Christy Moore facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Christy Moore
Moore performing in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Andrew Moore
Born	(1945-05-07) 7 May 1945 (age 80)
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 is a famous Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was born on May 7, 1945. Christy helped start two well-known bands, Planxty and Moving Hearts. He has also had a very successful career singing on his own. His first album, Paddy on the Road, came out in 1969. Christy Moore is known for singing about important social issues and his views on Irish history. In 2007, he was named Ireland's greatest living musician.

Early Life and Musical Start

Where Did Christy Moore Grow Up?

Christy Moore was born in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. His parents were Andy and Nancy Moore. He went to Newbridge College when he was younger.

How Did Christy Moore Start Music?

Christy first worked at a bank. He wanted to share his feelings through traditional music. In 1966, during a bank strike, he went to England. Many other bank workers also went away during the strike. Christy decided not to return to his bank job.

He said he had a "wild and wonderful time" in England. He worked different jobs and visited folk clubs. He also went to Irish music pubs. There, he met many traditional musicians. These included Seamus Ennis and Luke Kelly. In 1967, The Grehan Sisters, a singing group he knew, moved to England. They helped Christy by giving him contacts and chances to perform at their concerts.

Christy Moore's Music Career

Forming the Band Planxty

In 1973, Christy released an album called 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. For a short time, they called themselves "CLAD." This name came from the first letter of each of their names. But they quickly decided to call themselves Planxty.

Solo Work and Other Bands

Christy left Planxty in 1975. He continued his solo music career. Sometimes, he would get back together with Planxty for special shows. In 1980, he also 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 celebration. In 2000, he wrote a book about his life called One Voice.

Recent Albums and Tours

Christy Moore has continued to release new music. In April 2009, he released Listen. He then released Folk Tale in December 2011. His album Where I Come From came out in November 2013. This album included a new song called "Arthur's Day." It reached number three on the Irish album charts.

On the Road was released in November 2017. Magic Nights came out in November 2019. His most recent album, A Terrible Beauty, was released in November 2024.

In March 2025, Christy Moore began a three-month tour of Ireland. He was 79 years old at the time. All 18 shows on the tour were sold out. He prepares carefully for each performance. He practices for many hours most days. He said he spends a week getting ready for each show. Early in his career, he once played 67 nights in a row!

A Song About the Stardust Fire

What Was the Stardust Fire?

"They Never Came Home" was a song Christy wrote about the Stardust fire. This terrible fire happened in 1981. Forty-eight people died in the fire. The song was released on his album Ordinary Man in 1985.

Why Was the Song Removed?

The song talked about safety issues at the Stardust venue. For example, it said that "the fire exits were chained." Because of legal concerns about the song's claims, a judge ordered the Ordinary Man album to be taken out of shops. Christy had to pay legal costs. A different song was recorded for the album's re-release. "They Never Came Home" later appeared in a special collection of his songs.

In 2024, a jury looked into 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 that made it look locked. These findings showed the song's message about safety was important.

Christy Moore's Musical Style

Christy Moore's solo music style is unique. He uses strong rhythms on his six-string acoustic guitar. He also plays the bodhrán, which is a traditional Irish drum. He is also known for singing slower, heartfelt songs called ballads.

Christy Moore's Family

Christy Moore's brother is Barry Moore. Barry is also a singer-songwriter, and his stage name is Luka Bloom. Christy's nephew, Conor Byrne, plays the traditional Irish flute and tin whistle. Christy even appeared on Conor's album, Wind Dancer.

Special Moments in Christy Moore's Career

Being Questioned at Holyhead in 2004

In October 2004, Christy Moore was stopped by officers at the Welsh port of Holyhead. He was taken to an office and questioned. He said he found the experience scary. He was asked about his song lyrics. He was also asked personal questions about his family. He felt sad that Irish people were still being treated this way when traveling to Britain.

A Song in a Poetry Book

In 2010, one of Christy Moore's songs was included in a famous book. His song "Lisdoonvarna," which he wrote, was added to The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry. This was a big honor for his songwriting.

A Special Postage Stamp

On July 15, 2021, the Irish postal service, An Post, honored Christy Moore. They released a special postage stamp celebrating him.

Discography

Solo Albums

Paddy on the Road (1969)
Prosperous (1972)
Whatever Tickles Your Fancy (1975)
Christy Moore (1976)
The Iron Behind the Velvet (1978)
The Time Has Come (1983)
Ride On (1984)
Ordinary Man (1985)
The Spirit of Freedom (1986)
Unfinished Revolution (1987)
Voyage (1989)
Smoke & Strong Whiskey (1991)
King Puck (1993) No. 2
Graffiti Tongue (1996) No. 2
Traveller (1999) No. 1
This Is the Day (2001) No. 1
Burning Times (2005) No. 3
Listen (2009) No. 1
Folk Tale (2011)
Where I Come From (2013)
Lily (2016) No. 3
Flying Into Mystery (2021)
A Terrible Beauty (2024)

Live Albums

Live in Dublin (1978)
Live at the Point (1994) No. 1
Live at Vicar Street (2002) No. 1
Live at the Point 2006 (2006) No. 1
On the Road (2017) No. 1
Magic Nights (2019) No. 2

Other

H Block (1980)
Christy Moore and Friends (1981)

With Planxty

Planxty (1972)
The Well Below the Valley (1973)
Cold Blow and the Rainy Night (1974)
After the Break (1979)
The Woman I Loved So Well (1980)
Words and Music (1983)

Live and Compilation

Live 2004 CD/DVD (2004)
Between the Jigs and the Reels: A Retrospective CD/DVD (2016)