over the weekend on the dreadnought..
the song “Lily” is a new song about an old town that no longer exists… except in my memory…..I sent the song to some of those mentioned but never heard anything back…I still love to sing it….played it once to a lad I grew up with…who lived thru the time …it meant nothing to him….yet I still love to sing it…it revives very precious memories..old faces, pubs, shops, events, friends, bands, soldiers, jockeys, factories, horses,a time before TV came to town
Hi Christy.. hope you’re in good form and looking forward to “going at it again” .season 57.. some going.. Left ears on Lily yesterday and just wanted to say what a great song I think it is.. I walk through our town most mornings to work and it’s always a great/quiet time to remember old characters, past businesses and buildings.. Even though the song is about your home place, it lets the listener draw comparisons..
“The Roo, The Goo and Gandy, every nickname brings a smile..” – We had/have “The Bowie, Matchbox and N’yucky!”
I appreciate that Kevin…. the song made little or no impact in the home place…I think I erred with the title…The Roo ,The Goo and Gandy still fresh in my mind from those halcyon days over 60years ago
Hello Christy,
Well today’s the day and I feel like a bride.
I have a big list of things I need to take. Lots of things for tuning and running repairs on the harp. The song words and chords all ready in a folder, in order. I think we’re ready.
I miss Dave too. His posts and personality.
I think Thousands are Sailing was sung by Andy Irvine. It’s on the Planxty Words and Music album. I was listening to it yesterday.
It’s a challenge trying to work out what the Irish words mean in posts.
I worked out that when Colm said
an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch
It means the sun is splitting the stones.
We say a similar thing here
It’s cracking the flags
There’s a couple of very familiar tunes on the Beauty an Oileain blasket islands CD. The one that The Boys of Mullabawn goes to, and the one that Myra’s Caboose goes to.
When I was nearly 18 I was living in student digs in Manchester and starting to develop a love of very old music. It’s still got me.
Rebecca
Hope it goes well for you…you are well prepared…when the moment comes, try and play to your hearts content…if you are relaxed and playing within yourself the audience may well follow…
Tonight i played dearly departed Philip Chevron’s ‘Thousands are sailing’ loud and repeatedly to mark the sad death of Darrell Hunt the bass player of The Pogues ( after Cait left) .
Met him but once, unfailingly polite and kind, may god rest his soul. He was a good friend of a pal of mine.
I think you were still in Planxty when you sang a very different song but of the same name ‘thousands are sailing’, do you have memories of those days or that song from about 40 years ago?
Regards
Rory
yes indeed Rory, Darrell played from the shadows but always held the rhythms down….himself, Andrew, (Philip and Terrry) a tight Rhythm section holding the ship steady as others cavorted and gambolled thru uncharted waters….sorry to hear of his passing…the ranks are thinning as new shoots emerge
Christy hi,
I so miss Dagrab’s positive, inclusive and interesting posts and so am teed off at the lack of a government tax to buy him a new computer.
Our correspondent is ‘missing in action’ scowering the streets of the suffragette city for a computer to start penning you some posts.
I know he follows the guestbook and its varied contributors, with a wry smile, from his roost under piccadilly station) but until a fuel subsidy is forthcoming from the fat cats he may remain computerless ( which is actually a freeing sounding status).
I feel like we should start up a petition to get dagrab back posting like he wants to, but petitions only allow some eejit to ask a question of another eejit on green benches in a town that does not know where madchesta is.
We know where we’re going but we don’t know where we’ve been ….as the talented scot David Byrne once sang
Rory
like you Rory, I miss the musings from Suffragette City…Dagrab has posted many sign posts here that led to worthwhile destinations….I hope he is happy and healthy , that he returns before the evenings draw in
Hi. Shay Healys Dad lived in Tralee for many years that poem shared by CS was his party piece. Today is the Gathering Day of Puck, tomorrow is the Fair Day and 12th the Scattering Day it will be mobbed after the C19 absence and with the good weather. ” The Festival ” is next week, a busy time san Riocht ! Looking forward to Gallimh. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
I met Shay’s Father way back…a good memory rekindled…
a busy time ahead for Kingdom dwellers..between King Puck, a pending Rose and Sam Maguire there will be light in the Black Valley…
we’re busy here servicing instruments and vehicles as we prepare to kick off season 57 of the ongoing Folk & Ballad Tour….
the troupe is gatherning to descend once more upon the City of Tribes..we’ll gather at The Spanish Arch and proceed out to thon Hanger….we’ll camp in Salthill and hope for cool evenings…
ar agaidh linn
CM
Tá an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch anseo i gConamara.
Reminds me of John Locke often recited by Dad .
“Oh, Ireland, isn’t it grand, you look
Like a bride in a rich adorning,
And with all the pent-up love of my heart
I bid you the top of the morning!”
Enjoy the sun. Scaoil amach an pocaide!
CS (beagnach 18)
A scorcher today in the Sunny South East
I’m thinking back to 1963 agus mé féin beagnách 18…
I went to Naas with 10 shillings and my birth cert to get the driving licence
Hello Christy,
A beautiful new book popped through my door yesterday.
Beauty an Oileain
About the music of the Blasket Islands.
Have you got it yet?
It’s got a cd with it too of original recordings and new recordings made since 1992 and in 2020.
I’m hoping to listen to it today.
It’s got me wandering round the Internet chasing the music of the fairies, Port na bPucai.
Loads of beautiful recordings, including the one from Seamus Heaney and Liam O’Flynn.
But this one made me catch my breath
https://youtu.be/4i3QEkc4hTw
Space and purity are full of it.
Rebecca