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.
Remember Me
Celtic Thunder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The campfire glows in the autumn breeze
and I am lost in my thoughts of you
Remember me, recuerdame
A comrade strums on a sad guitar
My mind is drifting to where you are
I'm holding you as I used to do
So long ago, so far away
Each night I pray
Volvero los dias passoados
I promise you that come what may
Those days will stay
Ever in my memory
In all this world I could never find
The love that I had to leave behind
But duty called, so whate'er befalled
Remember me, recuerdame, mi amor
God only knows what tomorrow brings
You're in my heart, so my spirit sings
and I'll be strong just as long as you
Remember me, recuerdame, mi amor!
The opening lines of Celtic Thunder's song Remember me create a picturesque scene in the listeners' minds as the singer describes the setting. The lines, 'The moonlight dances among the trees, The campfire glows in the autumn breeze' paint a picture of serene beauty. The singer, however, is lost in his thoughts of a loved one, and he implores her to 'Remember me, recuerdame.' The lines that follow, 'A comrade strums on a sad guitar, My mind is drifting to where you are, I'm holding you as I used to do' evoke strong feelings of nostalgia and longing. He wants the loved one to remember the time they shared and how it made them feel.
The chorus of the song's plea is particularly touching; 'So long ago, so far away, each night, I pray, volvero los dias passoados (I will return to the days past), I promise you that come what may, those days will stay, ever in my memory.' The singer makes a promise that he will never forget the time he shared with the loved one and assures her that despite the distance and time, the memories they shared would forever be stamped in his heart. The melancholic accordion and guitar that blend with the Celtic thunder's harmonies create a forlorn atmosphere, hinting at the pain that comes with separation.
Line by Line Meaning
The moonlight dances among the trees
The moonlight shines brightly and reflects off the trees, creating a beautiful sight.
The campfire glows in the autumn breeze
The fire burns and gives off a warm glow in the cool autumn air.
and I am lost in my thoughts of you
I am deeply absorbed in my thoughts of you and can't focus on anything else.
Remember me, recuerdame
Please do not forget about me and remember me.
A comrade strums on a sad guitar
Someone else is playing a slow, somber tune on a guitar nearby.
My mind is drifting to where you are
I am not fully present as my thoughts keep drifting to where you are.
I'm holding you as I used to do
In my mind, I am holding you just like I used to before.
Remember me, recuerdame, mi amor
Please remember me, my love, and keep me in your thoughts.
So long ago, so far away
It has been such a long time since we were together and we are far apart now.
Each night I pray
Every night, I pray for our reunion and for our love to remain strong.
Volvero los dias passoados
I wish to return to the old days when we were together.
I promise you that come what may
No matter what happens, I promise to always be there for you.
Those days will stay
The memories of our time together will always remain with me.
Ever in my memory
I will always remember and cherish our time together in my mind.
In all this world I could never find
I have searched the world over but have never found a love as strong as ours.
The love that I had to leave behind
I had to leave behind the love we shared due to unavoidable circumstances.
But duty called, so whate'er befalled
I had to fulfill my responsibilities and obligations, no matter what happened.
Remember me, recuerdame, mi amor
Please remember me, my love, and do not forget about me.
God only knows what tomorrow brings
The future is uncertain and only God knows what is in store for us.
You're in my heart, so my spirit sings
You reside in my heart and even though I am far away, my spirit is uplifted by thoughts of you.
and I'll be strong just as long as you
As long as you remember me, I will find the strength to carry on and be strong.
Remember me, recuerdame, mi amor!
Once again, I urge you to remember me, my love, and keep our memories alive.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sentimentaloldme
Best version by far.. Great singer.. Beautiful arrangement and one of the best songs ever written by Phil Coulter.
@vjmorgart2423
One of the best discoveries this year ; also any of Celtic Thunder!!
@iulianachelariu7256
Beautiful! And Paul is awesome! ❤❤❤
@vjmorgart2423
I agree 💯 percent——love his voice!!
@user-ot6ou5uw5t
Magnificent voice.Great performance
@valeriewalker9332
Love to hear Paul Byrom sing, and love his humor and gesturs.
@pamelagratton789
Paul Byron sings like an angel..such a beautiful song and voice
@meripederson8379
Paul Byrum was one of the great harmonies of the group. His tenor is so beautiful
@karenissimalovestrilogy75
Such a BEAUTIFUL song,
Sung with such a rich, melodic, and powerful voice!!!
Paul surely does this (and so many other ballads!) sweet justice!
WOW!!!🥰🥰🥰
@rugby8-Philadelphia
This song, from this PBS performance, is part of the reason I became a lifelong fan of Celtic Thunder!!!!
😎😎😎