Celtic Thunder debuted in August 2007 at the Helix in Dublin, Ireland, accompanying the Celtic Concert Orchestra under the direction of Phil Coulter, the musical director of the group.
Since the group's formation, Celtic Thunder has released twelve albums: Celtic Thunder, Act Two, Take Me Home, It's Entertainment!, Celtic Thunder Christmas, Storm, Heritage, Voyage, Voyage II, Christmas Voices and Mythology as well as best-of collection Homeland, and twelve live performances on DVD, entitled Celtic Thunder: The Show, Take Me Home, It's Entertainment!, Storm, Christmas, Heritage, Voyage, Voyage II, Live and Unplugged and Mythology, as well as a Christmas performance. In December 2009 Billboard magazine named Celtic Thunder the Top World Album Artist.
Celtic Thunder is known for its eclectic style with songs ranging from a soloist to an ensemble focus. The group is backed by the Celtic Thunder Band on their concert tours, and their live shows are known for the use of dramatic effects via lighting and choreography as well as a stage set resembling an ancient stone pathway suggestive of those referenced in Celtic lore.
Members
The members of Celtic Thunder are (in alphabetical order of family name):
Neil Byrne (born November 16, 1977): Music has always been a major part of Neil's life. Born into a musical family, Neil’s father has worked as a professional musician his entire life and his mother is a huge fan of all music. By the age of 5, Neil was gripped by rhythm, which instinctively lead him to drum on anything in front of him. He began learning the guitar when he was 7, hugely helped and encouraged by his father. Later in life a mutual friend approached Neil and asked him to play at a function for one of Ireland’s most renowned songwriters and producers, Phil Coulter. When Sharon Browne and Phil began working on production for Celtic Thunder he was invited to record backing vocals for the debut DVD, and subsequently play lead guitar player for the live show. Neil would have to say the most memorable and prestigious performance of his career to date was in Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Since then he has toured America and Canada extensively with Celtic Thunder and most recently has joined the cast as the 6th leading vocalist with Celtic Thunder.
Paul Michael Byrom (born April 11, 1979) is from Dublin, Ireland. In addition to Celtic Thunder, he has also performed at major sporting events in Ireland and abroad, including singing at the All Ireland Finals in Dublin's Croke Park and at Heinz Field for a Pittsburgh Steelers game in the USA. He has also performed for Ireland's President, Mary McAleese, and for Emperor Akihito of Japan. Paul has released two albums: Velvet and I'll Be Home For Christmas. He left Celtic Thunder as of 2011 to pursue his solo career. Member from 2008-2011
George Donaldson (February 1, 1968- March 12, 2014) is the oldest member of the group and is a well-known balladeer, guitarist and flutist from Glasgow, Scotland. At Scotland's Celtic Park, Donaldson played to 65,000 fans at the opening match of the 2000-2001 season.
Keith Ronald Harkin, (born June 10, 1986), like Damian, is from Derry, Northern Ireland. He plays the guitar and has written one of the songs for Celtic Thunder: "Lauren and I". In 2008, a new solo album by Keith was rumoured to be in the working stages but has not yet been released as of mid 2009. Keith enjoys surfing and has written a song called Chasing Dreams that articulates his love for it. Keith has now recorded more original songs apart from Celtic Thunder, some titles include: Vanity, Don't Lose the Feeling, and What I Like.
Ryan John Kelly (born November 6, 1978) is from The Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He holds two degrees from the Queen's University Belfast, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and also a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Accounting, qualifying Ryan to be a chartered accountant.
Damian Joseph McGinty, Jr. (born September 9, 1992) was the youngest member of the group for 4 years and is from Derry, Northern Ireland. He recorded the first Celtic Thunder album when he was only fourteen years old. It is rumoured that McGinty will begin work on a solo album in the next 6 months. He won his first singing contest at the age of five. He recorded the first Celtic Thunder album when he was fourteen years old. McGinty lists Michael Buble, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra among his inspirations.[5] On April 29, 2011 it was announced that Damian was chosen as one of 12 contenders for The Glee Project, a reality series on the Oxygen Network. He tied for first and had a guest starring role in the third season of the Fox hit TV show Glee. He debuted on Glee season 3 episode 4 Pot o' Gold. Though originally awarded a seven-episode arc, his run-time was later extended to 16 episodes including a guest appearance in season 4's Glee Actually. In the summer of 2013 Damian joined Paul Byrom for "The Me and My Shadow" Tour. McGinty is also part of Ethan Bortnick's concert.
Emmet Michael Cahill (born October 18, 1990) became Paul Byrom's replacement. 2010 was a very exciting year for Emmet Cahill; he was awarded the 2010 John Mc Cormack Bursary for the most Promising Young Tenor, and was named the most promising young singer at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He has been a multiple prizewinner at the National Feis Ceoil singing competition in Ireland. Emmet is 20 years old and hails from Mullingar in County Westmeath in Ireland. His musical journey began when at just 5 years old he began learning the piano. By 7 Emmet had begun voice training, and he soon went on to win a music scholarship for high school in Mullingar and spend 5 years intensively studying and playing music. At school he furthered his studies in piano, organ and violin and vocal training, however singing has always been his true love. He continued his education at the prestigious Royal Irish Academy of Music where he received a university degree in Music Performance. He has been in many stage productions in Dublin and has performed on stage at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin and as a soloist at the National Concert Hall. He is an avid sports fan and has performed twice at Croke Park in Dublin, in front of crowds of 90,000. One such occasion was for the 125th Anniversary of The GAA. He has also performed for the President of Ireland Mary McAleese and at several international rugby games Dublin’s new Aviva Stadium. Emmet also sings regularly at the Mullingar Cathedral.
He is a huge sports fan and has won many prizes playing football with his college and local teams. In his spare time, he also loves attending music and sporting events, playing the guitar and listening to music. He attended auditions for Celtic Thunder in June 2010 and was delighted to be asked by Sharon and Phil to join the show. Emmet Cahill is the latest addition to the Celtic Thunder family.
Daniel Furlong
Vocalist
Daniel Furlong was the newest (and youngest) member of Celtic Thunder. Daniel is 13 years old and hails from the town of Taghmon in County Wexford on the Southeast coast of Ireland. He is a boy soprano and was discovered when he entered a singing competition at the age of seven and won! Although Daniel is barely a teenager, he has been performing and singing in public for over six years. Daniels hometown of Wexford is synonymous with Opera and is host to the internationally acclaimed Opera Festival in October of every year. Indeed Daniel is no stranger to opera and played the role of Edgar in the Wexford Light Opera Society production of Ragtime in 2008. In 2008 and again in 2009, Daniel was also cast in the lead role of Oliver in the musical Oliver with both Oyster Lane and Festival productions. He has also performed solo on two national television stations in Ireland. In 2009 Daniel won an All Ireland Song Contest as a solo singer, competing with artists considerably older than he. In 2011 he won "The All Ireland Talent" Show a nationally televised talent competition and Irelands answer to Americas Got Talent. In light of all of his incredible achievements to date, his home county of Wexford honored Daniel by naming him "Wexford Person of the Year" for 2011.
Daniel describes himself as an outgoing and optimistic, friendly and a fun person. He likes to spend time with his friends and family, and he loves the chance to perform. He is quite competitive and loves playing team sports such as hurling, Gaelic football, soccer and rounders (softball). Music is obviously Daniels passion, he practices with his local choir "The Young Wexford Singers" every week and is also learning to play the guitar and the pigeon box. Daniel came to the attention of Celtic Thunder producer Sharon Browne, when he won the All Ireland Talent Show" and she quickly arranged to meet him. His energy and enthusiasm is infectious and once Sharon had met Daniel and seen him perform, she immediately offered him a place in Celtic Thunder. He performs an angelic version of Walking In The Air in the Christmas show and also sings solo in Heritage on Somewhere Over The Rainbow and the Josh Groban hit To Where You Are. Daniel also joins with other members of Celtic Thunder in the Ensembles and performs duets with Keith and Emmet.
Colm Joseph Keegan (born August 2, 1989) is from Dublin, Ireland. He attended University College Dublin on a music scholarship, graduating in 2011 with an honors degree in Music and Irish. Colm auditioned for and was selected for Celtic Thunder in May 2012 as a new vocalist, becoming a sixth member of the previously five-man group. He was formerly a member of the Aontas Choral Ensemble, who are known for their work with Celtic Woman. Colm appeared in the Celtic Woman DVDs 'Songs From The Heart' (2009) and 'Believe' (2011).
Emmett O'Hanlon (born July 9, 1991), Celtic Thunder's newest member, is Emmet Cahill's replacement. He is Irish- American. Emmett will be touring with Celtic Thunder during their Mythology tour and the Christmas Voices Symphony tour.
Beginning in March 2008, the group has been featured throughout the US on the PBS television network more than 1200 times, and during May and June 2008, members of the group were interviewed on dozens of local PBS stations during performances of their show
Celtic Thunder is also the name of a traditional Irish band formed in 1977. The band recorded three albums―1981’s Celtic Thunder; The Light of Other Days (1988), and Hard New York Days in 1996.
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Celtic Thunder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well he just might like to know
He's put a great big smile, on somebody's face
And if you jump into your bed
Quickly cover up your head
Don't you lock the doors
You know that sweet Santa Claus in on the way
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
When we're skating in the park
If the snow cloud makes it dark
Then your rosy cheek's gonna light my merry way
Now the frosty paws appear
And they've frozen up my ears
So we'll lie by the fire
'Til the sleep simply knocks 'em all away
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
Well, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
The lyrics to Celtic Thunder's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" celebrate the magic and joy of the Christmas season. The opening lines evoke the image of a snowman, who has brought joy and happiness to someone's life by creating a smile on their face. The next verse describes the excitement of Santa's imminent arrival, and encourages the listener to leave their doors unlocked in anticipation of his visit.
The chorus of the song expresses the sentiment that Christmas should not be limited to just one day, but rather a state that should be enjoyed every day. The repetition of this chorus reinforces the song's message, while also providing a memorable and catchy hook for listeners.
The final verse of the song paints a cozy scene of skating in the park and cuddling by the fire, enjoying the warmth and love of the holiday season. Ultimately, the song encourages listeners to embrace the spirit of Christmas and celebrate it every day of the year, not just on December 25th.
Line by Line Meaning
When the snowman brings the snow
When the snow falls and the snowman is built, it brings joy and excitement to those who see it.
Well he just might like to know
The snowman may not realize the happiness it brings to people, but it does.
He's put a great big smile, on somebody's face
The snowman brings joy and makes people smile when they see it.
And if you jump into your bed
When it's cold outside, people retreat to their warm beds for comfort.
Quickly cover up your head
People cover their heads to stay warm and protect from the cold.
Don't you lock the doors
People should not fear during the holiday season, instead they should open themselves up to the joy it brings.
You know that sweet Santa Claus in on the way
Santa Claus represents the spirit of giving and generosity during the holiday season.
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
The happiness and joy brought by Christmas is something that people wish could last all year round.
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
The sound of music and children singing represents the happiness and joy of the holiday season.
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
The desire to continue experiencing the joy and happiness of the holiday season all year round.
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
Let the sounds of bells represent the celebration and joy of the holiday season.
When we're skating in the park
Ice skating is a common winter activity that brings joy and excitement during the holiday season.
If the snow cloud makes it dark
Sometimes the weather can become grey and dark, but it doesn't detract from the happiness of the holiday season.
Then your rosy cheek's gonna light my merry way
The sight of someone's warm and rosy cheeks brings joy and happiness during the cold winter months.
Now the frosty paws appear
The cold weather can turn hands and feet frosty and numb.
And they've frozen up my ears
The cold weather can make ears feel numb and frozen.
So we'll lie by the fire
To combat the cold, people retreat indoors to warm by the fire.
'Til the sleep simply knocks them all away
The warmth of the fire can make people sleepy and lull them to sleep.
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
Repeat of earlier line, the sounds of bells represent the celebration and joy of the holiday season.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROY WOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeanpierrerdc9651
Oh, quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
Eh bien, il aimerait peut-être savoir
Il a mis un grand sourire sur le visage de quelqu’un
Si vous sautez dans votre lit
Couvrez rapidement votre tête
Ne verrouillez-vous pas les portes, vous savez que le doux Père Noël est en route
Eh bien, j’aimerais que ce soit Noël tous les jours
Quand les enfants commencent à chanter et que le groupe commence à jouer
Oh, j’aimerais que ce soit Noël tous les jours
Que les cloches sonnent pour Noël
Quand nous patinons dans le parc
Si le nuage d’orage le peint en noir
Puis tes joues roses vont illuminer mon joyeux chemin
Maintenant, les givrées apparaissent
Et ils ont gelé ma barbe
Alors nous allons nous allonger près du feu jusqu’à ce que le sommeil les fasse simplement fondre tous.
Eh bien, j’aimerais que ce soit Noël tous les jours
Quand les enfants commencent à chanter et que le groupe commence à jouer
Oh, j’aimerais que ce soit Noël tous les jours
Alors, que les cloches sonnent pour Noël
Quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
Eh bien, il aimerait peut-être savoir
Il a mis un grand sourire sur le visage de quelqu’un
Donc, si le Père Noël apporte ce traîneau
Tout au long de la voie lactée
Je signerai mon nom sur le toit dans la neige puis il décidera peut-être de rester
Eh bien, j’aimerais que ce soit Noël tous les jours
Quand les enfants commencent à chanter et que le groupe commence à jouer
Oh, j’aimerais que ce soit Noël tous les jours
Alors, que les cloches sonnent pour Noël
OK vous beaucoup, prenez-le
Eh bien, j’aimerais que ce soit Noël tous les jours
Quand les enfants commencent à chanter et que le groupe commence à jouer
Oh, j’aimerais que ce soit Noël tous les jours
Que les cloches sonnent pour Noël
Pourquoi ne donnez-vous pas votre amour pour Noël
Quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
Quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
Quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
Quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
Quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
Quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
Quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
Quand le bonhomme de neige apporte la neige
@LordMarcus07
My FAVORITE singer, for this song. 😁
@lindasu5366
Miss you, George Donaldson ❤
@tigre7739
He had such a natural way of connecting with the audience and engaging them with his enthusiasm! He was a great entertainer and a beautiful soul!😇 He is so missed, but will always be remembered!!💖
@johndenverfan
Miss Big George Celtic Thunder Is Not Same Without George
@jennyricketts190
Let the bells 🔔 🎶 ring out for Christmas 🎄 🎶 Bless you George 🙏 ♥️
@Ror0254
I love George. Miss him❤
@PrincessLydia
Good old George Donaldson! Wahoo!
@bjoeljones
Nollaig Chridheil (Happy Christmas)🎄to you and all your kin. Slàinte Mhath🏴
Rest eternal, George.
@franciscarodriguesdasilva3588
Saudades de você George! 😍😍😍😍
@jacquelinebunn1476
Listen to George every day, and love celtic thunder..