Christy Moore invited to visit ‘Gate to Hell’  in Tulsk

Musician Christy Moore has been invited to play at the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in Tulsk.

The invitation comes following a Free State Podcast with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning where the singer was asked about the infamous lyrics of his song ‘Encore’, which includes the words “Tulsk was just like being in hell”.

During the podcast co-host Joe Brolly asked Christy about a 1979 incident where Christy’s road crew were thrown into the river in Tulsk.

“It was a rough night, with unfortunate consequences. But it was a long time ago and there is a lot of water under the bridge,” he said.

“They remember it with great affection,” Joe said, with a laugh.

“It all started with a couple of local lads who refused to pay on the way in and my road crew stood their ground, and it kicked off. I was hiding, I kept well out of it,” said Christy.

He added that it happened before the gig and “then half-way through it all kicked off again”.

“One of the Tulsk boys sent me a text ‘Tell Christy don’t forget your shovel if you want to go to Tulsk’,” said the host with undisguised mirth.

Christy said he drives through the village regularly and noted that the venue was now gone.

“If they ever open it up again, myself and yourself will go,” Christy said.

Manager of the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre Daniel Curley wrote on the guestbook of www.christymoore.com.

“I am writing from the museum dedicated to the ancient royal site for Connacht, Rathcroghan, County Roscommon, and the home of the great warrior queen Medb (Maeve),” Dr Curley said.

“Hearing you on the recent podcast episode, and familiar with the Tulsk lyrics, and of excellent live performances some years ago in Dr Hyde Park and in Ballinasloe, I would like to extend an invitation for you to return to Tulsk, and to Rathcroghan Visitor Centre.

“We would be thrilled to give you a tour of our ancient archaeological landscape, introduce you to our fabled ‘Gate to Hell’ at Oweynagat Cave. If you were interested, you would be very welcome to play an intimate charity gig, in our lecture room, in aid of a charity very close to our hearts, the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. In so doing, you would be following in the footsteps of our friends from Horslips, Jim Lockheart and Barry Devlin.

“We would be happy to man the door for you, and in the spirit of diplomacy, exorcise the demons of yesteryear with an open hand of friendship to visit our facility.” 

Responding almost immediately, Christy said: “As a descendent of Queen Maeve it was quite emotional to read your note”.

“Many years ago I spent a wild night in the Cave at Oweynagat ….a clatter of Witches, Mystics, Priestesses, Bowrawn batterers, Tansey and a man with five bottles of Poitín….Michael D was supposed to turn up but went canvassin; to keep the blueshirts out….John Hoban was there from the West, fresh from turnin the hen house into an Ashram, Johnny Spillane arrived in late after hang glidin’ down from Ben Bulben after a seance in Strandhill….Flatley could’nt make it after goin’ over on his ankle in Monte Carlo…” 

He added that “with diminishing time and advancing years”, he was reduced to eight benefits this year, all of which are already in place. There is a waiting list for next year's gigs.

He asked had Dr Curley tried Joe Brolly. “He has a big following in the Strokestown area and visits regularly to collect his calf nuts,” he wrote.

He wished everyone in Rathcroghan well, and “as Queen Maeve herself might chant ‘Isis-Astarte-Diana-Hecati-Demeter-Kali-Inarna’”.