Maybe this is not the platform to bear my soul but does it matter. I have listened to your songs for many years now and been to many of your concerts. Had the absolute good fortune to meet you in Torquay. In think it was 2005. You sang City of Chicago and mentioned “Downings” mid way in the song. The place with the beautiful beaches you said to me. A simple gesture by yourself, but i was very humbled. Your songs/music/stories has had a significant influence on how I see things. It’s difficult to put it into words what you have delivered. From the bottom of my heart – Thank you. Travelling back to Donegal for next Thursday’s night gig. We were geared up for Killarney earlier in the year, but that got cancelled. Got an Tenor coming with us from Yorkshire. This guy – massive Planxty fan. Looking forward to Thursday night. Frankie
Christy's reply
manys the soul bares all here Frankie…it kicked off as a song gig forum but ,along the way, it has developed into place of conversation….in the main we talk of gigs,requests and call outs…. but betimes we dive deeper…..
I well remember that night in Torquay….I began the gig by saying it was my first time to play in Cornwall…open mouth,change foot !!
All along the way my life has been enhanced by the singers and songs I’ve encountered….today that journey still rolls on…
I hope ye have a good trip from Devon to Donegal….thanks for sharing
Hi christy hope you’re grand
Please please can you do adate in Donny again or anywhere in Yorkshire area I am desperate!! to see you live again my favourite artist by miles
Total genius
Joe
X
Christy's reply
is the Bay Horse in Bentley still running on Saturday nights ?
played there in 1968…George, Sheena, Mike…..what a great club
Hi Christy,
Joshua Burnside has a new release on Bandcamp , worth a tickle.
My pal went to Daryll Hunt’s memorial service this week in London.
I listened to Boomtown Rats ‘D.U.N.L.O.A.G.H.A.I.R.E.’ earlier and then on to
Pecker Dunne’s Portlaoise Jail which has a great twang to it.
The revolving door of musical people.
Stay well
Rory
Christy's reply
one of my fave lines..
(in the back of the Hi-Ace. van )..” her eyes they were like two black puddins”
Hi Christy
We enjoyed your performance yesterday verry verry much. So much energy, beautiful voice and great humor.
Thanks a million for your words and Beeswing for our friend Ben. Also with great humor. We had to talk him out of going up the Reek today again. Thanks, thanks, thanks
Love,
Ben, Willem, Rob, Fons, Peter, Leida and Nora from The Netherlands
Christy's reply
it was lovely upon The Reek this morning…twice in two days has me in perpetual elation…I’m hoping to by-pass Purgatory and head straight for the pearly gates
Hello Christy,
Lots of good things coming up in the rugby over the next few months, with Emerging Ireland and the Irish Wolfhound.
It looks like Andy Farrell is working towards some serious depth in how many players have international experience.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I got home at 2 am this morning only to be enthralled by Oz v NZ…..I’m still stiff and sore from gig and match
I was in the castlecourt in westport tonight, and it was an amazing gig, ur energy, focus and sence of fun, feckin reeled in the years.it was everything that is great about you, put into a gig.on par with barrowlands for me.was fantastic to hear you is such energetic, inclusive and amazing mood, after covid😂😂😂
Christy's reply
it was the Westport throng that raised my spirit high…I need the energy that good listeners generate to keep the show on the road….I sing away here in the workroom everyday..its always quiet and gentle, strumming and whispering, learning ,practicing, tipping away…but soon as I step out in front of the lamps all hell breaks loose..this other fellow appears and I try and keep up with him…I love the karaoke of it all
Howdy,
There has been a mini Tom Waits appreciation vibe over the last few pages. And this is no bad thing. Part of the introduction to his live version of “more than rain” goes like this.
“Don’t plant your bad days.
They grow into weeks.
The weeks grow into months.
Before you know it you’ve got yourself a bad year.
Take it from me choke those little bad days.
Choke them down to nothing.
They’re your days.
Choke them.”
Stay safe and have a good one.
Bourkey
Haha. Jaysus Christy you made me day, sound for the lovely comments. Sorry we won’t see you in Mountmellick, but sure look forward to the next time you around Tullamore or Portlaoise. Take care.
Christy's reply
or Kedgeree Corner or The Swan or Crettyard or Portarlington
or The Butts or The Ridge or The Salmon Pool or Muckalee
Hi Christy,
We are in Westport with somse friends and will come to your concert tomorrow.
Willem send you a message earlier, with a request for the song ‘ Beezwing’. If you will, could you do that specially for Ben? He recovered a desease, climbed the Croagh yesterday.
All the best to you, we will enjoy the concert
Christy's reply
he’ll be feeling stiff after the Reek….I hope he did it in his bare feet..quadruple indulgences..ar neamh go tapaidh ar fad
Hi , I have three tickets for Westport that I can’t use, haven’t heard back about resell and as I am in UK I can’t get them to anyone now. If anyone wants them is there a way of scanning them or something. happy for someone to make a donation for them to a worthy cause of their choice.
Hello Christy,
I love what you said about the guitar. Yes to all those things with the harp. It’s a very kind instrument too. Sounds naturally beautiful and puts all right notes in front of you when you set the levers right.
I was always a little scared of the piano with its myriads of potential wrong notes. The harp is much more gentle and kind to its player.
Golden honey for Tom Waits.
Here’s to another reet good do, a bit of a do, a proper do for your gig tonight.
Hi Christy,
I always enjoy returning to your ‘boys of barrna sraide’. It is a glorious version and leaves me dreaming of far flung irish places, though it is about just one.
It is ‘multi-layered’ with friends, wildlife, resistance and old haunts and such diffuse topics in one song has such talent.
I hope one day to hear you sing it again.
Today i happened across a version by Pauline Scanlon, it is simply beautiful.
Finest regards
Rory
Christy's reply
I remember the first time I heard it..
The Skillet Pot Folk Club Birmingham in1967
sung by Michael Hipkiss
let me know when you are next coming to a gig and I’ll have it ready to rock
Howye Christy and everyone,
Hope your very well. My partner and I are big fans, and really enjoyed your poetry, music and storytelling when we seen you in the Visual, Carlow. I’m an aspiring poet and wanted to share a poem of place:
Rosenallis
Persecuted Sitka Spruce.
Its corpses piled along the forest tracks.
A hen harrier circling, the Sliabh Bloom has the mange.
1,000 BC? Rich birch, oak and elm,
a grey wolf howling down at Tinnahinch,
dancing brown bears scratching off a Scots pine…
Rosenallis and the Rambler’s Rest,
no more busy chatter in the snug,
only cars passing through.
Poole’s petrol station, no more maths
on a note pad for a pack of fig rolls.
The shelves are in darkness.
The Festival of the Mountain, ‘Dusty’ Gorman in the tug of war,
the ‘Bear’ Mac with a pitchfork, a bale up over the bar.
Now sedges and rushes sway lonely in the festival field.
Or leggin’ it down the steep slope
of Bennet’s field, keeping up
with my feet, cause they ain’t stoppin’.
Now its skin peeled off, flesh scraped with big diggers,
botoxed with artificial hills and new cling-film skin, ‘No Trespass’
say the bourgeois of Capard, with their clubs and caddies.
But nothing stops the country kid, mucked up in the muddy fields,
lying over a bank like Francie Brady, saying
‘What do we say to the fish? Fuck off fish!’
What was it like for Allan in them simpler times?
Radio, crackling, kettle over the fire,
piles of wood, the gate-lodge’s aftershave.
Christy's reply
Thanks Rob,
reading this fine poem
I feel that you have achieved your “aspirations”
I know very little about poetry but I really like this
in fact, each time I read it I like it a little more
jasus Rob, maybe I loves it
Hi Christy, fully agree with your comment to Rebecca about Tom Waits voice. He’s also a great song writer, love dosen’t always end in ‘puppy dog tails and candy floss’ it can also end in pain and loss. In my opinion San Diego Serenade by Waits, your version of Beeswing and I’d Rather Go Blind by Etta James are among the greatest love songs ever written (with I want You by Elvis Costello a close fourth).
Hi Christy,
Got this from John Quinn’s Leann an Lae (Daily Wisdom)
“TIGH I mBEAL BOTHAIR
NI AISTEAR E ACH CONGAR”
“A friendly house shortens the road.
In the days when a ceili or friendly call into a house was more common, such a visit was not a journey (aistear) but a shortcut (congar) offering respite and welcome. Happier days !”
So enjoy revisiting The Great Northern, Castlecourt and The Waterfront over the next few weeks. And please God we’ll be seeing you again in Galway.
Tog go bog e. Ach tog e. (Take it easy. But take it)
Bourkey
Christy's reply
in the mid 70’s we lived high on the Castlecomer Plateau…up there a lively house gathering might be called “a Right Gallery”
ten years previous, living in Yorkshire, I partook in manys the “reet good do”
…getting ready here for the road to Westport and all that lies ahead
Hello Christy,
Give a shout out tonight for the Duddy family from Derry.
I’m here with my wife Shauna, mother-in-law Margo (86) 🤫🤫, daughter Margot and grandson Harry (5).
We last saw you in Mullingar on 18th March past…well-travelled Christy fans!
Harry loves “Don’t forget your shovel!”
My favourite though is “Sweet Thames flow softly”
Really looking forward to another spectacular night!
Eamonn
Christy's reply
If I do all the “shout-outs” requested in Westport I may not have time to sing.. ( Thank God for small mercys says Myrtle from Tourmakeady )
Hi Christy.
Maybe this is not the platform to bear my soul but does it matter. I have listened to your songs for many years now and been to many of your concerts. Had the absolute good fortune to meet you in Torquay. In think it was 2005. You sang City of Chicago and mentioned “Downings” mid way in the song. The place with the beautiful beaches you said to me. A simple gesture by yourself, but i was very humbled. Your songs/music/stories has had a significant influence on how I see things. It’s difficult to put it into words what you have delivered. From the bottom of my heart – Thank you. Travelling back to Donegal for next Thursday’s night gig. We were geared up for Killarney earlier in the year, but that got cancelled. Got an Tenor coming with us from Yorkshire. This guy – massive Planxty fan. Looking forward to Thursday night. Frankie
manys the soul bares all here Frankie…it kicked off as a song gig forum but ,along the way, it has developed into place of conversation….in the main we talk of gigs,requests and call outs…. but betimes we dive deeper…..
I well remember that night in Torquay….I began the gig by saying it was my first time to play in Cornwall…open mouth,change foot !!
All along the way my life has been enhanced by the singers and songs I’ve encountered….today that journey still rolls on…
I hope ye have a good trip from Devon to Donegal….thanks for sharing
Hi christy hope you’re grand
Please please can you do adate in Donny again or anywhere in Yorkshire area I am desperate!! to see you live again my favourite artist by miles
Total genius
Joe
X
is the Bay Horse in Bentley still running on Saturday nights ?
played there in 1968…George, Sheena, Mike…..what a great club
Hi Christy,
Joshua Burnside has a new release on Bandcamp , worth a tickle.
My pal went to Daryll Hunt’s memorial service this week in London.
I listened to Boomtown Rats ‘D.U.N.L.O.A.G.H.A.I.R.E.’ earlier and then on to
Pecker Dunne’s Portlaoise Jail which has a great twang to it.
The revolving door of musical people.
Stay well
Rory
one of my fave lines..
(in the back of the Hi-Ace. van )..” her eyes they were like two black puddins”
Hi Christy
We enjoyed your performance yesterday verry verry much. So much energy, beautiful voice and great humor.
Thanks a million for your words and Beeswing for our friend Ben. Also with great humor. We had to talk him out of going up the Reek today again. Thanks, thanks, thanks
Love,
Ben, Willem, Rob, Fons, Peter, Leida and Nora from The Netherlands
it was lovely upon The Reek this morning…twice in two days has me in perpetual elation…I’m hoping to by-pass Purgatory and head straight for the pearly gates
Hello Christy,
Lots of good things coming up in the rugby over the next few months, with Emerging Ireland and the Irish Wolfhound.
It looks like Andy Farrell is working towards some serious depth in how many players have international experience.
Rebecca
I got home at 2 am this morning only to be enthralled by Oz v NZ…..I’m still stiff and sore from gig and match
I was in the castlecourt in westport tonight, and it was an amazing gig, ur energy, focus and sence of fun, feckin reeled in the years.it was everything that is great about you, put into a gig.on par with barrowlands for me.was fantastic to hear you is such energetic, inclusive and amazing mood, after covid😂😂😂
it was the Westport throng that raised my spirit high…I need the energy that good listeners generate to keep the show on the road….I sing away here in the workroom everyday..its always quiet and gentle, strumming and whispering, learning ,practicing, tipping away…but soon as I step out in front of the lamps all hell breaks loose..this other fellow appears and I try and keep up with him…I love the karaoke of it all
Howdy,
There has been a mini Tom Waits appreciation vibe over the last few pages. And this is no bad thing. Part of the introduction to his live version of “more than rain” goes like this.
“Don’t plant your bad days.
They grow into weeks.
The weeks grow into months.
Before you know it you’ve got yourself a bad year.
Take it from me choke those little bad days.
Choke them down to nothing.
They’re your days.
Choke them.”
Stay safe and have a good one.
Bourkey
always good to hear news of the sweet growler
Haha. Jaysus Christy you made me day, sound for the lovely comments. Sorry we won’t see you in Mountmellick, but sure look forward to the next time you around Tullamore or Portlaoise. Take care.
or Kedgeree Corner or The Swan or Crettyard or Portarlington
or The Butts or The Ridge or The Salmon Pool or Muckalee
anywhere we can have a gallery
Hi Christy Hope you are keeping well just messaging to find out if you are coming back to ul in limerick any time soon all the best John
if Putin spares us I’d hope to be back in Plessey next year
Hi Christy,
We are in Westport with somse friends and will come to your concert tomorrow.
Willem send you a message earlier, with a request for the song ‘ Beezwing’. If you will, could you do that specially for Ben? He recovered a desease, climbed the Croagh yesterday.
All the best to you, we will enjoy the concert
he’ll be feeling stiff after the Reek….I hope he did it in his bare feet..quadruple indulgences..ar neamh go tapaidh ar fad
Hi , I have three tickets for Westport that I can’t use, haven’t heard back about resell and as I am in UK I can’t get them to anyone now. If anyone wants them is there a way of scanning them or something. happy for someone to make a donation for them to a worthy cause of their choice.
we have been trying to make contact with you
Thank you for removing the second D. It jumped right out at me as soon as I’d hit the submit button.
Hello Christy,
I love what you said about the guitar. Yes to all those things with the harp. It’s a very kind instrument too. Sounds naturally beautiful and puts all right notes in front of you when you set the levers right.
I was always a little scared of the piano with its myriads of potential wrong notes. The harp is much more gentle and kind to its player.
Golden honey for Tom Waits.
Here’s to another reet good do, a bit of a do, a proper do for your gig tonight.
Rebecca
Christy: Stewart Lee – thanks.
Good old what we used to call “Railway Humour” when I started work – quick, clever, cutting, profane, irreverent & bloody brilliant.
I’m sure we all have mates who can crack us up likewise – one of life’s little necessities
Play on Mr. Moore – close those eyes & your heart will guide your fingers & voice.
& G’day from me to youse lot…
Hi Christy,
I always enjoy returning to your ‘boys of barrna sraide’. It is a glorious version and leaves me dreaming of far flung irish places, though it is about just one.
It is ‘multi-layered’ with friends, wildlife, resistance and old haunts and such diffuse topics in one song has such talent.
I hope one day to hear you sing it again.
Today i happened across a version by Pauline Scanlon, it is simply beautiful.
Finest regards
Rory
I remember the first time I heard it..
The Skillet Pot Folk Club Birmingham in1967
sung by Michael Hipkiss
let me know when you are next coming to a gig and I’ll have it ready to rock
Howye Christy and everyone,
Hope your very well. My partner and I are big fans, and really enjoyed your poetry, music and storytelling when we seen you in the Visual, Carlow. I’m an aspiring poet and wanted to share a poem of place:
Rosenallis
Persecuted Sitka Spruce.
Its corpses piled along the forest tracks.
A hen harrier circling, the Sliabh Bloom has the mange.
1,000 BC? Rich birch, oak and elm,
a grey wolf howling down at Tinnahinch,
dancing brown bears scratching off a Scots pine…
Rosenallis and the Rambler’s Rest,
no more busy chatter in the snug,
only cars passing through.
Poole’s petrol station, no more maths
on a note pad for a pack of fig rolls.
The shelves are in darkness.
The Festival of the Mountain, ‘Dusty’ Gorman in the tug of war,
the ‘Bear’ Mac with a pitchfork, a bale up over the bar.
Now sedges and rushes sway lonely in the festival field.
Or leggin’ it down the steep slope
of Bennet’s field, keeping up
with my feet, cause they ain’t stoppin’.
Now its skin peeled off, flesh scraped with big diggers,
botoxed with artificial hills and new cling-film skin, ‘No Trespass’
say the bourgeois of Capard, with their clubs and caddies.
But nothing stops the country kid, mucked up in the muddy fields,
lying over a bank like Francie Brady, saying
‘What do we say to the fish? Fuck off fish!’
What was it like for Allan in them simpler times?
Radio, crackling, kettle over the fire,
piles of wood, the gate-lodge’s aftershave.
Thanks Rob,
reading this fine poem
I feel that you have achieved your “aspirations”
I know very little about poetry but I really like this
in fact, each time I read it I like it a little more
jasus Rob, maybe I loves it
Hi Christy, any more gigs coming up before 2022 ends? My boyfriend is a big fan and I’d like to bring him to one of your gigs. Thanks
a run of Vicar St Dublin gigswill be announced here soon…sign up for newsletter and you’ll get the info
Hi Christy, fully agree with your comment to Rebecca about Tom Waits voice. He’s also a great song writer, love dosen’t always end in ‘puppy dog tails and candy floss’ it can also end in pain and loss. In my opinion San Diego Serenade by Waits, your version of Beeswing and I’d Rather Go Blind by Etta James are among the greatest love songs ever written (with I want You by Elvis Costello a close fourth).
Hi Christy,
Got this from John Quinn’s Leann an Lae (Daily Wisdom)
“TIGH I mBEAL BOTHAIR
NI AISTEAR E ACH CONGAR”
“A friendly house shortens the road.
In the days when a ceili or friendly call into a house was more common, such a visit was not a journey (aistear) but a shortcut (congar) offering respite and welcome. Happier days !”
So enjoy revisiting The Great Northern, Castlecourt and The Waterfront over the next few weeks. And please God we’ll be seeing you again in Galway.
Tog go bog e. Ach tog e. (Take it easy. But take it)
Bourkey
in the mid 70’s we lived high on the Castlecomer Plateau…up there a lively house gathering might be called “a Right Gallery”
ten years previous, living in Yorkshire, I partook in manys the “reet good do”
…getting ready here for the road to Westport and all that lies ahead
Hello Christy,
Give a shout out tonight for the Duddy family from Derry.
I’m here with my wife Shauna, mother-in-law Margo (86) 🤫🤫, daughter Margot and grandson Harry (5).
We last saw you in Mullingar on 18th March past…well-travelled Christy fans!
Harry loves “Don’t forget your shovel!”
My favourite though is “Sweet Thames flow softly”
Really looking forward to another spectacular night!
Eamonn
If I do all the “shout-outs” requested in Westport I may not have time to sing.. ( Thank God for small mercys says Myrtle from Tourmakeady )