Christy Moore started in the music business in the mid-sixties, when his life as a bank clerk was interrupted by a bank strike, and he moved to England. There he became involved in the folk music scene at the time, and spent a few years playing pubs and clubs around the country.
His return to Ireland was marked by the album 'Prosperous', which proved to be a milestone in the rapprochement of Irish music to the popular mainstream. This album benefited from a collaboration of the leading talents of contemporary folk music, musicians such as Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny and Liam O'Flynn, and this one-off was to lead to the formation of Planxty, a band who were soon to be at the leading edge of the revival of Irish traditional music.
Over the following years the musical status of Planxty became legendary both in Ireland, Britain and throughout Europe. However in 1974 the band split up to pursue solo projects. It was during this period that Christy continued to explore new ground as a solo artist recording a number of solo albums including 'The Iron Behind the Velvet' (TARACD2002) which featured Andy Irvine and 'Live in Dublin' (TARACD2005) with Donal Lunny.
The original Planxty lineup of Christy, Andy, Liam and Donal then reformed in 1979. They recorded two further albums with Tara Records 'After the Break' (TARACD3001) and 'The Woman I Loved So Well' (TARACD3005). There were several additions and changes to their lineup most notably the addition of Matt Molloy, flautist from The Bothy Band, who later joined The Chieftains, and Bill Whelan.
In 1981 Planxty performed a Bill Whelan arrangement called 'Timedance' as the intermission piece for the Eurovision song contest, held that year in Ireland. Later it was released as a single and is now included on Bill's CD of 'The Seville Suite' (TARACD3030) released by Tara in 1992.
In the eighties Christy again teamed up with Donal Lunny to form Moving Hearts, another ambitious and innovative Irish band which sought to mix jazz into the folk-rock fusion. Ever the wanderer, Christy was soon breaking out on his own again, and it was in the eighties that he began to establish himself as one of Ireland's leading solo artists with a string of acclaimed albums and high profile tours.
In the mid-nineties Christy decided to take a break from the music for a few years. In the year 2000 Christy return to live performances with a series of Dublin concerts. Over the last few years he has released a number of solo projects including a television series, a live album and a 6 CD boxset.
Lanigans Ball
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Christy Moore
In the town of Athy, one Jeremy Lanigan battered away till he hadn't a shilling.
His father died, made him a man again, left him a farm and ten acres of ground.
Myself, to be sure, got invitations for the boys and girls I might ask.
Having been asked, friends and relations danced like bees around a sweet cask.
Nolans and Dolans and all the O'Gradys, courting the girls and dancing away.
While songs went round as plenty as water,
The harps that are sounded through Tara's old hall,
Biddie Grey and the rat catcher's daughter singing away at Lanigan's ball.
CHORUS
Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all,
Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lanigan's ball.
She stepped out, I stepped in again. I stepped out and she stepped in again.
She stepped out, I stepped in again, learning to dance for Lanigan's ball.
They were doing all kinds of nonsensical dances all around in a whirligig.
Julie and I soon banished their nonsense,
Out on the floor for a reel and a jig.
How the girls all got mad at me for they thought the ceilings would fall.
I spent six months in Brook's Academy learning to dance for Lanigan's ball.
Well the boys were merry and the girls all hearty
Dancing around in their couples and groups.
An accident happened; Terence McCarthy,
He put his boot through Miss Finnerty's hoops.
She fell down in a faint and cried, 'Holy murder!'
Called her brothers and gathered them all.
Carmody swore he'd go no further till he got revenge at Lanigan's ball.
CHORUS
Boys oh boys 'tis then there was ructions. I got a belt from Phelim Mc Hugh.
I replied to his introduction, kicked up a terrible hullabaloo.
Moloney the piper was near gettin' smothered.
They leapt on his pipes, bellows, chanter and all.
Boys and girls all got entangled and that put an end to Lanigan's ball.
CHORUS
The song Lanigan's Ball by Christy Moore is about a lively ball that takes place in the town of Athy, where Jeremy Lanigan and his father lived. Lanigan inherited his father's farm after his death, and to celebrate, he decided to have a ball that everyone in the town could attend. The singer of the song received an invitation and attended the ball with friends and family. The ball was filled with plenty of food and drink, and everyone danced and sang songs, including Biddie Grey and the rat catcher's daughter. The chorus is about how the singer spent six months in Dublin learning to dance for the ball.
During the ball, there were all kinds of nonsensical dances happening, but the singer and his partner Julie showed everyone how to dance a reel and a jig. The girls were mad because they thought the ceilings would fall, but everyone had a good time. However, an accident happened when Terence McCarthy put his boot through Miss Finnerty's hoops, causing her to faint. Her brothers swore to get revenge at Lanigan's ball, causing a bit of a ruckus. The singer got a belt from Phelim Mc Hugh, and Moloney the piper's pipes were near getting smothered, causing an end to the ball.
Line by Line Meaning
In the town of Athy, one Jeremy Lanigan battered away till he hadn't a shilling.
Jeremy Lanigan was broke and destitute.
His father died, made him a man again, left him a farm and ten acres of ground.
Jeremy's father died and left him a farm.
Myself, to be sure, got invitations for the boys and girls I might ask.
I got invitations to invite boys and girls.
Having been asked, friends and relations danced like bees around a sweet cask.
Friends and relations eagerly danced at the party.
There was lashings of drink wine for the ladies, potatoes and cake bacon and tea.
The party had lots of food and drinks.
Nolans and Dolans and all the O'Gradys, courting the girls and dancing away.
People were courting and dancing.
While songs went round as plenty as water,
Many songs were sung.
The harps that are sounded through Tara's old hall,
Traditional Irish harps were played.
Biddie Grey and the rat catcher's daughter singing away at Lanigan's ball.
Two women named Biddie Grey and the rat catcher's daughter were singing.
CHORUS
Refrain of the song.
Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all,
The singer spent six months in Dublin doing nothing.
Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lanigan's ball.
The singer spent six months learning to dance.
She stepped out, I stepped in again. I stepped out and she stepped in again.
The singer and their partner danced.
She stepped out, I stepped in again, learning to dance for Lanigan's ball.
The singer was practicing their dancing.
They were doing all kinds of nonsensical dances all around in a whirligig.
People were dancing wildly.
Julie and I soon banished their nonsense, Out on the floor for a reel and a jig.
The singer and their partner danced a more traditional dance.
How the girls all got mad at me for they thought the ceilings would fall.
The girls were mad because they thought the dancing was too wild.
I spent six months in Brook's Academy learning to dance for Lanigan's ball.
The singer spent six months learning to dance at a dance academy.
Well the boys were merry and the girls all hearty Dancing around in their couples and groups.
People were dancing in groups.
An accident happened; Terence McCarthy, He put his boot through Miss Finnerty's hoops.
A man named Terence McCarthy accidentally damaged Miss Finnerty's dress.
She fell down in a faint and cried, 'Holy murder!' Called her brothers and gathered them all.
Miss Finnerty fainted and called her brothers for help.
Carmody swore he'd go no further till he got revenge at Lanigan's ball.
A man named Carmody wanted revenge for the accident.
CHORUS
Refrain of the song.
Boys oh boys 'tis then there was ructions. I got a belt from Phelim Mc Hugh.
There was a fight and the singer got punched.
I replied to his introduction, kicked up a terrible hullabaloo.
The singer retaliated and a commotion started.
Moloney the piper was near gettin' smothered.
The piper was almost suffocated.
They leapt on his pipes, bellows, chanter and all.
People jumped on the piper's instrument.
Boys and girls all got entangled and that put an end to Lanigan's ball.
A fight broke out and the party ended.
Contributed by Colin Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Oisin feehilly
on By Barna
Hellow Lady, Can I borrow your teddy
Samuel Joseph Donnelly
on Whacker Humphries
Ask "whacker" about the Provo they marched on and set up for votes in council elections- set up by a brasser from the Barn named Lilly Healy- 18 fucking years in blocks/cages/ torture centres and back stabbed by wannabes from Dublin! Between Active service ( killing etc whacker in case you didn't know!!
Chloe Mcl
on Hey Paddy
Is that the words Brendan O'Carroll sing