Christy Moore chatted to Pat Kenny today about his new album, Where I Come From, a 3-CD collection of his most loved songs from previous albums and concerts. He has lovingly re-recorded all of the songs for this new collection.
When asked about touring and why he stopped for a while, he revealed time he had a total breakdown in 1998 and how he couldn't perform. He said couldn't go out the door, pick up the phone, pick up a guitar and he didn't do a gig for almost two years.
"I had a complete breakdown and that was very very frightening".
Listen to the full interview below
He chats about one of his most heartbreaking songs about Giuseppe Conlon, father of one of the men convicted as part of the Guilford Four for IRA bombings in 1974. The film 'In the Name of the Father' was based on this story.
"When that just started I was flying into London and I just started thinking of Giuseppe and thinking about his family, thinking about what happened to them and the terrible, terrible things that befell them and its just a few simple lines about Giuseppe".
Moore, originally from in Newbridge, County Kildare, spoke of his time in England where he moved to after the bank he worked for in Ireland went on strike. He left and went to England and worked as a general labourer while also playing in Irish pubs around the city.
Moore also explained that one of the main images he used on the album cover is of the Dowling home in Barnstown, Co Kildare, where they all spent a lot of time as children. His sister painted the picture and sent it to him for Christmas many years ago and he wanted to incorporate it into the album in some way.
"She captured the place that I remember. I spent all my boyhood out there and I just thought I'd stick it in as a center piece."
Chrisy also spoke to Pat about 'scald crow' tabloid journalism, the song he wrote about his mother without realising it and how emigration has changed over the years.
"I think there's a lot of people all around the world this morning who will be feeling homesick who would be longing to see their loved ones. And there will also be a lot of people all around the world this morning having a real good time for themselves, you know, so its a mixture, those who are forced to go and those who choose to go".
