Christy Barry Gigs & Tours
For details of the Pure Irish Drops Tour, 20th September - 17th October 2004, please follow this link: Pure Irish Drops Tour 2004 - to read a review, please click here.
Tony MacMahon - Accordion; Christy Barry - Flutes, Whistle, Vocals; Gerry O'Connor - Fiddle
When he is not touring, Christy plays regularly in O'Connor's Pub in Doolin and the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna. To confirm where he's playing locally, and when, please email us.
The PURE IRISH DROPS 2004 in Munich
The fifteenth anniversary of the Pure Irish Drops tour was a trip back in time for the Irish Folk Club in Munich. Old friends both on stage and in the audience, as many regular guests of long-standing came to what would be a spellbinding concert. Forget world music, forget the flavour of the month, forget the next big thing predicted by the music biz. This is the stuff that makes hearts beat faster!
Hard to believe it was fifteen years ago that Micho Russell first came to Munich. The Irish Folk Club started in January 1988, applying the principle of "learning by doing" and putting on Irish concerts - at first every Monday, but later slowing down this punishing timetable. Monday was an off day for most touring bands, which meant that irrespective of our fledgling status as promoters, we were able to boast a programme that featured Altan, Skylark, Andy Irvine, Sileas, the Sands Family, Frankie Gavin, Andy M.Stewart and Manus Lunny and many other famous names from an early stage in the club's history.
Most breathtaking of all, of course, was that living legend Micho Russell - flanked by two other legendary luminaries, Tony MacMahon and Paddy Glackin. But there was no time to spend lost in awe; as soon as the trio arrived, shepherded by tour manager Florian Fyrst, it was into action to provide food, drink (tea and "sweet cake" for Micho), a PA and an audience, in that order. Subsequent years saw Micho becoming a friend, a kind of completely lovable honorary uncle with a host of endearing (sometimes maddening) eccentricities and a way of getting exactly what he wanted from everyone around him which left us struck dumb with admiration and envy. We learnt so much from him, without even realising he was teaching us.
Fifteen years on, many of the old faces from the audience in 1989 came back to re-experience the magic cast by the "Drops" in the intimate small theatre that is our venue. There's something about the whole idea - three world-class Irish traditional musicians let loose on a stage to perform as solo stars, then coming together to form a session dream team - that makes the mighty cast-of-thousands festivals that regularly tour Germany look as if they're simply trying too hard. It's always a privilege to be so close to such talent, to see every movement of the fingers, every drop of sweat and every grin and grimace shared among the musicians. It's always a privilege to be able to rub shoulders with the musicians afterwards, to find out everything you always wanted to know about Irish music but were afraid to ask, to share news and views. People come out of the concerts ready to embrace the world. I've watched this magic happen for fifteen years and it never fails to bring a lump to my throat.
There was a special energy in the air this time round, perhaps because of the anniversary and perhaps because of the all-star line-up on stage. Tony MacMahon and Gerry O'Connor were well-known and old friends, while Christy Barry was a newcomer for us and for many in the audience the first encounter with the name. It took no time at all for Christy to win the room over. Effortlessly flowing whistle and flute tunes made it all sound so easy, while keeping the whistle aficionados in the room on the edge of their seats. Tony MacMahon demonstrated his unparalleled mastery of the slow air with a spellbinding "Port Na bPœca’ (Music of the Ghosts)", as well as proving yet again that no-one can touch him for expression plus drive on jigs and reels. The two Clare styles were the perfect foil for Gerry's light-footed, vivacious fiddle playing in the Louth style that is his unique hallmark. Just when we were sitting back thinking things couldn't get any better, all three musicians took the stage together for a blinder of a second half - a session made in Heaven.
A fabulous evening's music was rounded off with an hour or so's "mingling" by the genial performers, only too willing to expound on their ideas, chat and sign CDs. A very special evening on a very special tour - and very special thanks go to Florian Fyrst, the man who makes it all happen year after year.
Alison Moffat