If there's one thing that'll keep us all going in a lockdown, it's the chance that Christy Moore will eventually write a song about it. Nothing's in the can yet, but he's thinking about it, as he told Ryan Tubridy on Friday. Christy and his wife are cocooning at home at the moment. He says he misses walking by the seaside, but he has his own indoor exercise regime, as he told Ryan:

*I have my own kind of Kildare version of yoga."

Apparently this involves stretching exercises inspired by fitness trainer Karl Henry, who gave Christy a few pointers 15 years back, and he's been doing the exercises ever since.  The self-care box ticked, there's not much Christy can do about physical distancing from close family members. He says he's finding this part hard:

"Most of all I miss hugs. And I miss being able to hug my grandchildren and our children; you know, I miss that. At least we can talk to each other on the phone and once a week my son and his wife bring the two grandchildren and they park outside and we talk to them from the hall door. And that can be the highlight of the week."

Christy says he’s baffled and upset about people flouting the rules on social distancing, and he doesn't hold back:

"It's like as if those people are spitting at the nation. In a way, you know, they're saying, 'We don't mind, we're above all this. We're going to go away for the weekend. We're going to go out and keep our jollies going’. That makes me feel sad and frustrated. Even a little bit angry sometimes."

Christy took questions from listeners live on the show about his hobbies (he likes a bit of telly), and the people he's come across in his long career in the music business. Christy recalled meeting the late legendary folk singer John Prine, who died on the 7th of April of complications caused by COVID-19:

"I met John Prine twice. I met him at a BBC awards show in London and I met him getting off a plane in Shannon Airport.  He stopped both times and we talked and he was the most gentle and beautiful of men. And you know, I mourn his passing and remember him fondly."

With upcoming live shows cancelled, Christy is using the time to practise for when he can get out on the road again. He's keeping the spirits up and looking forward to better days ahead:

*It's all about hope, Ryan, and it's all about doing the suggested things with compassion and with love and with care. And here's to a good future!".

The working man and woman are never far from Christy's heart and from his lyrics, and he hopes that we all value the medical, cleaning, retail and other workers who are making sacrifices for the rest of us at this difficult time:

"Absolute heroes. And let us not forget them when this is all over. Let us remember, and let us look after them as they are looking after us."

You can hear Christy’s full chat with Ryan here.

Ruth Kennedy