Christy Moore opens up about decades of sobriety & says its a 'privilege' to still have his voice

Christy Moore joined Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty on the talk show tonight to chat about his new album, A Terrible Beauty.

While there, he performed some of his new songs, as well as an old favourite and explaining why these songs have resonated with him and his audience.

He also opened up about his "decades" of sobriety.

Read more: Christy Moore's home life with wife Val, overcoming addiction and losing his father at 11

Read more: Inside Christy Moore's life as a granddad and banking career

"It feels very privileged, I have to say Paddy to be still able to sing, to have the voice, and to have people want to hear the songs" he said.

"It's great, I pinch myself sometimes to think that this is still going on for me."

"When I started off singing the songs, all I dreamed of was getting a gig somewhere, and here I am all these years later on the Late Late Show with some new songs. It's a great privilege."

Across his five decade career, Christy has shaped the frontier of Irish folk music, and Patrick noted that the pub must have been a big part of his life, with entertainment and alcohol often going hand in hand.

After a performance of Black and Amber, he said: "The song sums it up."

"I have been on the straight and narrow for decades now and enjoying life a lot better. The picture is a lot clearer."

Asking what he was planning for his big birthday next year, the legendary folk singer said he would be having a big shin-dig but no plans yet.

"I'll be 80 next May if I make it. If I'm still here I'll plan something huge," he said, laughing.

The singer has always been open about his alcoholism and drug addiction:

“The Valium came about because my poor mother introduced me to it" Christy previously told the Independent.

"She said, this lad is great for the hangover. And I’d get it prescribed very easily after that, from a few different sources. Valium was a divil to get off but I got off it.”

He says over coming that addiction was down to “owning the things that had happened in my life ”, as he admits his brother pushed him to make a change.

"My brother pointed out to me that I had a problem. He led me to the help I needed and I’ve been getting it every day ever since. I will always be an alcoholic. I woke up this morning an alcoholic and I’ll go to bed an alcoholic.”