Don’t forget Des Foley, Christy! Only player in history to win the hurling and football finals on same day. St Patrick’s day 1962. Played both matches in full.
Evening Christy,
There never really is anything on the telly, except Channel 4 news over here, so i have hit the sack.
I caught snippets of Glastonbury and was hugely underwhelmed, i must have been going down the wrong rabbit holes.
So i’ve plumped for your Traveller album to serenade me to slumber, because after all it moves towards its end with that live recording from Glastonbury , soulful stuff thanks.
I wonder if Camilla went there after attending Ascot in her philip treacy with a flagon of cider looking for Declan?
Rory
Christy's reply
we went to hear John Spillane last night..He played a gig at Ernesto’s Coffee Shop in Rathmines to about 60 of us (very lucky) listeners..Lise O’Neill was there, like ourselves, enraptured by John’s gig..he played 4 tracks from his new album with lits of old favourites interweaved into the set….its 4 years since we had a Spillane gig..he is a master…the variety within his songs, his guitar playing, his humour and his connection with the listener made it a very special night..
this afternoon we attended a song session to mark the First Anniversary of our friend and singer,the late Phil Callery…Phil was a constant presence on the Singing Scene here in Dublin for the past 40 years..he was part of the Three Man Accapella group “The Voice Squad” who recorded a number of fine albums..The Cobblestone was thronged this afternoon as many of his Family, Friends, Singers and Musicians gathered to remember our Dear Friend..
Back in the 70’s Phil was a mechanic in a renault dealership….as many of us took to the roads Phil provided us all with sturdy, reliable, second hand, Red Renault 4Ls…he single-handedly mobilised the burgeoning Irish Ballad Scene….and he was a beautiful singer
And then there four
Galway V Limerick
Clare V The Cats
Christy's reply
no problem with that…. no premier rebel or deise…I must not declare passionate affinity….we never had that much hurling in the short grass ..altho Pat Dunny did hurl for Leinster in a Railway cup final..one of a very few Provincial Dual Players… Jimmy Barry ?? Babs ?? Snitchy ??..any answers…
Those Old Railway Cups were always classy affairs..great excitement generated in the 50s & 60s.. some of us cycled to Croke Park from Newbridge..I had a big black Rudge with a dynamo and a Sturmey-Archer 3 speed..your hole id be sore for a week
Hello Christy,
Well now! Don’t you be confuddling me with all those lovely new words. You’ll have to be empirocating them to us. We could have a whole new language on our hands. Christish…? https://youtu.be/DVAgpPNb0fQ
Rebecca
Christy, I guess I picked up your other name from a poster of “Smoke & Strong Whiskey” that you sent me in my “Sorry” days, back in 91/92. You signed a note and I think you wrote Christopher. Maybe, my memory is playing tricks with me.
Sadly, I lost the poster and your letter. Who’s a naughty boy then?
Will be looking at properties and pubs in Eire shortly. Are any grand Mansions with sawdust pubs going for a song in Blackrock? You wouldn’t want me as a neighbour – my feet smell like Wookey Hole!
Hugs.
Hi Christy, Sorry, if I offended you. Christie was the name of my beloved cat who was murdered by my lodger in 93. What is your fondest memory of your mother?
My happiest memory is my mum getting me into a boarding school and out of a very toxic home environment. Seriously looking at properties in Green Island.
Hugs, Francis.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply (employ…) that I knew the length of it live. It’s a real tour de force that I’d love to experience live. Just think though, recorded it’s nearly twice as long as Musgrave!
Christy's reply
we cope with all sorts of emplications here, stredivarious and udderwise…
from where in dogs name did this appear …I’ve no recollection of performing this live..on the evidence here I feel it may be worth looking at again..a less rushed application might lead to quite an acceptable babble rap…feels like it might be a good stoker of a cold winters evening…I’ll have Herr Director take shufty
Interesting thread you may have started there Patsy Mc. Understandably “Me and The Rose ” is a lengthy song, a story of the utmost importance from An Riocht !! I ‘m thinking of Musgrave and some of John Reillys songs ,while Ml Hayes is nt short. It was a cracker last C aris, GRMMA. Beidh failte is fiche romhat san Gleneagle,bain sult as ! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
we’ll have to road test the Brenda Hyland Ballad to gauge its length in the ‘live ‘ scenario…I dont recall whether or not I’ve ever run it live at a gig..I do recall recording in in Sullaune studio in Ballyvourney County Cork back in the 1990s….
“the Garda Club in Harcourt Street
wall to wall moustaches
gay bikers on acid
me and The Rose
we danced the night away
til 5 in the morning
fancy comin back to my place Lofty
does a bear shite in the woods
back to her place
two up and two down
she pulled the cork out of the blue nun
and I got sick allover the Rotweiler
thats a snippet from verse 17..no wonder they never played it
The Diamond is the name of the “square” in Clones at the centre of town..does be thronged for Ulster Championship matches at St Tiarnachs Park.. enough about Monaghan, H’up Kildare..
Christy's reply
just tightening the studs in my boots now..Glen Ryan was on the phone a while ago telling me I might have to tog off…if I get the call I’ll be ready to wreak havoc on that Monaghan Full Back Line
Things are great in Moate this morning Christy……..warm and sunny, what more could we want ?
Just heard on the radio that the length of songs have reduced over the years…apparently the average is now about 2 minutes, seems it works for Spotify etc., and peoples short attention span. Felt like texting in and saying that they should come to your Gigs and hear real songs with real stories, having a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Got me thinking what is the longest song you have sung…….Amsterdam( depending on the audience), “love” Politicians, or was it the “Rose”.
Answers on the back of a €50.
Ride on.
Christy's reply
“Lord Baker” and “Me & The Rose”
Lord Baker was played in its entirity once on BBC Radio 4…far as I know Me & The Rose has never hit the airwaves…
have you ever heard “One in a Million” by Chris Wood…a beauty
Tell you the truth, the wedding reception was a far more enjoyable gig.. I find the older generation have a lot more appreciation for the songs.. maybe that’s a natural evolution..but it can be tricky playing over the vape and green diesel (the name of a drink!) fuelled goers.. What I’d give now to hear those names you mention playing at a Fleadh.. And all n’anyways, we’ll keep rolling ..
Christy's reply
there was plenty of Vape and Green Diesel at The Clones Fleadh…( Gold Flake and Loose Porter)
Still buzzing from last nights show….. “How does he do it ?” Was the question we were all asking after ….. the songs , the power , the bit of a laugh interacting with the crowd….. bodhran in hand ready for The Well and a late diversion to Grouse Hall , out of the depths , .
So many highlights , old songs and new songs side by side.
Those two nuns were sitting next to me….. one of them was thrilled to hear Only our rivers and Spancil Hill.
They don’t make them like Adam any more , one of the original 4711ers , with a knowledge and archive without equal. Always great to meet him On the Road.
Had a chat with the Finland representative after the gig too… did you tour Finland on your travels … ??
Christy's reply
Sure did….Played Finland back around 30 years ago…they know how to deal with snow,ice and low temperatures..I loved the short visit…three gigs run by Olli Pellika and the Ireland/Finland Friendship Society …on a road trip from Helsinki to Tampere ( in a snow plough) we pulled into a service station where I spotted a right hand drive Van with Tyrone Number plates….who was at the top of the queue but Cathal Hayden causing terrible confusion with his breakfast order…25 years later we hit the road together with “The Trad Outfit”..
I heard this morning that those two nuns caused an awful commotion in the residents bar..they were there under false pretences but the night porter assumed they were residents and them in their habits…they were lorrying into Brandy and Port like there was no tomorrow when the night porter realised they were not registered…he had to send for Seanie who arrived in his silk pajamas and ordered them off what was once his premises…later when he saw them slinking down the road toward Killywilly , taking pity on the poor Sisters, brought them back to his mobile home where they sat up all night playing 25s and herself making tea and sandwiches…they rang for the parish Priest this morning but he could not be aroused
Hello Christy,
That was a relief, to see Adam’s post about when and where the great Kevin Barry got an outing. No clue here, I just knew I loved it.
Lots of thoughts, started by Rod Stewart.
“they traded love’s bright and fragile glow for the glitter and the rouge”
I’m feeling grateful for all the things I’ve learnt from you so far.
Not least that it’s possible to do what you do. Maintain a pure relationship with the songs, and then open that space up to listeners so they can form their own spaces and relationships.
That’s pretty big. Ginormous for me, knowing that it’s possible.
Anyway, there’s a harp that needs tuning, as soon as this cat decides to get off me.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I’ve shared that “Kevin Barry” with the family…it really struck home…the memory of our Mother teaching me that song when I was a young boy…probably back around1952 or ’53…then for Adam to remember the night and the venue
Belated birthday wishes to the Wicklow Boy… a real gentleman in every sense of the word. Quietly moves around with the finger always on the button ready to capture that never to be repeated moment…… we have the pleasure then of seeing the results. The “on the road” shot epitomises his keen eye and attention to detail.
Got a few sneak peeks of Cavan last night…. Seems like it was a cracker.
Best regards
Patsy
Christy's reply
Jasus Patsy you would’nt believe it…..I was setting myself up to sing “The Well” when a lad from Stradone called for “The Hackler from Grouse Hall”….now I had not sung that great song for about 30 years …but I took the bait and rose to the challenge….a row and a ruction soon began as I struggled to get the feckin verses in order…I mis-pronunced the word Skunk into a terrible 4 letter word so I’ll probably get lashed to fuck next week on Joe Duffy….two poor nuns in the front row had their rosary beads out by the end of it and Tommy Gorman was taking notes for The Currency….
Hope all is well over in Moate this morning
Early reports of another MIGHTY outing in Seanie’s ballad house.. could not make it last night.. despite being at The Slieve Russell to sing at reception in the afternoon; it was onward to Clones for another gig on The Diamond.. great to meet Marty Mc briefly before hitting the road.. Belated birthday wishes to Adam (sound as a bell)..Catch you at the TLT..
Christy's reply
Well Kevin..you did a good job serenading that wedding in Seanie’s yesterday…it was still hoppin as we pulled out of Killywilly last night….tell us a bit about your gig on The Diamond last night…is it a venue ?….great name for a gig spot….I dont think I’ve ever gigged in Clones…I did go to a Fleadh there circa 1968/69…came from Glasgow with Hamish Imlach, Archie Fisher and Red Billy…. coming thru Belfast was the first time I ever experienced RUC sectarian bullshit…it left its mark on us…it was a great Fleadh…in particular I remember hearing Barney McKenna, Liam Clancy, Maeve Mulvanney, Seamus Ennis, Felix Doran….3 days and nights of high jinx…it was dreamlike…music literally everywhere…very different from what Fleadhs have become…it was loose, unfettered,spontaneous, I’m sounding like an auld girner now so I’ll shut the fuck up and have a chat with Patsy
Hi All.What a true blue 4711er Adam is? What a great re collection he has and a wonderful photographic portfolio also. I think his first CM gig was in the Point in Jan 2006, we celebrated his 21st in Macroom with 2 gigs in the Briary Gap( since burnt down sadly ! ) we have travelled many roads and on ferries and planes since. It was his birthday this week so may I wish my great travelling companion Many Happy Returns of the Day. Looking forward to seeing him in Vicar St, le cunamh De and many more gigs on the road ! H
Christy's reply
Adam’s photography has been incorpoated into some of our sleeve design in recent years…..and he has shared pics from manys the gig in;
“Portarlington,Portlaise and Tullamore,
Two-Mile-House and Poulaphouca,
Blacktrenh, Cutbush and Boolea
such a crowd I never seen before”…
…….from manys the stage I’ve spied him, clicking away unobtrusively,forever seeking a shot to capture the mood of the night
Liam O Corraim of Offaly
this site bates all
Don’t forget Des Foley, Christy! Only player in history to win the hurling and football finals on same day. St Patrick’s day 1962. Played both matches in full.
spot on Gipp…. I got Des mixed up with Snitchy
Evening Christy,
There never really is anything on the telly, except Channel 4 news over here, so i have hit the sack.
I caught snippets of Glastonbury and was hugely underwhelmed, i must have been going down the wrong rabbit holes.
So i’ve plumped for your Traveller album to serenade me to slumber, because after all it moves towards its end with that live recording from Glastonbury , soulful stuff thanks.
I wonder if Camilla went there after attending Ascot in her philip treacy with a flagon of cider looking for Declan?
Rory
we went to hear John Spillane last night..He played a gig at Ernesto’s Coffee Shop in Rathmines to about 60 of us (very lucky) listeners..Lise O’Neill was there, like ourselves, enraptured by John’s gig..he played 4 tracks from his new album with lits of old favourites interweaved into the set….its 4 years since we had a Spillane gig..he is a master…the variety within his songs, his guitar playing, his humour and his connection with the listener made it a very special night..
this afternoon we attended a song session to mark the First Anniversary of our friend and singer,the late Phil Callery…Phil was a constant presence on the Singing Scene here in Dublin for the past 40 years..he was part of the Three Man Accapella group “The Voice Squad” who recorded a number of fine albums..The Cobblestone was thronged this afternoon as many of his Family, Friends, Singers and Musicians gathered to remember our Dear Friend..
Back in the 70’s Phil was a mechanic in a renault dealership….as many of us took to the roads Phil provided us all with sturdy, reliable, second hand, Red Renault 4Ls…he single-handedly mobilised the burgeoning Irish Ballad Scene….and he was a beautiful singer
And then there four
Galway V Limerick
Clare V The Cats
no problem with that…. no premier rebel or deise…I must not declare passionate affinity….we never had that much hurling in the short grass ..altho Pat Dunny did hurl for Leinster in a Railway cup final..one of a very few Provincial Dual Players… Jimmy Barry ?? Babs ?? Snitchy ??..any answers…
Those Old Railway Cups were always classy affairs..great excitement generated in the 50s & 60s.. some of us cycled to Croke Park from Newbridge..I had a big black Rudge with a dynamo and a Sturmey-Archer 3 speed..your hole id be sore for a week
Hello Christy,
Well now! Don’t you be confuddling me with all those lovely new words. You’ll have to be empirocating them to us. We could have a whole new language on our hands. Christish…?
https://youtu.be/DVAgpPNb0fQ
Rebecca
love that Liam Óg and Phil C…. thanks
Christy, I guess I picked up your other name from a poster of “Smoke & Strong Whiskey” that you sent me in my “Sorry” days, back in 91/92. You signed a note and I think you wrote Christopher. Maybe, my memory is playing tricks with me.
Sadly, I lost the poster and your letter. Who’s a naughty boy then?
Will be looking at properties and pubs in Eire shortly. Are any grand Mansions with sawdust pubs going for a song in Blackrock? You wouldn’t want me as a neighbour – my feet smell like Wookey Hole!
Hugs.
Hi Christy, Sorry, if I offended you. Christie was the name of my beloved cat who was murdered by my lodger in 93. What is your fondest memory of your mother?
My happiest memory is my mum getting me into a boarding school and out of a very toxic home environment. Seriously looking at properties in Green Island.
Hugs, Francis.
no offence taken whatsoever
Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply (employ…) that I knew the length of it live. It’s a real tour de force that I’d love to experience live. Just think though, recorded it’s nearly twice as long as Musgrave!
we cope with all sorts of emplications here, stredivarious and udderwise…
They’re cropping up like there’s no tomorrow now
https://youtu.be/sg7KT2IPTEo
from where in dogs name did this appear …I’ve no recollection of performing this live..on the evidence here I feel it may be worth looking at again..a less rushed application might lead to quite an acceptable babble rap…feels like it might be a good stoker of a cold winters evening…I’ll have Herr Director take shufty
Hello Christy,
I was so pleased to find it. I hope your family enjoyed it.
Love Musgrave, it flows so beautifully.
I listened to me and the Rose the other day. 13 minutes 20 seconds of technicolor storytelling.
Watching England vs Ireland under 20s here.
Rebecca
I’d gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder plain
I’d gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder plain…..
Interesting thread you may have started there Patsy Mc. Understandably “Me and The Rose ” is a lengthy song, a story of the utmost importance from An Riocht !! I ‘m thinking of Musgrave and some of John Reillys songs ,while Ml Hayes is nt short. It was a cracker last C aris, GRMMA. Beidh failte is fiche romhat san Gleneagle,bain sult as ! Beir bua agus beannacht. H
we’ll have to road test the Brenda Hyland Ballad to gauge its length in the ‘live ‘ scenario…I dont recall whether or not I’ve ever run it live at a gig..I do recall recording in in Sullaune studio in Ballyvourney County Cork back in the 1990s….
“the Garda Club in Harcourt Street
wall to wall moustaches
gay bikers on acid
me and The Rose
we danced the night away
til 5 in the morning
fancy comin back to my place Lofty
does a bear shite in the woods
back to her place
two up and two down
she pulled the cork out of the blue nun
and I got sick allover the Rotweiler
thats a snippet from verse 17..no wonder they never played it
Clip of kevin barry from the borrowlands 2014
https://youtu.be/9_-DpzN29O8
your pulling them out of the hat now Adam..Thank You
The Diamond is the name of the “square” in Clones at the centre of town..does be thronged for Ulster Championship matches at St Tiarnachs Park.. enough about Monaghan, H’up Kildare..
just tightening the studs in my boots now..Glen Ryan was on the phone a while ago telling me I might have to tog off…if I get the call I’ll be ready to wreak havoc on that Monaghan Full Back Line
Things are great in Moate this morning Christy……..warm and sunny, what more could we want ?
Just heard on the radio that the length of songs have reduced over the years…apparently the average is now about 2 minutes, seems it works for Spotify etc., and peoples short attention span. Felt like texting in and saying that they should come to your Gigs and hear real songs with real stories, having a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Got me thinking what is the longest song you have sung…….Amsterdam( depending on the audience), “love” Politicians, or was it the “Rose”.
Answers on the back of a €50.
Ride on.
“Lord Baker” and “Me & The Rose”
Lord Baker was played in its entirity once on BBC Radio 4…far as I know Me & The Rose has never hit the airwaves…
have you ever heard “One in a Million” by Chris Wood…a beauty
Tell you the truth, the wedding reception was a far more enjoyable gig.. I find the older generation have a lot more appreciation for the songs.. maybe that’s a natural evolution..but it can be tricky playing over the vape and green diesel (the name of a drink!) fuelled goers.. What I’d give now to hear those names you mention playing at a Fleadh.. And all n’anyways, we’ll keep rolling ..
there was plenty of Vape and Green Diesel at The Clones Fleadh…( Gold Flake and Loose Porter)
Still buzzing from last nights show….. “How does he do it ?” Was the question we were all asking after ….. the songs , the power , the bit of a laugh interacting with the crowd….. bodhran in hand ready for The Well and a late diversion to Grouse Hall , out of the depths , .
So many highlights , old songs and new songs side by side.
Those two nuns were sitting next to me….. one of them was thrilled to hear Only our rivers and Spancil Hill.
They don’t make them like Adam any more , one of the original 4711ers , with a knowledge and archive without equal. Always great to meet him On the Road.
Had a chat with the Finland representative after the gig too… did you tour Finland on your travels … ??
Sure did….Played Finland back around 30 years ago…they know how to deal with snow,ice and low temperatures..I loved the short visit…three gigs run by Olli Pellika and the Ireland/Finland Friendship Society …on a road trip from Helsinki to Tampere ( in a snow plough) we pulled into a service station where I spotted a right hand drive Van with Tyrone Number plates….who was at the top of the queue but Cathal Hayden causing terrible confusion with his breakfast order…25 years later we hit the road together with “The Trad Outfit”..
I heard this morning that those two nuns caused an awful commotion in the residents bar..they were there under false pretences but the night porter assumed they were residents and them in their habits…they were lorrying into Brandy and Port like there was no tomorrow when the night porter realised they were not registered…he had to send for Seanie who arrived in his silk pajamas and ordered them off what was once his premises…later when he saw them slinking down the road toward Killywilly , taking pity on the poor Sisters, brought them back to his mobile home where they sat up all night playing 25s and herself making tea and sandwiches…they rang for the parish Priest this morning but he could not be aroused
Hello Christy,
That was a relief, to see Adam’s post about when and where the great Kevin Barry got an outing. No clue here, I just knew I loved it.
Lots of thoughts, started by Rod Stewart.
“they traded love’s bright and fragile glow for the glitter and the rouge”
I’m feeling grateful for all the things I’ve learnt from you so far.
Not least that it’s possible to do what you do. Maintain a pure relationship with the songs, and then open that space up to listeners so they can form their own spaces and relationships.
That’s pretty big. Ginormous for me, knowing that it’s possible.
Anyway, there’s a harp that needs tuning, as soon as this cat decides to get off me.
Rebecca
I’ve shared that “Kevin Barry” with the family…it really struck home…the memory of our Mother teaching me that song when I was a young boy…probably back around1952 or ’53…then for Adam to remember the night and the venue
Belated birthday wishes to the Wicklow Boy… a real gentleman in every sense of the word. Quietly moves around with the finger always on the button ready to capture that never to be repeated moment…… we have the pleasure then of seeing the results. The “on the road” shot epitomises his keen eye and attention to detail.
Got a few sneak peeks of Cavan last night…. Seems like it was a cracker.
Best regards
Patsy
Jasus Patsy you would’nt believe it…..I was setting myself up to sing “The Well” when a lad from Stradone called for “The Hackler from Grouse Hall”….now I had not sung that great song for about 30 years …but I took the bait and rose to the challenge….a row and a ruction soon began as I struggled to get the feckin verses in order…I mis-pronunced the word Skunk into a terrible 4 letter word so I’ll probably get lashed to fuck next week on Joe Duffy….two poor nuns in the front row had their rosary beads out by the end of it and Tommy Gorman was taking notes for The Currency….
Hope all is well over in Moate this morning
Early reports of another MIGHTY outing in Seanie’s ballad house.. could not make it last night.. despite being at The Slieve Russell to sing at reception in the afternoon; it was onward to Clones for another gig on The Diamond.. great to meet Marty Mc briefly before hitting the road.. Belated birthday wishes to Adam (sound as a bell)..Catch you at the TLT..
Well Kevin..you did a good job serenading that wedding in Seanie’s yesterday…it was still hoppin as we pulled out of Killywilly last night….tell us a bit about your gig on The Diamond last night…is it a venue ?….great name for a gig spot….I dont think I’ve ever gigged in Clones…I did go to a Fleadh there circa 1968/69…came from Glasgow with Hamish Imlach, Archie Fisher and Red Billy…. coming thru Belfast was the first time I ever experienced RUC sectarian bullshit…it left its mark on us…it was a great Fleadh…in particular I remember hearing Barney McKenna, Liam Clancy, Maeve Mulvanney, Seamus Ennis, Felix Doran….3 days and nights of high jinx…it was dreamlike…music literally everywhere…very different from what Fleadhs have become…it was loose, unfettered,spontaneous, I’m sounding like an auld girner now so I’ll shut the fuck up and have a chat with Patsy
Hi All.What a true blue 4711er Adam is? What a great re collection he has and a wonderful photographic portfolio also. I think his first CM gig was in the Point in Jan 2006, we celebrated his 21st in Macroom with 2 gigs in the Briary Gap( since burnt down sadly ! ) we have travelled many roads and on ferries and planes since. It was his birthday this week so may I wish my great travelling companion Many Happy Returns of the Day. Looking forward to seeing him in Vicar St, le cunamh De and many more gigs on the road ! H
Adam’s photography has been incorpoated into some of our sleeve design in recent years…..and he has shared pics from manys the gig in;
“Portarlington,Portlaise and Tullamore,
Two-Mile-House and Poulaphouca,
Blacktrenh, Cutbush and Boolea
such a crowd I never seen before”…
…….from manys the stage I’ve spied him, clicking away unobtrusively,forever seeking a shot to capture the mood of the night