Christy Moore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christy Moore
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Moore performing in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christopher Andrew Moore |
| Born | 7 May 1945 |
| Origin | Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Genres | Folk, traditional Irish |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bodhrán |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Associated acts | Planxty, Moving Hearts, The Dubliners, Luka Bloom |
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore (born May 7, 1945) is a famous Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well-known for his solo music. He also helped start two important bands: Planxty and Moving Hearts. His first album, Paddy on the Road, came out in 1969. In 2007, people voted him Ireland's greatest living musician.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Christy Moore was born in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. He went to Newbridge College. His mother, Nancy Moore, was involved in politics. Christy used to work at a bank. But he really wanted to play traditional music.
In 1966, during a bank strike, he went to England. He decided to stay there. He did different jobs and spent time in folk clubs. He met many traditional musicians there. These included Seamus Ennis and Luke Kelly. An Irish singing group called The Grehan Sisters helped him get started. They gave him contacts and chances to perform.
Christy Moore's Music Journey
Forming Planxty
In 1973, Christy released his album Prosperous. This album brought together four musicians. They were Liam O'Flynn, Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, and Christy himself. Soon after, they formed the band Planxty. They became a very popular group.
Solo Career and Other Bands
Christy left Planxty in 1975. He continued to make music on his own. Sometimes, he would reunite with Planxty for special shows. In 1980, he started another band called Moving Hearts. He formed this band with Dónal Lunny and five other musicians.
In 1987, Christy performed with The Dubliners on a TV show. This was for their 25th anniversary. In 2000, he wrote a book about his life called One Voice.
Recent Albums
Christy Moore has released many albums over the years. In April 2009, he released Listen. He promoted it with live concerts. His album Folk Tale came out in December 2011. In November 2013, he released Where I Come From. This album included a new protest song. It reached number three on the Irish album charts. More recent albums include On the Road (2017), Magic Nights (2019), and A Terrible Beauty (2024).
The Stardust Fire Song
Christy Moore wrote a song called "They Never Came Home". This song is about the Stardust fire of 1981. Forty-eight people died in that fire. The song was on his album Ordinary Man in 1985.
The song caused some trouble. It talked about fire exits being chained. This was during a court case about the fire. A judge ordered the album to be taken out of shops. Christy had to pay costs. He then recorded a different song for the album. "They Never Came Home" later appeared on other albums.
In 2024, a jury looked at the Stardust fire again. They found that some exits were blocked or hard to open. One exit was locked and blocked by a van. Another had chains on the panic bar. This made it seem locked. These findings supported parts of Christy's song.
Musical Style
Christy Moore's solo music has a special sound. He plays guitar and bodhrán (an Irish drum). He uses strong rhythms for some songs. For others, he sings slower, gentle ballads.
Christy's Family
Christy Moore's brother is also a singer-songwriter. His stage name is Luka Bloom. Christy's nephew, Conor Byrne, plays the flute and tin whistle. Christy even appeared on Conor's album, Wind Dancer.
Memorable Events
Holyhead Incident, 2004
In October 2004, Christy Moore was stopped in Wales. Police officers questioned him for two hours. They asked about his song lyrics. They also asked personal questions about his family. Christy said he found the experience scary. He felt sad that Irish people were still treated this way when traveling to Britain.
Irish Poetry Book
In 2010, Christy Moore's song "Lisdoonvarna" was included in a special book. It was called The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry. This showed how important his songwriting is.
Christy Moore's Albums
Christy Moore has released many albums. Here are some of his most well-known ones:
Solo Albums
- Paddy on the Road (1969)
- Prosperous (1972)
- Ordinary Man (1985)
- Voyage (1989)
- King Puck (1993)
- Traveller (1999)
- Listen (2009)
- Where I Come From (2013)
- A Terrible Beauty (2024)
Live Albums
- Live in Dublin (1978)
- Live at the Point (1994)
- Live at Vicar Street (2002)
- On the Road (2017)
- Magic Nights (2019)
With Planxty
- Planxty (1972)
- The Well Below the Valley (1973)
- After the Break (1979)
- Live 2004 (2004)
With Moving Hearts
- Moving Hearts (1981)
- Dark End of the Street (1982)
Images for kids
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Moore performing in 2008
