The Plains Of Kildare - Andy Irvine Paul Brady1977

[travis101305027]

Nice!!  Good one Bilco!!

[MichaelMAFox]

The album track has Kevin Burke on fiddle, which adds yet another awesome element.

[saoirseterri]

Due to go and see them in Vicar Street soon first time in Gods knows how long since I last saw them. Can hardly wait

[KevKli3]

Two men. Two instruments. No half-naked dancers. No jumping up and down. No special effects. Yet great music and performance. I guess it is simple for people with TALENT.

[spintokid]

What tv show is this? Fecking class bring it back!!

[globallegendman]

it sounds like Balkan music

[newazagod]

@globallegendman That's because it is Balkan music.... sorta. Andy spent a good few years in Bulgaria and Romania in the late 60's learning bouzouki and mandolin and essentially brought the "Balkan" sound to Irish music. Listen to "The Blacksmith" by Planxty (which is all Bulgarian), or really any Planxty stuff and it's full of Balkan rhythms.... But yet with an Irish "feel". Hard to explain.

[scottspradlin]

Wonderful!

[LordHannigan]

Both these two the Dubliners the Clancy brothers those still alive Celtic Thunder Celtic Women and the High Kings heck all the Irish folk singers should do a show. In Madison Square Garden. You can be sure that I'd be there. Oh an Alan Stivell to I think it be a huge hit. I mean you have nearly 40 million Americans that are of Irish decent.

[BringBack500s]

Watched as a young man in the mid 70s.

This was, as is the man transfixed watching, as special duo.

The plains of Kildare...

[deboeahshasha]

I so enjoyed this song and video so much i thought it was super

i really really did {Thumbs up}. hugs deborah sha sha xoxo ireland

[ShingoDingoRingo]

Paul brady! Woowooo

[finbarmaginn]

this was a great time for irish music

[CheckDare]

Unbelievable.

God! ...I never dreamed I'd ever see that one done live!

Thank you, Bilko; you have done this old man a power of good.

[locomotive1804]

Look at the intimate stage of RTE: brings the music home.

[bilko1234]

@locomotive1804 It's actually from the BBC

[Mossman67]

@bilko1234 lolz - an i'm from cork - dowctha boy!

[locomotive1804]

@locomotive1804 Woops!

[pjfgowen]

I saw these two play in Cork in 1977 supported by Christy Moore. It was awesome and it inspired me to take up the guitar and bouzouki. Both of which I play regularly in session. They were such an inspiration. They came on stage with about eight instruments between them! I'll never forget it.

[Drastam]

it doesn't get much better that this

[thomasmalachy]

Bloody amazing! I'm to see Andy play in Sydney tonight. EXCITED!!!

[locomotive1804]

Portuguese guitar!!

[marceldada]

Wish I could of seen 'em back in the day.

[KiltDude32]

I think it's actually skewbald. He's a spotted (pinto) type horse.

[mefein112]

It's funny really, but Stew Ball was the name of Woody Guthrie's horse when he was a kid some where in Texas, or the Texas pan handle, or was it in Oklahoma?

[Philfa]

I would fall apart if there were a live performance of "Autumn Gold" available somewhere.

[locomotive1804]

Yes, if it wasn't for Andy & Paul I'd have flipped by now. Btw that's a Portuguese guitar Andy's playing.

[edelahaye]

Actually, it's more likely a waldzither.

[kiltownkid]

after 15 secs brady throws in a chord to keep irvine on his toes,keep with the master

[evadnarf]

Saw Andy here in Liverpool this Summer. An amazing musician, vocalist and a very witty and likeable man!! The thing that always impressed me about Andy and the rest of his peers like Donal, Christy, Brady et al is that it was never all about Irish music for them. They embraced songs from all over the World. English, Scottish, European and American. Along with Sufjan Andy is of the world's best kept musical secrets. My hero, end of story. Dave

[dmccoy5881]

@evadnarf You hit the nail on the head

[BadboybillyC]

@evadnarf I second that comment. Irvine is a massive talent and so underplays his gifts.

[guinnesskoto]

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[MrKdiddy1]

how long did paul stay with planxty??

[joeygsmom]

Two lovely talented men, and have to say Andy Irvine makes my heart flutter, lol,

wonderful decade for music!

[articraider]

Andy you saved the sanity of many a poor auld sod in the 70,s.

[RugbyHockeySoccer]

Well, hes saving my sanity to this day

[Quorush]

Genius, utter genius, the best track from a great album.

[madfidr]

As far as I know it is a German instrument called a waldzither...he still has it tuned similar to his "andylin"...4 courses from low to high FCGC but this seems a half step sharp as it is in Eb in this and think Paul Brady has his guitar capoed at the 1st fret...you tune the waldzither with a key I believe (someone correct me if I am wrong) I have my mandola tuned this way...usually 4th fret puts it right for E so that's my guess.

[ConorSod]

Is it not just his standard mandolin! Never heard andy to play a zither!

[lughlamh]

that a portuguese guitar Andy has?

[mickey2mccool]

this is class

[ludipes12]

it must have been an epic race for it remained in memory through this song for nearly 220 years.. this is my favourite irish song.. :)

[calebdarcy]

fantastic................

[suzartfam]

absolutely perfect!

[astrolog7000]

How wonderful to get to see this! Andy Irvine when he was young. Such marvelous playing and singing!

Thanks so much.

Lilli Buck

Bristol, VA USA

[BritGBM]

Got this on my ipod, its bloody awesome.

[riverpotato]

Wow. This is one of my all time favorite Andy Irvine songs. I didn't know this early version with Paul Brady existing on film. I love it.

[Gablemenestrel]

Is this the Andy Irvine version of rakes of Kildare?

[Avagar]

unreal music, these guys are unsung heroes

[stewballmax2]

The instrumentation is so crisp and right on the mark...not to mention acoustically striking.

Many thanks for providing this presentation!

Pax,

Max

[raymondcrooke]

And thanks for sending it on, Max. Great to hear all these Stewball songs.

[sufferthefaster]

anyone any idea what tuning paul bradys using?

[UKHABU]

It is a waldezither - PERIOD - I know the man and have played with him.

It is tuned with a mechanism called a Preston Tuner - it has a square section at the end that you fit a No. 3 watch key too to adjust the tuning. It is attached to a spiral screw that has a peg which the loop of the string is attached. They are a German/Boheamian(sp) instrument - still made today.

[Giselle62]

exactly----SlickSmooth22--the ripples--okay, i'm gonna have to check your profile for that

[newmaieustai]

I'm Swiss but when I listen Irish music, I forget that. I would live in Ireland!!!

[newmaieustai]

Sorry, "when Ilisten TO Irsh music"

[Jarrahnut]

Don't worry about it, newmaieustai. If you like Irish folk music, you are obviously an excellent person. Greetings to you from Jarrahnut in wonderful Western Australia!

[newmaieustai]

Thank you and God save celtic music!

[dokmdk]

what can i say ....this is the greatest duo collaboration that i've ever seen

[1singularity]

incredible song.the record is unsurpassed folk. musical collaberation of the century in my opinion

[Philfa]

Is there a live version of "Autumn Gold" from their CD? That's one of my favorites.

[mickwor1111]

i always look forward to autumn in ireland and i drive round with autumn gold on my cd palyer , totally 1 of my favorite songs ,,,

[Philfa]

It's one of my favorites, too. While I'm from America and have never ventured overseas, Ireland seems to be the one place that would live up to all its glorious hype.

[fuurthur]

I think that is a portuguese guitar that Andy is playing. Search "Fado music" on U Tube.

[MacliamOg]

No, this is a waldzither, it's smaller and the head is quite different .... but they're both derved from the cittern. Andy is the godfather of the Irish bouzouki and does play the Portuguese guitarra, but not in this film.

[fuurthur]

Thanks, MacliamOg I checked what you said and stand (gratefully) corrected, however Johnny Moynihan is generally blamed for introducing the bouzouki to Irish trad.So maybe Johnny is the father if Andy is the godfather.

[RageofEZLN]

The below comment is a reply to JoMolovinit's comment

[deargdoom07]

Lovely. CELTIC REVIAL!

[jrlaker]

What's with the top of Andy's mandola? I've only seen tuning pegs until now. Does anyone know what that is?

[jemflower]

Yes this is a screw head tuning system

Open Wikipedia, search for "cittern" and scroll to the bottom, there's a pic of such a sytem at a so called Waldzither. In German wikipedia you'll find even a close shot of the head.

[jemflower]

It's also called Preston's machine.

[antigonos7]

Being a big jethro tull fan i listened to Ian Anderson on skys planet rock and he played this, opened my eyes to planxty, what a treat, like finding a £50 note down the side old the sofa, magical

[neohip]

Exactly!

The same thing happened to me except it was twenty three years ago and only a 20 cent coin(Thats Inflation for ya!)and I started with the Holy Grail which is Sweeneys Men.If you do not know,Andy was in that band too!

Planxty was Brilliant and gave me a life long appreciation of Christy Moore,but Sweeney was where it truly began!

[JoMolovinit]

Will we ever hear the likes of this type of music again? The revival of brilliant folk music, Irish or otherwise, in the 70's and 80's has left a legacy for future generations to tap into. I have no doubt that in years to come, a new crop of musicians and music lovers will redevelop its popularity. Pop fads come and go but this stuff is eternal! Youtube is doing us all a service by keeping it accessable. Go On Ya Good Thing!!!

[neohip]

You are only thinking of your own experience and listening with extrene predujice!

Just like me!

Of course their will always be folk music.All Music will,in time,ultimately become folk music.

Will we ever hear this type of music again?not likely; it appeares to have ran its course in the mid 70's,but that doesn't mean their is no good music anymore,it just means that it is harder to find!

[finbarmaginn]

apparently Irish traditional music is what Americans love at the moment.

in my eyes it will live forever, the whole planxty and bothy band thing in the seventies has had a big influence on young traditional musicians today.

you only need to go to a traditional music festival to see this is true.

[neohip]

Your comment arrived in my inbox not 3 minutes ago!.I feel I have a right to criticise and agree as I see fit.

The Americans,bless 'em have no manopoly on enjoying folk music.Some have done it well for a couple of centuries now, and I am not just referring to Pete Seeger!.

Irish traditional music is special to me because in the last 40 years it has dared to be different and indeed controversial,confrontational and also new without sucking up to the masses (unless of course you are the Corrs!).

[SlickSmooth22]

don't forget that traditional Irish music was integral in shaping american Bluegrass music, which was instrumental (no pun intended) in shaping country, which combined with blues formed rock and roll which is the basis of all popular western music of the late 20th century!...the ripples! the ripples!! thank god for Ireland.

[RageofEZLN]

Not to distract from your point, but the antifolk and indiefolk movements in the music scene are heavily influenced by older, eternal folk music and are becoming popular and accessible in the music scene today. I think that artists like the Decemberists, Iron&Wine and Beirut are keeping this music alive but also changing it to their own artistic expression and making it applicable to modern society.

[Susq15]

I heard this song years ago on Thistle & Shamrock and was fascinated buy the change-up in rhythms. Brilliantly played and what a treat to be able to see the musicians play it! Thank you!

[sillyfan]

Fantastic! Brady and Irvine two of the greats and the great Stewball too. Would loved to have been at these concerts.

[lorgain2]

Brilliant and a damm sight faster than any horse I backed.

[bobnoshoes]

tip top best is right

[NameNotaNumber]

Check out the great bassline Brady throws in on the line "If you keep your running I vow and I swear". Beautiful. Right before he has to concentrate for the quirky rhythm change.

[muntoidprime]

the tip top best of all music I've ever heard or known

[jackorion85]

just found out this great song! I really like the way Andy Irvine sings it. Thanks to the sharer!

[stoneyhorsebox]

What tuning/Key is paul brady using on the guitar?

[mtbanshee]

I'm thinking DADGAD.

[Keelsman]

as far as I'm aware he favoured open D (DADF#AD)

[Conanmcd]

I always thought he favoured open G

[Keelsman]

with a brief search it seems he played in both tunings :)

[pinnatacastra]

On the Plains of Kildare?? DA!

[cheyennecrazyhorse]

Does anyone know of another song with the same title as this? I remember a version sung by another fine Irish musician and singer, by the name of Al O'Donnell. It basically tells the same story, but with an entirely different arrangement.

[volgodon]

Maybe you are thinking of the version popularised by Martin Carthy and Steeleye Span. Skewball.

[cheyennecrazyhorse]

I have owned this album for many years and, still never tire of listening to it..But then to find this video clip here is just wonderful.. having never seen it before. I am stunned. Definitely favourited. Had the pleasure of meeting andy in the UK. A fine man and a damn fine musician !! Thankyou bilko1234

[bailliekins]

Webendowed, in answer to your comment re: tuning a Portuguese Guitarra, they have tuners rather like the fine tuners on a violin on the fan shaped headstock!

[bailliekins]

It isn't a mandolin , it's a Portuguese Guitarra

[Webendowed]

I may sound dumb, but I've never seen one and from the headstock, I'm wondering how do you tune one??

[jmandn]

Thrilling.

[Antonysson]

Anybody knows what kind of weird looking mandolin that is? It sounds great though.

[EJPed]

It's called a Mandola and is keyed halfway between a mandolin and bozouki (both very popular among 70s celtic folk acts).

[Antonysson]

I was referring to the strange kind of head it's got.

[batotten]

according to me this is a German instrument, called a waldzither, and build in the Harzgebergte. These instruments were build around the 1930th and 40th. They were very populair by the Wanderbewegung, walking through the country in groups, playing music on easy to carry instruments and singing.

[goodirishman]

As a player of a mountain dulcimer (a type of zither) I agree with the comment that it's a guitarra do Portugal. They are close to citterns, which in turn are cousins to a zouk. Zithers - even when fretted - are rarely in the shape of guitar or similar instrument.

No offense meant.

[Keelsman]

Waldzither doesn't literally mean a zither, it's apparently a term applied to a specific style of german citterns or mandolin family instruments.  I'm not sure if it was a luthier's name or a classification or what exactly.

[edelahaye]

A Portuguese guitare (with a different tuning, I guess)

[edelahaye]

Actually, refering to specialists, it must be a waldzither. The pegs laying is very similar to a Portuguese guitar

[pjotr60dvd]

@edelahaye It is a Portuguese guitar. That was actually the instrument he was playing in his Planxty times (Check out on the second Planxty album: full fotograph and "portuguese guitarra")

[pjotr60dvd]

Reageren op deze video... It might be a waldzither after all, but I never he knew he played that, whereas he always played the portuguese guitarra

[PhalainaBelgium]

Singing while soloing that way is impressive ! Didn't know that Bill Gates was playing guitar ! ;-) Phalaina

[ArcturusGX]

I didn't realise there were so many songs about the Curragh. I'm guessing that's where he's singing about, since there aren't any other plains in Kildare except the Curragh.

[woodyboy11]

It doesn't get much better than that!

[TomSmithMusic]

Remarkable live version of an old favorite. Andy Irvine and Paul Brady are remarkable. Thank you for posting.

[1sexylaydee]

absolutely unbelievable.. i love planxty

[joeytoots]

I love Andy and Paul - just had to say - too fucking cool for school -

[ssheridan]

Brilliant stuff...Cheers again man...Doesn't quite beat Andy's solo arrangement, but damn close..

[bobnoshoes]

feckin brilliant

[shaskeen1]

Not sure about the 'celtic' label !!! But one of the best irish records ever! & I don't think the younger generations realise what a shock wave this LP caused !

[muntoidprime]

andy irvine and paul brady is the name of the album and i agree with all of the above - amongst the best albums ever and definitely the best arrangement of a song EVER!!!

[drjnet]

Man this is beautiful stuff, what is the album called?

[paramchi7]

Over the top. OVER THE FREAKIN' TOP!!!

[njmckenna]

thank you for posting this, many, many thanks!

[pead]

My nominee for best arrangement of a traditional ballad EVER!

[westlance]

YES!!!!

[davidreimer]

so great...the album I cherish the most :)

[bobnoshoes]

DAMN STRAIGHT!

[Dubinvero]

This is a classic track from the one of the best ever Celtic albums. Thank you bilko1234.