23 Facts About Christy Moore

Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore was born on 7 May 1945 and is an Irish folk singer, songwriter and guitarist.

Christy Moore was one of the founding members of the bands Planxty and Moving Hearts and has had significant success as a solo artist.

Christy Moore was born in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, son of Andy Christy Moore and Nancy.

Christy Moore wanted to express himself using traditional music, and during a bank strike in 1966 which lasted twelve weeks he went to England, as many striking officials did, but did not return when the strike was settled.

When Irish singing trio The Grehan Sisters, with whom Christy Moore was previously acquainted, moved to the north of England from Dublin in 1967, they helped Christy Moore by giving him contacts and support slots on their concerts.

Christy Moore formed the band Moving Hearts with Lunny and five other musicians in 1980.

Some of Christy Moore's songs were heavily influenced by drink and the effects of drink, the song "Delirium Tremens" being an example.

Johnny Mulhern's song "Hard Cases" caused Christy Moore to recall the Galway drinking scene with local musicians Mickey Finn, Pete Galligan, Corky and Terry Smith.

On 17 April 2009, Christy Moore released his first new studio album in four years, entitled Listen, and promoted it through a series of live gigs.

In March 2025, in his 80th year, Christy Moore began a three-month, sold-out, 18-date tour of Ireland.

Christy Moore recalled that in his early career he had once played 67 nights in succession.

Christy Moore is best known for his political and social commentary, which reflects a left-wing, Irish republican perspective, despite the fact that his mother was a Fine Gael county councillor and parliamentary candidate in Kildare.

Christy Moore supported the republican H-Block protestors with the albums H-Block in 1978, the launch of which was raided by the police, and The Spirit of Freedom.

Christy Moore has recorded songs by the hunger striker Bobby Sands, including "Back Home in Derry" which was based on Gordon Lightfoot's song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".

Christy Moore ceased supporting the military activities of the IRA in 1987 after the Enniskillen bombing.

Christy Moore has endorsed a long list of leftist causes, ranging from El Salvador to Mary Robinson in the 1990 presidential election.

Christy Moore has incorporated songs about Salvador Allende and Ronald Reagan into his repertoire.

Christy Moore supported the anti-nuclear movement in Ireland and played in many concerts and at festivals in Carnsore Point for the cause.

The song achieved notoriety when Christy Moore was taken to court over claims in the song that were alleged to be prejudicial to an ongoing court case which was determining compensation.

Christy Moore's brother Barry, whose stage name is Luka Bloom, is a singer-songwriter.

Christy Moore's nephew, Conor Byrne, is a traditional flautist and tin whistle player.

In October 2004, Christy Moore was stopped and detained by Special Branch officers at the Welsh port of Holyhead, taken into an office and questioned about the lyrics of his songs.

Christy Moore said the fact that Irish people were still being treated like this on their way to Britain was very "saddening".