Jeez, Rebecca, I thought it was only me. A few years ago, I was travelling single. I booked a hostel, overnight. Online. A European city.
I arrived. There was no booking. He said there was a booking, in my name, for ‘two people’ for the following two nights! I do not know what I did. Is it figures and days and dates that bamboozle ones eyes…….?! You’d want to get another person to check prior to clicking any buttons.
Christy's reply
Spike Milligan’s cure for sea sickness…”stand under a tree”
Hello Christy,
So I’m busy trying to organise two trips to Ireland. One in July for the show on 19th in Dogheda, the other in October for the show on 19th in Castlebar. It’s going to be lovely to be back.
Anyone else find making travel arrangements totally bamboozling? It’s the ferries I struggle with. In January I booked us on the ferry at 2am instead of 2pm. We were saved by the staff at Stena being so kind. I’ve no idea how it happened. Then on Sunday I booked the ferry for October and got Steve to check the times. All correct. Unfortunately I’d chosen July by mistake instead of October. So I’d got two crossings on 18th July and none in October. I suppose it’s better than last year when I got the destinations upside-down and didn’t notice till the week before. The boat in Dublin was expecting us instead of the boat in Holyhead.
I used to have a brain…
Rebecca
Christy's reply
we left Birmingham for London back in 1968… I was drivin…when the lads in the back woke we were in Bristol
Hi Christy,
Still buzzing after Saturday’s show.
I think you opened with the four of
Chicago,Brigada,Johnny Boy and Ride On
and then brought us hither and yon and on …
Sinead and Shane remembered in song
(Is ceart agus is coir sin)
The new songs all went down well.
Palestine especially but Black an Amber too.
(No Marque ach cen dochar)
The new fad ceirin
is shaping to be one of the best yet.
Will it be of ten or of twelve tunes ?
Don’t know who sequenced the songs on Magic Nights
But the four on Side C take bating
Rosalita and Jack Campbell
Duffy’s Cut
Motherland
Spancilhill
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Christy's reply
an fad ceirnín beagnác críocnaithe….
sequencing can be the very divil itself
we’re lookin at a possible 13 tunes
I had a note made to include The Marquee last Sat night
but once I hit the road I had no control over the horses
Black & Amber is a beauty to sing,great bit of writing from Briany Brannigan
he has the gift
lovely to see Magic Nights getting a mention
there were some great gigs with Mairtín,Cathal, Sheamie & Jimmy
One night in The Ardilaun we really clicked…everything just flowed
I find myself back where it all began
after decades of ensemble playing
thar nais go dtí mé féin leis an bosca agus na hamhrání
excuse my stabs at remembering the bit of lingo
(losing it remains one of life’s greatest regrets)
This is a bit of a late response to your question about how to type the ü in Günter’s name. I just happened to need to type Schrödinger in a discussion about one of my Open University courses so was playing around with the keyboard (alas, not a musical keyboard, I have zero musical skills).
If you are using a laptop or computer keyboard you can hold down the Alt key (at the left of the space bar), type the digits 0252 then let go of the Alt key. On an iPhone hold down the letter u until several versions with various accents pop up, slide back two places to find ü. On a Samsung phone hold down the letter u then slide back four u varieties. The phone option is a bit of a challenge to my eyesight!
Hope this helps.
Anne
Christy's reply
my fingers are in knots as I try to follow your instruction
I greatly appreciate your guidelines
I will try again when next corresponding to Deutchland
Thank you Anne
Dear Christy,
thank you very much for the songs you sing. My partner Frances is 50 today and is the Queen of Tara –
“the song of the stone
the limb with no bone
here then there
the blink of a stare
so has infinity sung”
I sang her Green Island tonight. Have you any plans to come to Perth? Love and health to yourself. D
Christy's reply
“all along the Valley of The Boyne
on to Tara Hill
know that it always will”
Christy i was listening to the Oblivious album on my way to and from justice today and was struck by the song Leitrim ( a brief history) and it’s mention of a band from Drumsna.
I recalled it is a place mentioned in Ballinamore about a feathered inhabitant ( i assume).
Two great songs , decades apart in their making, and greater decades apart in their subjects’ timings.
Who knows, maybe the good folk of Drumsna are musical magnets, i have not been but feel i should have a trip there some day.
Stevie ,my pal, has paid a visit to the Sean Macdiarmada statue at Kiltyclogher so i should do so too when over,
Yo Christy! Your reply to my post has me in stitches….har har!
Methinks the Tonight show video of you performing Jim Page’s song Palestine might get an airing at Barry’s farewell gig tonight. All part of the great educational experience.
Hello Christy. The concert at the NCH is an unforgettable experience. It will be carrying me along the rest of the year. And further. Thank you. All the best to you. Günter
Christy's reply
I’m remembering my trips around Germany….Musikhalle, Stubo, Sviebel, Laborotoeum, Alte Opera, Markethaale, criss-crossing the Autobahns, longing for the Ausfahrt, wonderful listeners, long encores, eintopf, Toten Hosen, Abi Wallenstein, Traudel,Karsten Jahnke, Heidelberg, Hannover,
Hi Christy! Great to read here about all the great gigs rolling on, fair play to you and your mighty crew.
Ned Farrell’s ‘young fella’ Barry is stepping back from the coal face of education after 43 years teaching, and a mighty crowd is rolling in to Düsseldorf from all over for a farewell gig tomorrow night. There will be jigs and reels, songs and stories, much laughter, a few tears and a grand time will be had by all.
I’ll pass on your fond regards to Barry and his family members there, and if it is ok with you I’ll tell the story you tell about his Dad Ned, his great work for the music, and the welcome he gave you when you returned from England. Keep on going!
Christy's reply
fire ahead Pat…
tear away !
my mother ‘s a dressmaker
Hello Christy,
It’s a fab recording isn’t it.
On the channel it says
Welcome to
The Fox Family Sessions
Dedicated to recovering lost Traditional Irish/(&) country music recordings from the 60’s onward for future generations.
Mostly these original reel to reel master copies were recorded in and around the Fermanagh / Tyrone and The Kingdom of Mourne areas of Ireland.
Regards, Joe Fox
These recordings illustrate how far and wide Liam travelled with his music…his playing is so unique,the breadth of his repertoire unsurpassed,the warmth of his personality personified in his music….thanks for sharing
Not sure if it the done thing so apologies if it’s not. Got caught at work the morning botanic garden tickets went on sale and have been the hunt ever since.
Don’t suppose any guest bookers would happen to have two tickets they aren’t gonna get to use for sale?
Always up for another wee duet ofcourse Christy if that tickled your fancy either 😉 (a girl can dream, eh?)
Grá mór,
Áine
Christy's reply
Hope it works out for you…if anything comes thru here I’ll pass it on..
Christy, what do banks have holidays for ?
Perhaps they need a day off to count their wads, they have one over here today, i think that mick blake’s fine songs about banks (and politicians) Oblivious, Catch Cries and Mr Tepper should be the obligatory sounds of a bank holiday, played loud and proud.
Just like ‘i hate politicians’ , there is always a place for such honest songs in my musical library, perhaps the politicians song will be played loud and proud alongside mickey rooney’s ‘yankee doodle dandy’ on the 4th july?
rory
Christy's reply
drink, golf, bridge, actin the bollicks, race meetings, drink,washing the ford anglia, mowing the grass, drink,mass, confession, lough derg,visit the mother, the first round of the C’Ship, drink,
Hello Christy & Christyites:
Haven’t checked in for a while so will need to update myself…
Hoping you’re all well & pleased
I loved Ireland -again! – The Poor Relation, Cork; The Brazen Head Dublin but missed a beer in Belfast
Couldn’t get to CM gig even if I could
Gaza continues to appall, disgust & sadden
I am reminded of L. cohen’s “Story of Isaac”.
Smile on, ride on, sail on
Danny Harris – dodging’ scurvy by a mile
A great read and insight to the work in reply to Patsy below.. it’s some crew to have; rocksteady, reliable and hungry… Are the 3 Taks you play identical models?
Christy's reply
I’ll need to check that out…they are all 40 years old but I dont have precise model numbers or details …they live with John…I really like to old Taks but found the company very unhelpful when looking for info on their pick up systems…I believe the old Taks are the best for my purpose..great working guitars….Derek Nelson at Danvel has kept the in great shape..no rattles no hums..he takes them in once a year and they come back sounding perfect for my balladeering
Morning Christy,
Still buzzing after another masterclass by yourself in the NCH.
It must be an amazing sight for you to look down that great Venue and see such a crowd of attentive listeners. Again “Palestine” resonated with everyone. Thanks to you, and all your wonderful crew who make it look so easy, when we are well aware of the exacting work that goes on in the background, to make the Gig special for us.
We treasure too, the many lifelong friends we have made along the way.
Ride on.
Patsy
Christy's reply
true for you Patsy….
for each of those three NCH gigs the Crew got in at 11 am…first thing they build my stage which is placed in the centre of the vast NCH stage…with draping this creates a smaller performance area which is easier occupied by a solo performer..then they proceed with sound and lighting…I join them at 3 in the afternoon…by 5 everything is in place and ready for sound and lighting check…when I go out on stage at 5 everything is perfectly in place…stage is set, guitars re-strung and in tune, Bodhrán in perfect pitch waiting to be battered…David checks the sound in all areas of the venue, Dickon insures that the monitors are providing a quality sound on stage, Geoff has the lights focused, doing his utmost to try and make me look windswept and interesting..Johnny has all 3 guitars ready to rock and everything in its right place… Paddy and Michael attend to all details at the periphery, crew meals, accomodation conflab with house crew and security, door times,safety aspects …soundchecks can run from 10 minutes to 45 minutes…sometimes I get carried away trying out some fresh verses but hints come in my direction that its “crew” dinner time….they have various subtle ways of displaying pangs of hunger that brings sound checks to a halt…I return to the dressing room and proceed with my pre-gig routine…stretching, gurgling, gargling, singing, thinking of what lies ahead..come 7.45 Michael gives me the 15 minute call and I jump into my stage keks and bicycle clips…(I used to brush my hair at this time )….he then escorts me to my position where Johnny rigs up my Mike and power pack and I listen to Mark Knobfler’s music from “Cal”..David makes his announcement and out I go to face the music….
all very different from 50 years ago..back then the pre gig routine involved porter, rawmaishing in some nearby speakeasy, a pull on this, a line of that, wondering what lunatics might be around for sport in the aftermath..thats all long behind me now Thanks Be….
further back again I travelled extra light..guitar, sleeping bag,spare shirt and toothbrush in the guitar case and that was it…
early days, met so many great people along the way, its truly amazing that the work still rolls on from that first gig in 1966…and I can honestly say that (contd P94)
I love this track and Liam’s intro to “The Drunken Gauger”then to hear the shape and turns of the tune while imagining the carry on of the Gauger as he sampled the whiskey and , in turn, watered it down himself…any idea where and when this was recorded
Just a note to let you know I have your old companero, Jimmy Crowley and Eve Telford in The Four Provinces on Sat June 29th.
Looking forward to hearing Jimmy again, its been a long time.
See you in Kilkenny on June 9th, cant wait !
Mind youeself,
Jason L.
Christy's reply
Regrets Jason..cant make it…hope ye have a good night…that was a geat gig there last month with Davóg Rynne…(one thing..a touch of oil on the hinges of the door leading to the women’s jacks would be great)…apart from that, a great gig room in a grand part of Town..will definitely visit again
Hi C What a great run you had over the last 3 weekends, you really connected with the audiences, but then nothing new in that. The setlists were mighty, varied yet with core essential songs and the nods to Shane and Sinead were special. Middle of the Island was just so powerful, as was They Never Came Home. Great to see so much respect for Liam Og here, I was lucky to catch him and Seamus Heaney in the Concert Hall many years ago, both now imithe ar shlí na fírinne but never forgotten. The run of gigs are starting in the Botanic Gardens lets hope they’ re a great success, Belfast loves music. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
that was a mighty prompt in the NCH last night..I drew a blank on the second verse until you I heard “Her Name was Anita”……only yourself could have delivered it ….míle maith agat cara
gotta say ,I love the National Concert Hall these times….its a more enlightened joint than it used to be in its first decade….nowadays it caters for all, Beethoven, Bach , Ballads, Jazz, Trad., Tchaikovsky, Joe Dolan Tribute, Berlioz and Brendan’s Voyage…(Sean Davey) ….everyone gets a look in to our National Concert Hall….back in the 80s it was a different story…some stellar nights in recent decades…I’ve enjoyed both sides of the lamps in recent decades….The Poet & The Piper, Marc Almond, Declan O’Rourke, Liam Óg and The Brendan Suite..its all outdoor next weekend ..back in under The Black Mountain….two bumps Josie and away we go
Early this morning I sent Liam O’Flynn’s Out to an Other Side over the wireless. The birds stopped talking when hearing The Wild Gease – then whispered to each other. How fortunate we are to live during time of recorded sound.
It must have been something to create beautiful music with him.
Christy's reply
Liam Óg still resounds…I’ve heard him 3 times today…a man after my own heart, Kildare Kerry and Clare to the core
Jeez, Rebecca, I thought it was only me. A few years ago, I was travelling single. I booked a hostel, overnight. Online. A European city.
I arrived. There was no booking. He said there was a booking, in my name, for ‘two people’ for the following two nights! I do not know what I did. Is it figures and days and dates that bamboozle ones eyes…….?! You’d want to get another person to check prior to clicking any buttons.
Spike Milligan’s cure for sea sickness…”stand under a tree”
Hello Christy,
So I’m busy trying to organise two trips to Ireland. One in July for the show on 19th in Dogheda, the other in October for the show on 19th in Castlebar. It’s going to be lovely to be back.
Anyone else find making travel arrangements totally bamboozling? It’s the ferries I struggle with. In January I booked us on the ferry at 2am instead of 2pm. We were saved by the staff at Stena being so kind. I’ve no idea how it happened. Then on Sunday I booked the ferry for October and got Steve to check the times. All correct. Unfortunately I’d chosen July by mistake instead of October. So I’d got two crossings on 18th July and none in October. I suppose it’s better than last year when I got the destinations upside-down and didn’t notice till the week before. The boat in Dublin was expecting us instead of the boat in Holyhead.
I used to have a brain…
Rebecca
we left Birmingham for London back in 1968… I was drivin…when the lads in the back woke we were in Bristol
Hi Christy,
Still buzzing after Saturday’s show.
I think you opened with the four of
Chicago,Brigada,Johnny Boy and Ride On
and then brought us hither and yon and on …
Sinead and Shane remembered in song
(Is ceart agus is coir sin)
The new songs all went down well.
Palestine especially but Black an Amber too.
(No Marque ach cen dochar)
The new fad ceirin
is shaping to be one of the best yet.
Will it be of ten or of twelve tunes ?
Don’t know who sequenced the songs on Magic Nights
But the four on Side C take bating
Rosalita and Jack Campbell
Duffy’s Cut
Motherland
Spancilhill
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
an fad ceirnín beagnác críocnaithe….
sequencing can be the very divil itself
we’re lookin at a possible 13 tunes
I had a note made to include The Marquee last Sat night
but once I hit the road I had no control over the horses
Black & Amber is a beauty to sing,great bit of writing from Briany Brannigan
he has the gift
lovely to see Magic Nights getting a mention
there were some great gigs with Mairtín,Cathal, Sheamie & Jimmy
One night in The Ardilaun we really clicked…everything just flowed
I find myself back where it all began
after decades of ensemble playing
thar nais go dtí mé féin leis an bosca agus na hamhrání
excuse my stabs at remembering the bit of lingo
(losing it remains one of life’s greatest regrets)
Hello Christy,
This is a bit of a late response to your question about how to type the ü in Günter’s name. I just happened to need to type Schrödinger in a discussion about one of my Open University courses so was playing around with the keyboard (alas, not a musical keyboard, I have zero musical skills).
If you are using a laptop or computer keyboard you can hold down the Alt key (at the left of the space bar), type the digits 0252 then let go of the Alt key. On an iPhone hold down the letter u until several versions with various accents pop up, slide back two places to find ü. On a Samsung phone hold down the letter u then slide back four u varieties. The phone option is a bit of a challenge to my eyesight!
Hope this helps.
Anne
my fingers are in knots as I try to follow your instruction
I greatly appreciate your guidelines
I will try again when next corresponding to Deutchland
Thank you Anne
Dear Christy,
thank you very much for the songs you sing. My partner Frances is 50 today and is the Queen of Tara –
“the song of the stone
the limb with no bone
here then there
the blink of a stare
so has infinity sung”
I sang her Green Island tonight. Have you any plans to come to Perth? Love and health to yourself. D
“all along the Valley of The Boyne
on to Tara Hill
know that it always will”
…..(From Melody Mountain…Tony Small)
Christy i was listening to the Oblivious album on my way to and from justice today and was struck by the song Leitrim ( a brief history) and it’s mention of a band from Drumsna.
I recalled it is a place mentioned in Ballinamore about a feathered inhabitant ( i assume).
Two great songs , decades apart in their making, and greater decades apart in their subjects’ timings.
Who knows, maybe the good folk of Drumsna are musical magnets, i have not been but feel i should have a trip there some day.
Stevie ,my pal, has paid a visit to the Sean Macdiarmada statue at Kiltyclogher so i should do so too when over,
Rory
Hello Christy,
Something for a wet Wednesday morning.
https://youtu.be/LApf2DKOBOs?si=a89x7MO0iooo_aJp
Rebecca
Yo Christy! Your reply to my post has me in stitches….har har!
Methinks the Tonight show video of you performing Jim Page’s song Palestine might get an airing at Barry’s farewell gig tonight. All part of the great educational experience.
Hello Christy. The concert at the NCH is an unforgettable experience. It will be carrying me along the rest of the year. And further. Thank you. All the best to you. Günter
I’m remembering my trips around Germany….Musikhalle, Stubo, Sviebel, Laborotoeum, Alte Opera, Markethaale, criss-crossing the Autobahns, longing for the Ausfahrt, wonderful listeners, long encores, eintopf, Toten Hosen, Abi Wallenstein, Traudel,Karsten Jahnke, Heidelberg, Hannover,
Hi Christy! Great to read here about all the great gigs rolling on, fair play to you and your mighty crew.
Ned Farrell’s ‘young fella’ Barry is stepping back from the coal face of education after 43 years teaching, and a mighty crowd is rolling in to Düsseldorf from all over for a farewell gig tomorrow night. There will be jigs and reels, songs and stories, much laughter, a few tears and a grand time will be had by all.
I’ll pass on your fond regards to Barry and his family members there, and if it is ok with you I’ll tell the story you tell about his Dad Ned, his great work for the music, and the welcome he gave you when you returned from England. Keep on going!
fire ahead Pat…
tear away !
my mother ‘s a dressmaker
Hello Christy,
It’s a fab recording isn’t it.
On the channel it says
Welcome to
The Fox Family Sessions
Dedicated to recovering lost Traditional Irish/(&) country music recordings from the 60’s onward for future generations.
Mostly these original reel to reel master copies were recorded in and around the Fermanagh / Tyrone and The Kingdom of Mourne areas of Ireland.
Regards, Joe Fox
Here’s another nugget of loveliness from the Fox archive
https://youtu.be/CM48-rUINm8?si=zR3i7z6L8AzKeXIp
Recorded by Billy Browne 1981 or 1982 in America taken from the original tape
Rebecca
These recordings illustrate how far and wide Liam travelled with his music…his playing is so unique,the breadth of his repertoire unsurpassed,the warmth of his personality personified in his music….thanks for sharing
Not sure if it the done thing so apologies if it’s not. Got caught at work the morning botanic garden tickets went on sale and have been the hunt ever since.
Don’t suppose any guest bookers would happen to have two tickets they aren’t gonna get to use for sale?
Always up for another wee duet ofcourse Christy if that tickled your fancy either 😉 (a girl can dream, eh?)
Grá mór,
Áine
Hope it works out for you…if anything comes thru here I’ll pass it on..
Christy, what do banks have holidays for ?
Perhaps they need a day off to count their wads, they have one over here today, i think that mick blake’s fine songs about banks (and politicians) Oblivious, Catch Cries and Mr Tepper should be the obligatory sounds of a bank holiday, played loud and proud.
Just like ‘i hate politicians’ , there is always a place for such honest songs in my musical library, perhaps the politicians song will be played loud and proud alongside mickey rooney’s ‘yankee doodle dandy’ on the 4th july?
rory
drink, golf, bridge, actin the bollicks, race meetings, drink,washing the ford anglia, mowing the grass, drink,mass, confession, lough derg,visit the mother, the first round of the C’Ship, drink,
Hello Christy & Christyites:
Haven’t checked in for a while so will need to update myself…
Hoping you’re all well & pleased
I loved Ireland -again! – The Poor Relation, Cork; The Brazen Head Dublin but missed a beer in Belfast
Couldn’t get to CM gig even if I could
Gaza continues to appall, disgust & sadden
I am reminded of L. cohen’s “Story of Isaac”.
Smile on, ride on, sail on
Danny Harris – dodging’ scurvy by a mile
watch out for pirates..they’d skin you alive
A great read and insight to the work in reply to Patsy below.. it’s some crew to have; rocksteady, reliable and hungry… Are the 3 Taks you play identical models?
I’ll need to check that out…they are all 40 years old but I dont have precise model numbers or details …they live with John…I really like to old Taks but found the company very unhelpful when looking for info on their pick up systems…I believe the old Taks are the best for my purpose..great working guitars….Derek Nelson at Danvel has kept the in great shape..no rattles no hums..he takes them in once a year and they come back sounding perfect for my balladeering
Morning Christy,
Still buzzing after another masterclass by yourself in the NCH.
It must be an amazing sight for you to look down that great Venue and see such a crowd of attentive listeners. Again “Palestine” resonated with everyone. Thanks to you, and all your wonderful crew who make it look so easy, when we are well aware of the exacting work that goes on in the background, to make the Gig special for us.
We treasure too, the many lifelong friends we have made along the way.
Ride on.
Patsy
true for you Patsy….
for each of those three NCH gigs the Crew got in at 11 am…first thing they build my stage which is placed in the centre of the vast NCH stage…with draping this creates a smaller performance area which is easier occupied by a solo performer..then they proceed with sound and lighting…I join them at 3 in the afternoon…by 5 everything is in place and ready for sound and lighting check…when I go out on stage at 5 everything is perfectly in place…stage is set, guitars re-strung and in tune, Bodhrán in perfect pitch waiting to be battered…David checks the sound in all areas of the venue, Dickon insures that the monitors are providing a quality sound on stage, Geoff has the lights focused, doing his utmost to try and make me look windswept and interesting..Johnny has all 3 guitars ready to rock and everything in its right place… Paddy and Michael attend to all details at the periphery, crew meals, accomodation conflab with house crew and security, door times,safety aspects …soundchecks can run from 10 minutes to 45 minutes…sometimes I get carried away trying out some fresh verses but hints come in my direction that its “crew” dinner time….they have various subtle ways of displaying pangs of hunger that brings sound checks to a halt…I return to the dressing room and proceed with my pre-gig routine…stretching, gurgling, gargling, singing, thinking of what lies ahead..come 7.45 Michael gives me the 15 minute call and I jump into my stage keks and bicycle clips…(I used to brush my hair at this time )….he then escorts me to my position where Johnny rigs up my Mike and power pack and I listen to Mark Knobfler’s music from “Cal”..David makes his announcement and out I go to face the music….
all very different from 50 years ago..back then the pre gig routine involved porter, rawmaishing in some nearby speakeasy, a pull on this, a line of that, wondering what lunatics might be around for sport in the aftermath..thats all long behind me now Thanks Be….
further back again I travelled extra light..guitar, sleeping bag,spare shirt and toothbrush in the guitar case and that was it…
early days, met so many great people along the way, its truly amazing that the work still rolls on from that first gig in 1966…and I can honestly say that (contd P94)
Hello Christy,
Lots of Liam O’Flynn. I listen to him as often as I can. Here’s a sweet gem. Recorded on a cassette recorder, so no visuals.
https://youtu.be/X4DI3qWq-0k?si=gZOuNGWha0C0b7_7
Rebecca
I love this track and Liam’s intro to “The Drunken Gauger”then to hear the shape and turns of the tune while imagining the carry on of the Gauger as he sampled the whiskey and , in turn, watered it down himself…any idea where and when this was recorded
Well Christy, I hope you are keeping well.
Just a note to let you know I have your old companero, Jimmy Crowley and Eve Telford in The Four Provinces on Sat June 29th.
Looking forward to hearing Jimmy again, its been a long time.
See you in Kilkenny on June 9th, cant wait !
Mind youeself,
Jason L.
Regrets Jason..cant make it…hope ye have a good night…that was a geat gig there last month with Davóg Rynne…(one thing..a touch of oil on the hinges of the door leading to the women’s jacks would be great)…apart from that, a great gig room in a grand part of Town..will definitely visit again
Hi C What a great run you had over the last 3 weekends, you really connected with the audiences, but then nothing new in that. The setlists were mighty, varied yet with core essential songs and the nods to Shane and Sinead were special. Middle of the Island was just so powerful, as was They Never Came Home. Great to see so much respect for Liam Og here, I was lucky to catch him and Seamus Heaney in the Concert Hall many years ago, both now imithe ar shlí na fírinne but never forgotten. The run of gigs are starting in the Botanic Gardens lets hope they’ re a great success, Belfast loves music. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
that was a mighty prompt in the NCH last night..I drew a blank on the second verse until you I heard “Her Name was Anita”……only yourself could have delivered it ….míle maith agat cara
gotta say ,I love the National Concert Hall these times….its a more enlightened joint than it used to be in its first decade….nowadays it caters for all, Beethoven, Bach , Ballads, Jazz, Trad., Tchaikovsky, Joe Dolan Tribute, Berlioz and Brendan’s Voyage…(Sean Davey) ….everyone gets a look in to our National Concert Hall….back in the 80s it was a different story…some stellar nights in recent decades…I’ve enjoyed both sides of the lamps in recent decades….The Poet & The Piper, Marc Almond, Declan O’Rourke, Liam Óg and The Brendan Suite..its all outdoor next weekend ..back in under The Black Mountain….two bumps Josie and away we go
Early this morning I sent Liam O’Flynn’s Out to an Other Side over the wireless. The birds stopped talking when hearing The Wild Gease – then whispered to each other. How fortunate we are to live during time of recorded sound.
It must have been something to create beautiful music with him.
Liam Óg still resounds…I’ve heard him 3 times today…a man after my own heart, Kildare Kerry and Clare to the core