Hello Christy,
Thank you for correcting my typo. Salesman’s Litany would be a very different song.
Like Brendan’s ship and Brenda’s shop.
That was a great song list. I saw On the Mainland and remembered you doing it at tar Isteach in Belfast on the, On the Road documentary that I snaffled from RTE.
I thought it was off the cuff, such a natural way you had with it. And there it is in the Lyrics section. Aladdin’s cave in there for me. And Shangri-la. All those words all ready and waiting with their stories.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
it started “off the cuff” but then grew wings…..its the way many verses spring into being….”Me & The Rose” being an example…
Hi Christy,
Watching great programme on RTE Player Christy on the Road.
Have still great memories of when I was last home from New Zealand Christmas 2019 when you sang The Voyage for us.
Hard to believe then what was to follow with Covid. Tough times.
We have just moved back to Ireland after 11 great years in NZ.
Glad to be back in Ireland. Covid and several other things made us realize while we had a great life in NZ being close to family/ friends and Ireland more important. Our neighbour’s will miss your music being played at our bbqs on the Kapiti coast.You have new NZ fans and of course so popular with all our irish friends in NZ.
I was looking to see future gigs. Seem to be all booked up and after Nov none scheduled?
Let me know any future venues as would love to see you live again.
Kind regards, Una
Christy's reply
Welcome Home..
Hopefully,there will be ongoing concerts….a run of Dublin gigs will soon be announced here…you might sign up for the newsletter….
Hi Christy,
Some set list In fairness.
Shame that Ruby has gone to the darkside.
But if there is someone to add a verse to a song it’s yourself.
Some quality time down the workshed should get it sorted.
Y.N.W.A
Bourkey
Christy's reply
Tobacco advertising has been neutralized,
the alcohol industry still spends billions advertising,
when so many sporting personalities advertise a ruthless gambling industry,its painful viewing ….
all the more so when it gets close to home ….
My auld fella has just been telling me a tale of years ago at the Gaumont State Theatre in Kilburn (beside Biddy Mulligans);a fundraising night for Seamus Heaney. My old boy had just won the all Ireland fleadh cheol war pipes competition. I believe it was in 1978(or 79/80)
Apparently you were playing too. Have you any memories of this night yourself?
All the very best,
Jamie
Christy's reply
Played the Gaumont State in Kilburn in 1978 when Planxty shared a bill with Doc Watson….did a gig with Planxty in 1972 in St Columb’s Hall in Derry..Seamus Heaney read that night as did Seamus Deane…Pumpkinhead from Sligo also played that night all those years ago…..some of my recall is very clear… some of it confused and hazy
Hello Christy,
Thank you to Bourkey for writing about your gig. I love hearing the stories of what happened.
Thinking about what Rory said about Hawick’s song. I don’t think Brighouse has a song.
The most famous Yorkshire song could be On Ilkley Moor baht’at.
I guess that’s why I was so gobsmacked to hear you sing Dalesman’s Litany. All those places round here caught in a song. Learning its journey from Causeway Foot to Ireland and back was brilliant. I need to get it brushed up and polished. I think I might have chased down another gig and I’d love to give that song to people.
Crotchet is a strange word. And crotchety is even stranger…
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I saw a great play about 50 years ago called “Hatchet” by Heno McGee
Greetings from Timoleague. Great to see the On the road documentary on tv again. Lots of great memories to be seen again.Looking forward to Belfast .All good at MONKS.
Many is the good gig that was started with ordinary man.
But only a great one is followed up with the pursuit of the farmer Michael Hayes. And this was a great one.
Two songs in contention for the next live album.
A stitch In time – unaccompanied
DTs – expanded and updated
The backing vocals on beeswing by the ladies behind us were
word perfect and note perfect.
Maybe it was the rain. But the lad who keeps turning up shouting for the time has come didn’t show up. The audience
just seemed to go with the flow all night.
The shout out for young Harry was a nice touch.
Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh si.
Retire ?
Not when you can have nights and give nights like this.
Sin a bhfuil
Bourkey
Christy's reply
I had a feeling there was Nancy between Ord man and Mick Hayes..I’ve just checked the list;
Ordinary Man
Nancy Spain
Michael Hayes
Chicago
Beeswing
Delerium Tremens
Oblivious
Lingo Politico
Shovel
Ride On
Johnny Boy
Brown Eyes
Stitch in Time
Two Conneeleys
Quinte Brigada
Ringing The Bell
Bright Blue Rose
Lisdoonvarna
Cliffs of Dooneen
Well below The Valley
Voyage
On The Mainland
Back home in Derry
Ballad of Ruby Walsh
Joxer
Amsterdam
……………1 hour 40 minutes….followed by strong tea and a spin back up the M6
now beginning to prep for Bundoran in 3 days time…a very different gig..one of my favourite venues…lots of cross border traffic..might the Blessed Virgin re-appear..I’ve played here regularly for the last 50 years and there has been no sign of her at all…be great if she appeared at the Garth Brooks in Croke Park…
It was my first time to do “Ruby” accapella…..I think it needs a new verse….Ruby signs up to Paddy Power…its a sadner
Hi christy, in now from a 2 hour ramble around Hawick on a mini black history tour.
Frederick Douglass and Tom Jenkins amongst many historical locations relating to abolition, free speech and the like.
Hawick’s song is TERIBUS YE TERI ODIN.
Perhaps it should be WE SHALL OVERCOME.
Rory
Christy's reply
we’ll do our best when we can… and that bit more when we get the chance
Hi christy,
Just yesterday…
The fields of athenry being sung loudly,
Tifo of bernadette devlin and of Paddy Coyle,
Goal celebrations to remember young Leon Brown and Jinky Johnstone,
A dear green place indeed.
Not too far from the location of your neon pints of fidel castro.
Viva fidel, viva the bhoys
Rory
Hello Christy,
I’m thinking that all the marmites, vegemites, provites and other ites can get along just fine! Those kimberley biscuits look lovely. They’re new to me. Yummy! I had a look for the Norma Tanega song. Thanks Danny!
We’re planning a trip around your second gig in Armagh. So jealous of hearing of the wonderful things happening at your gigs, there’s nothing like being there in person. If we could we’d be buzzing over the sea a lot more often.
So much looking forward to that gig and then we’re staying for a few nights in Teelin, South Donegal, land of cliffs, sea and rusty mackerels.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
“I love its Cathedrals and Cities
Once founded by Patrick so true
and it bears in the heart of its bosom
the ashes of Brian Ború”……( Bridie Gallagher)
Howya Christy. I’m still recovering from the shock you gave me on Friday night. At first when you called my name. I thought you knew someone else called Harry. But then you said 11 and I literally froze. Mom stuck up her hand and then I followed suit. Would you recommend learning Joxer with singing or trying to sing to it later? Also what strumming pattern do you use? It’s mad that you heard me singing Back Home In Derry. I’ll be practicing Joxer, See ya later Christy!
From Harry
Christy's reply
Good Man Harry….Fair play to you for coming up to the stage in Salthill…it was great to meet you. Although it was very brief I could see that you are a true man of song…
I’d recommend you to follow your instinct, to go towards whatever song appeals to you….I started off very young too…I learned a good few songs before I got a guitar…. I began with only two chords,strumming with my thumb, it was a year before I got 3 chords, 60 years later I have about 12 chords (but I don’t use them all…)
Tell you the truth Harry, I dont know what strumming pattern I use….When I was 27 I took up the Bodhrán… I slowly developed some rhythms as I backed Liam O’Flynns music in Planxty….these rhythms gradually entered my guitar playing..
The most important thing is lots and lots of practice…its very difficult at first but there comes a day when it starts to get easier, when it begins to come natural, ….
Keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on
Rebecca did you record under the name Norma Tanega????
There’s a certain song – today it would be “feline-canine trans-identification” perhaps
Give Vegemite a go – but please don’t set the Marmite Republican Army onto me…
Christy's reply
News Flash from the trenches
The GVA have laid down their jars and joined the ranks of the MRA
He’s buried in East Sussex. Not NSW, Australia. Was wondering how Spike got sent off to Australia.
Christy's reply
Spike is everywhere…they tried to bury him, he wont lie down, he’s on the air, in our heads, reflected hither thither he lives on in manys the manic street preacher
Hi to Christy and all fellow 4711ers. I have been absent since 2013 due to a life changing illness. Happy to say that I’m 90% back on my feet and at ease with my lot.
Life is good.
Glad to be back and best wishes to all
Phil
Christy's reply
9 years and you make a most welcome return…..Fáilte arais Phil ……we’ve all dropped 10% in the last decade …I just keep taking the tablets, upgrading the specs plus the hearing aids have brightened everything up a tadge..Ride On Phil
How long were you in the army? 5 foot 11.
The wonderful Spike Milligan.
Vegemite eh? I’ll have a look to see if you can get it in Yorkshire.
So, a couple of weeks ago, on International Dog Day, there was a competition on Facebook for “best pet dog”. So I entered my cat Minnie, for a laugh.
Sent off the picture, “I’m a dog…erm… woof?”. And a load of guff about how she loves fetching sticks and wearing a collar and lead.
Anyway, she’s only gone and won second prize!
Always knew she was a great dog…
Ah Spike Milligan – how I loved Puckoon…a dear funny mad man…
As for Marmite- dare I suggest Australia’s own Vegemite? Gotta admit I’m not a fan but a lot of people like it..good luck & no I don’t work for the company
Spike is buried at Woy Woy, NSW, Australia- haven’t visited his grave so not sure if his promised epitaph “See? I told you I wasn’t well.” is there
Where would we be without Dave Allen, The Goons, The Python mob, The Young Ones etc? They treated us to intelligent dark self deprecating humour & made us laugh AND think…
Travelled from London to see Christy play this evening at Leisureland … well worth the trip a great gig and still going strong .
Please come over to the mainland soon
All the best Phil
Hello Christy,
Thank you for correcting my typo. Salesman’s Litany would be a very different song.
Like Brendan’s ship and Brenda’s shop.
That was a great song list. I saw On the Mainland and remembered you doing it at tar Isteach in Belfast on the, On the Road documentary that I snaffled from RTE.
I thought it was off the cuff, such a natural way you had with it. And there it is in the Lyrics section. Aladdin’s cave in there for me. And Shangri-la. All those words all ready and waiting with their stories.
Rebecca
it started “off the cuff” but then grew wings…..its the way many verses spring into being….”Me & The Rose” being an example…
Hi Christy,
Watching great programme on RTE Player Christy on the Road.
Have still great memories of when I was last home from New Zealand Christmas 2019 when you sang The Voyage for us.
Hard to believe then what was to follow with Covid. Tough times.
We have just moved back to Ireland after 11 great years in NZ.
Glad to be back in Ireland. Covid and several other things made us realize while we had a great life in NZ being close to family/ friends and Ireland more important. Our neighbour’s will miss your music being played at our bbqs on the Kapiti coast.You have new NZ fans and of course so popular with all our irish friends in NZ.
I was looking to see future gigs. Seem to be all booked up and after Nov none scheduled?
Let me know any future venues as would love to see you live again.
Kind regards, Una
Welcome Home..
Hopefully,there will be ongoing concerts….a run of Dublin gigs will soon be announced here…you might sign up for the newsletter….
I loved my visits to NZ…..
Hi Christy,
Some set list In fairness.
Shame that Ruby has gone to the darkside.
But if there is someone to add a verse to a song it’s yourself.
Some quality time down the workshed should get it sorted.
Y.N.W.A
Bourkey
Tobacco advertising has been neutralized,
the alcohol industry still spends billions advertising,
when so many sporting personalities advertise a ruthless gambling industry,its painful viewing ….
all the more so when it gets close to home ….
Christy,
My auld fella has just been telling me a tale of years ago at the Gaumont State Theatre in Kilburn (beside Biddy Mulligans);a fundraising night for Seamus Heaney. My old boy had just won the all Ireland fleadh cheol war pipes competition. I believe it was in 1978(or 79/80)
Apparently you were playing too. Have you any memories of this night yourself?
All the very best,
Jamie
Played the Gaumont State in Kilburn in 1978 when Planxty shared a bill with Doc Watson….did a gig with Planxty in 1972 in St Columb’s Hall in Derry..Seamus Heaney read that night as did Seamus Deane…Pumpkinhead from Sligo also played that night all those years ago…..some of my recall is very clear… some of it confused and hazy
Salesman does not equal Dalesman…
I hope!
Hello Christy,
Thank you to Bourkey for writing about your gig. I love hearing the stories of what happened.
Thinking about what Rory said about Hawick’s song. I don’t think Brighouse has a song.
The most famous Yorkshire song could be On Ilkley Moor baht’at.
I guess that’s why I was so gobsmacked to hear you sing Dalesman’s Litany. All those places round here caught in a song. Learning its journey from Causeway Foot to Ireland and back was brilliant. I need to get it brushed up and polished. I think I might have chased down another gig and I’d love to give that song to people.
Crotchet is a strange word. And crotchety is even stranger…
Rebecca
I saw a great play about 50 years ago called “Hatchet” by Heno McGee
Greetings from Timoleague. Great to see the On the road documentary on tv again. Lots of great memories to be seen again.Looking forward to Belfast .All good at MONKS.
I think I’ll go for the Chowder
Hi Christy,
Many is the good gig that was started with ordinary man.
But only a great one is followed up with the pursuit of the farmer Michael Hayes. And this was a great one.
Two songs in contention for the next live album.
A stitch In time – unaccompanied
DTs – expanded and updated
The backing vocals on beeswing by the ladies behind us were
word perfect and note perfect.
Maybe it was the rain. But the lad who keeps turning up shouting for the time has come didn’t show up. The audience
just seemed to go with the flow all night.
The shout out for young Harry was a nice touch.
Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh si.
Retire ?
Not when you can have nights and give nights like this.
Sin a bhfuil
Bourkey
I had a feeling there was Nancy between Ord man and Mick Hayes..I’ve just checked the list;
Ordinary Man
Nancy Spain
Michael Hayes
Chicago
Beeswing
Delerium Tremens
Oblivious
Lingo Politico
Shovel
Ride On
Johnny Boy
Brown Eyes
Stitch in Time
Two Conneeleys
Quinte Brigada
Ringing The Bell
Bright Blue Rose
Lisdoonvarna
Cliffs of Dooneen
Well below The Valley
Voyage
On The Mainland
Back home in Derry
Ballad of Ruby Walsh
Joxer
Amsterdam
……………1 hour 40 minutes….followed by strong tea and a spin back up the M6
now beginning to prep for Bundoran in 3 days time…a very different gig..one of my favourite venues…lots of cross border traffic..might the Blessed Virgin re-appear..I’ve played here regularly for the last 50 years and there has been no sign of her at all…be great if she appeared at the Garth Brooks in Croke Park…
It was my first time to do “Ruby” accapella…..I think it needs a new verse….Ruby signs up to Paddy Power…its a sadner
Hi christy, in now from a 2 hour ramble around Hawick on a mini black history tour.
Frederick Douglass and Tom Jenkins amongst many historical locations relating to abolition, free speech and the like.
Hawick’s song is TERIBUS YE TERI ODIN.
Perhaps it should be WE SHALL OVERCOME.
Rory
we’ll do our best when we can… and that bit more when we get the chance
Hi christy,
Just yesterday…
The fields of athenry being sung loudly,
Tifo of bernadette devlin and of Paddy Coyle,
Goal celebrations to remember young Leon Brown and Jinky Johnstone,
A dear green place indeed.
Not too far from the location of your neon pints of fidel castro.
Viva fidel, viva the bhoys
Rory
I leapt from the couch more than once
Hello Christy,
I’m thinking that all the marmites, vegemites, provites and other ites can get along just fine! Those kimberley biscuits look lovely. They’re new to me. Yummy! I had a look for the Norma Tanega song. Thanks Danny!
We’re planning a trip around your second gig in Armagh. So jealous of hearing of the wonderful things happening at your gigs, there’s nothing like being there in person. If we could we’d be buzzing over the sea a lot more often.
So much looking forward to that gig and then we’re staying for a few nights in Teelin, South Donegal, land of cliffs, sea and rusty mackerels.
Rebecca
“I love its Cathedrals and Cities
Once founded by Patrick so true
and it bears in the heart of its bosom
the ashes of Brian Ború”……( Bridie Gallagher)
Howya Christy. I’m still recovering from the shock you gave me on Friday night. At first when you called my name. I thought you knew someone else called Harry. But then you said 11 and I literally froze. Mom stuck up her hand and then I followed suit. Would you recommend learning Joxer with singing or trying to sing to it later? Also what strumming pattern do you use? It’s mad that you heard me singing Back Home In Derry. I’ll be practicing Joxer, See ya later Christy!
From Harry
Good Man Harry….Fair play to you for coming up to the stage in Salthill…it was great to meet you. Although it was very brief I could see that you are a true man of song…
I’d recommend you to follow your instinct, to go towards whatever song appeals to you….I started off very young too…I learned a good few songs before I got a guitar…. I began with only two chords,strumming with my thumb, it was a year before I got 3 chords, 60 years later I have about 12 chords (but I don’t use them all…)
Tell you the truth Harry, I dont know what strumming pattern I use….When I was 27 I took up the Bodhrán… I slowly developed some rhythms as I backed Liam O’Flynns music in Planxty….these rhythms gradually entered my guitar playing..
The most important thing is lots and lots of practice…its very difficult at first but there comes a day when it starts to get easier, when it begins to come natural, ….
Keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on
Rebecca did you record under the name Norma Tanega????
There’s a certain song – today it would be “feline-canine trans-identification” perhaps
Give Vegemite a go – but please don’t set the Marmite Republican Army onto me…
News Flash from the trenches
The GVA have laid down their jars and joined the ranks of the MRA
My apologies- Spike’s parents lived at Woy Woy & he visited often – I misheard.
A grave mistake…
Welcome back Philmaharg & power to you
well thats that sorted,thanks be, I’m off down for some toast & vegemite
He’s buried in East Sussex. Not NSW, Australia. Was wondering how Spike got sent off to Australia.
Spike is everywhere…they tried to bury him, he wont lie down, he’s on the air, in our heads, reflected hither thither he lives on in manys the manic street preacher
Hi to Christy and all fellow 4711ers. I have been absent since 2013 due to a life changing illness. Happy to say that I’m 90% back on my feet and at ease with my lot.
Life is good.
Glad to be back and best wishes to all
Phil
9 years and you make a most welcome return…..Fáilte arais Phil ……we’ve all dropped 10% in the last decade …I just keep taking the tablets, upgrading the specs plus the hearing aids have brightened everything up a tadge..Ride On Phil
Here’s a pic of Spike Milligan’s grave.
https://images.app.goo.gl/p2D4TpVrdHNfnzfG7
Hope you can make the words out.
the dumb numbskulls did away with our beautiful Gaelic script
Hello Christy,
How long were you in the army? 5 foot 11.
The wonderful Spike Milligan.
Vegemite eh? I’ll have a look to see if you can get it in Yorkshire.
So, a couple of weeks ago, on International Dog Day, there was a competition on Facebook for “best pet dog”. So I entered my cat Minnie, for a laugh.
Sent off the picture, “I’m a dog…erm… woof?”. And a load of guff about how she loves fetching sticks and wearing a collar and lead.
Anyway, she’s only gone and won second prize!
Always knew she was a great dog…
In equally heart warming news, a load of Extinction Rebelion people invaded the House of Commons yesterday and glued themselves around the speaker’s chair.
It was widely reported in the press, one or two of the articles very kindly included instructions on how to smuggle placards into parliament. Use a bag inside a bag…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/02/extinction-rebellion-activists-superglue-themselves-commons-chamber-speaker-seat
Rebecca
Vegemite never quite did it for me… going up to Oz I always packed Marmite and Kimberleys…
Ah Spike Milligan – how I loved Puckoon…a dear funny mad man…
As for Marmite- dare I suggest Australia’s own Vegemite? Gotta admit I’m not a fan but a lot of people like it..good luck & no I don’t work for the company
Spike is buried at Woy Woy, NSW, Australia- haven’t visited his grave so not sure if his promised epitaph “See? I told you I wasn’t well.” is there
Where would we be without Dave Allen, The Goons, The Python mob, The Young Ones etc? They treated us to intelligent dark self deprecating humour & made us laugh AND think…
Stewart Lee keeps the ball rolling
Travelled from London to see Christy play this evening at Leisureland … well worth the trip a great gig and still going strong .
Please come over to the mainland soon
All the best Phil
thanks for listening Phil