Christy Moore | Artist
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is an Irish folk singer, songwriter and guitarist born 1945 in Newbridge, County Kildare. In addition to his significant success as soloist, he is one of the founding members of the bands Planxty and Moving Hearts. In 2007 he was named as Ireland's greatest living musician in RTE's People of the Year Awards. Originally working as a bank employee, Moore strived to express himself using traditional Irish music. During a bank strike in 1966, which lasted twelve weeks, he went to England but didn't return when the strike was settled. Doing general labouring work to make a living, he frequented folk clubs and Irish music pubs where he met many traditional musicians. When Irish singing trio The Grehan Sisters moved to the north of England from Dublin in 1967, they assisted Moore by giving him contacts and support slots on their concerts. Moore's solo style includes driving rhythms on guitar as well as slower ballads, often accompanied by the traditional Irish drum the bodhrán. 1973 saw his first major release, Prosperous, which brought together the four musicians who shortly after formed the band Planxty: Moore, Liam O'Flynn, Andy Irvine and Dónal Lunny. Planxty continued off and on until 2005, releasing six excellent studio albums along the way. After leaving Planxty, Moore continued on his solo career then in 1980 formed the band Moving Hearts with Lunny and five other musicians. That band continued, led by Dónal Lunny, and released three studio albums of Celtic Rock. Moore's earlier lifestyle resulted in a decline in health and several operations. His battle with alcohol, and subsequent heart operations, have taken their toll, at the end of the 1990s Moore reduced his workload for medical reasons. Some of Moore's songs are heavily influenced by drink and the effects of drink, his song "Delirium Tremens" being a good example. Moore is best known for his political and social commentary which reflects a left-wing, Irish Republican perspective, despite the fact that his mother was a Fine Gael county councillor and parliamentary candidate in Kildare. He supported the republican H-Block protestors and recorded songs by the hunger striker Bobby Sands including "Back Home in Derry." He ceased supporting the IRA in 1987 as a result of the Enniskillen bombing. Moore's brother Barry, whose stage name is Luka Bloom, is also a singer-songwriter, and both his sisters Eilish Byrne and Anne Rynne are musicians. Standout Chrisy Moore albums include the studio releases Prosperous (1972), Ride On (1984) and Voyager (1989), plus the live album Magic Nights (2019), and the excellent archival compilation The Early Years 1969-81 (2020). In 2010 Christy Moore's song "Lisdoonvarna" gained entry in The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry.
Artist Website: christymoore.com
Featured Albums: Christy Moore
Related Artists: Planxty, Moving Hearts, Luka Bloom
