Why could we not protect him in this Christy World, farewell North Dublin’s finest, Christy Dignam?
Christy and Aslan, whom Bono, no less, credited as a big inspiration, lived in his own crazy world.
And that legacy is marked every weekend in the Temple Bar in his native Dublin… and yes, we have joined in full gusto at the Bar.
When a tribute act will be asked, or instinctively just know, to belt out the Crazy World anthem.
North side splitters
I heard many of Christy’s antics and his lightfooted love life from Northside People editor Paul ‘Feathers’ Featherson.
All of which passed the time on our Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul.
Aslan, for many the hardest-working band in Ireland, have a tour taking in the whole of the island.
Next stop was Derry’s Millennium Forum, now cancelled out of respect.
While other upcoming July dates included Wexford and the National Opera House and Kerry’s Gleneagle INEC arena.
Aslan have carried on, and who knows if they can continue without their charismatic frontman, the rich legacy of Irish touring musicians.
Who take the music to the people in small towns and townlands across the island.
And remember Christy said it himself that he had ‘travelled through so many towns.”
Touring musicians
And they and their fellow strummers and singers, fiddlers and folksters add a huge ingredient to your Irish holiday.
Because for as long as I can remember there has been a musical backdrop to my Irish vacations.
From the Irish country keeping me awake in Harkin’s Bar next door on annual Easter trips with my Dear Old Mum in Brockagh, Co. Donegal.
Through the draw of Joe Dolan on a Ring of Kerry tour.
And a Van Morrison jazz cabaret at the Europa Hotel in Belfast.
It’s all right
And there will be more, all of which helps us cope.
It is a tough enough world and one North Dublin singer just helped us forget it about for a little while.
So let’s just continue to take solace from his calming message…
In this Christy world… it’s all right.
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