Main content

Christy Moore

Kirsty Young's castaway is singer-songwriter Christy Moore.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the Irish musician Christy Moore. His stature and influence in folk music is unparalleled - Bono, Elvis Costello and Billy Bragg are among those who cite him as a key influence. A passionate performer, he's the archetypal Irish poet and protest singer. In the late 1970s Special Branch raided the launch of his album H Block, his songs have been banned by both London and Dublin courts and, as recently as 2004, he was held by police and questioned about his lyrics and lifestyle.

Not all the struggles he's dealt with have been political. By his own admission he wasted years, maybe even decades, boozing and bingeing on drugs. Having cleaned up his act he was then forced to confront the devastating legacy of his father's early death and how it affected him throughout his life.

Elements of this programme may offend some listeners.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Taimse Im' Chodladh by Planxty
Book: Collection of Popular Songs of England & Scotland by Francis Child
Luxury: A set of Uillean pipes.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 22 Jun 2007 09:00
麻豆社 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Yoko Ono

Next

Ricky Gervais

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Felicity Lott

    Ave Maria

    • Songs by Charles Gounod.
    • Hyperion.

  • Christy Moore

    A Stitch in Time - Live

  • Paul Anka

    Lonely Boy

    • Paul Anka: 30th Anniversary Collection.
    • Rhino.

  • The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem

    Brennan On the Moor

    • The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem.
    • Tradition.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Planxty

      Taimse Im' Chodladh

      • Planxty: Words and Music.
      • Shanachie.

  • Luke Kelly

    Joe Hill

    • The Dubliners: 20 Original Hits, Vol.2.
    • Chyme.

  • Ewan MacColl

    The Joy of Living

    Artist: Peggy Seeger

    • MacColl: Black and White - the Definitive Collection.
    • Cooking Vinyl.

  • John Reilly

    The Raggle Taggle Gypsy

    • The Bonny Green Tree.
    • Topic.

  • Book Choice

    • Collection of Popular Songs of England & Scotland - Francis Child

  • Luxury Choice

    • A set of Uillean pipes

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Christy Moore

Broadcasts

  • Sun 17 Jun 2007 11:15
    麻豆社 Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 22 Jun 2007 09:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast