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.
She's Always A Woman
Celtic Thunder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child
But she’s always a woman to me
She can lead you to love
She can ask for the truth
But she’ll never believe you
And she’ll take what you give her, as long as it’s free
Yeah, she steals like a thief
But she’s always a woman to me
Oh, she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She’s ahead of her time
Oh, and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind
And she’ll promise you more
Than the Garden of Eden
Then she’ll carelessly cut you
And laugh while you’re bleedin’
But she’ll bring out the best
And the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself
Cause she’s always a woman to me
Oh, she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She’s ahead of her time
Oh, and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind
She is frequently kind
And she’s suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases
She’s nobody’s fool
But she can’t be convicted
She’s earned her degree
And the most she will do
Is throw shadows at you
But she’s always a woman to me
The lyrics to Celtic Thunder's song "She's Always A Woman" are a portrayal of a woman who is enigmatic, complex, and deeply flawed. The first verse begins by describing her ability to manipulate and deceive with her appearance and actions. She is capable of causing great damage to those who fall under her spell, and only shows what she wants others to see. Despite her childish tendencies and her faults, she remains a woman that the singer cannot resist, and she has a hold over him that he cannot explain.
The second verse acknowledges that this woman is not entirely heartless. She can be loving and giving, but this comes with conditions. She is quick to turn on those who disappoint her and will take whatever she can without feeling guilty. The third verse delves deeper into her personality traits, highlighting her tendencies to be mercurial and unpredictable. She can be kind and then suddenly cruel, but what sets her apart is that she refuses to conform to anyone else's expectations. In the final lines of the song, the singer reflects on how the woman has earned her autonomy, and although she remains a mystery, she will always hold power and an allure in his eyes.
Overall, the song is a bittersweet ode to the complexity of the feminine psyche, acknowledging that women can be simultaneously enchanting and cruel, loving and deceitful. It presents a nuanced view of femininity that recognizes the multiplicity of emotions and motives that exist within all individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
She can kill with a smile
She has a powerful charm and magnetism, which can lead people astray.
She can wound with her eyes
She has a way of showing disapproval or hurt through her eyes.
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
She can speak untruths so convincingly that it can hurt someone's faith in her.
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She only shows the side of herself that she wants others to see, which may not be her true self.
She hides like a child
She has a tendency to keep secrets and not reveal her true self.
But she’s always a woman to me
But despite all her complexities, she is always a woman in my eyes.
She can lead you to love
She has the ability to lead someone to fall in love with her.
She can take you or leave you
She has the power to choose to be with someone or not.
She can ask for the truth
She may ask for honesty and truthfulness, but may not believe it when given.
But she’ll never believe you
She has a hard time trusting others and believing in their truthfulness.
And she’ll take what you give her, as long as it’s free
She will take advantage of what others give her, as long as she doesn't have to give anything in return.
Yeah, she steals like a thief
She takes things that don't belong to her or does things that are dishonest in order to get what she wants.
But she’s always a woman to me
But despite all her flaws, she is always a woman in my eyes.
She takes care of herself
She's independent and knows how to take care of herself.
She can wait if she wants
She has the power to wait and be patient, without feeling like she needs to rush or take action.
She’s ahead of her time
She is forward-thinking and visionary in her ideas and actions.
And she never gives out
She never gives up, even in difficult times.
And she never gives in
She never compromises or gives up her beliefs or values.
She just changes her mind
She has the power to change her mind or her course of action, regardless of what others may think.
And she’ll promise you more
She may make promises that seem too good to be true.
Than the Garden of Eden
She may make promises of happiness and fulfillment that are unrealistic and unattainable.
Then she’ll carelessly cut you
She may hurt someone without fully realizing the impact of her actions.
And laugh while you’re bleedin’
She may find satisfaction or amusement in someone else's pain.
But she’ll bring out the best
She has the ability to bring out the best in others, even in difficult situations.
And the worst you can be
She also has the ability to bring out the worst in others, sometimes intentionally or unintentionally.
Blame it all on yourself
She may cause problems or issues, but will shift the blame onto others or avoid responsibility for her actions.
Cause she’s always a woman to me
Despite her flaws and complexities, she is always a woman in my eyes.
She is frequently kind
She can be kind and caring towards others, especially when it serves her best interests.
And she’s suddenly cruel
She can also be cruel and hurtful to others without warning, often in response to feeling threatened or vulnerable.
She can do as she pleases
She is independent and has the freedom to do what she wants, without feeling the need to justify herself to others.
She’s nobody’s fool
She is intelligent and wise, and doesn't easily fall for other people's tricks or manipulation.
But she can’t be convicted
She is able to avoid being held responsible for her actions, often due to her charm and persuasive abilities.
She’s earned her degree
She has the knowledge and experience to navigate difficult situations and interactions with others.
And the most she will do
She won't go out of her way to help others if it doesn't benefit her.
Is throw shadows at you
She may cast doubt or darkness onto her surroundings and the people around her, without fully confronting the issues at hand.
But she’s always a woman to me
Despite her complexities, flaws, and strengths, she is always a woman in my eyes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Joel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bettyspearns8341
Oh Neil love you singing this song! Thank you! ❤️
@Conniel7
This is Neil, he's awesome, isn't he? I'm so glad he's a front man now! He deserves the spotlight!
@julietolis1918
this greatly handsome man with Levian chocolate diamond eyes and a voice to die for and is also a gifted musician makes you want to go off the rail and just chase him round the room. am i right?
@bobopaxaton
His voice is PERFECT for these love songs.
@sirwillo1809
I really really like it
@alliou2871
Love this version of the song
@nthekitchen48
Such a great, beautiful voice! Well done!
@sheilalott9672
Neil at his sexiest!
@magicwolfcub5530
Sometimes I'll close my eyes and think he's taking about me
@helenkelly5129
Such a beautiful tone in your voice, love it