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, Neilโs 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 Irelandโs 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 Dublinโs 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 albumsโ1981โs Celtic Thunder; The Light of Other Days (1988), and Hard New York Days in 1996.
The Isle of Innisfree
Celtic Thunder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away
And precious things are dreams unto an exile
They take him o'er the land across the sea
Especially when it happens he's an exile
And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
Of this great city, wondrous though it be
I scarcely feel its wonder or laughter
I'm once again back home in Inisfree
I wander o'er green hills, through dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow
And then into a humble shack I wander
My dear old home and tenderly behold
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
On bended knee their rosary is told
But dreams don't last, though dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality
But though they pave the footways here with gold dust
I still would choose the Isle of Inisfree
I still would choose the Isle of Inisfree
The song "The Isle of Innisfree" by Celtic Thunder speaks of the deep longing for one's homeland, a common sentiment for those who have had to leave their country and their loved ones behind. The lyrics talk about being called a dreamer which is true for the singer as he is longing for his home. The singer says that it is natural for an individual to dream when he is away from the things that he loves. The singer explains how when one is away from home, he misses even the small things like a breath of fresh air, the serene valleys, the laughter of the rivers, and the music of the birds.
The song expresses the power of remembrance, as even in the bustling city, it is the sweet memories of home that transport the singer back to it, specifically to the Isle of Inisfree. The song speaks of the feeling of belongingness that one feels when they are at home with their loved ones, kneeling around the fire and praying together. The song most importantly highlights the fact that though dreams don't last long, they still hold a special place in our heart, and the singer still would opt for the Isle of Inisfree if given a chance. The lyrics are a poignant plea for the importance of home and the connections that shape us and make us who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer
I have come across people who label me as a dreamer
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
It holds true that I have some of the characteristics of being a dreamer
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
It is natural to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away
When the things you love are distant from you, dreaming is the utmost consolation
And precious things are dreams unto an exile
To someone in exile, their dearest possessions become mere figments of their imagination
They take him o'er the land across the sea
These dreams take them on a journey through both land and sea
Especially when it happens he's an exile
This is particularly relevant when the dreamer is far from home
From that dear lovely Isle of Inisfree
In this instance, the exile has been separated from the beautiful Isle of Inisfree
And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
During such moments when the moonlight peaks over the edifice of the buildings
Of this great city, wondrous though it be
Despite the magnificence of the city
I scarcely feel its wonder or laughter
There remains insufficient enthusiasm to admire or appreciate it
I'm once again back home in Inisfree
The person imagines themselves back home in Inisfree
I wander o'er green hills, through dreamy valleys
The person wanders across the lush green hills and picturesque valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
They find a sense of tranquillity that no other place can provide
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
The person hears the birds making music that sounds heavenly
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow
They watch the rivers flow while chuckling in delight
And then into a humble shack I wander
The person walks into a small, humble home
My dear old home and tenderly behold
They behold their beloved old home with great affection
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
The people they love are gathered around the turf fire
On bended knee their rosary is told
They are praying on their knees to the rosary
But dreams don't last, though dreams are not forgotten
As much as dreams can appear vivid and memorable, they do not last forever
And soon I'm back to stern reality
Soon enough, the dream will come to an end and they will be back to hard reality
But though they pave the footways here with gold dust
Even if the people in the city try to make it more attractive with opulent standards
I still would choose the Isle of Inisfree
The person still longs to go back home to the Isle of Inisfree
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICHARD FARRELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Becky Hatfield
Emmet is so young here. If we only knew just how much he'd grow vocally back then. Thanks for sharing this tbt video of one of his best songs.
Daniel Smucker
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Steve Anderson
These are the songs that I enjoy the most, the original real Irish songs, not the new stuff . Celtic Thunder can sing these ballots from Ireland like know one else. I have every cd they put out. Grandma is from Belfast Ireland and Grandpa is from London England. They know and loved these ballots.
Tigre7
Beautiful performance! Love this song, it stirs my heart and soul. โค๏ธ๐๐๏ธโ๏ธ
Adriana Ishibashi
How amazing and adorable Emmet Cahill's voice is. Thanks I loved seeing Celtic Thunder again ๐ถ๐โฅ๏ธ๐๐ถ
Hilde Bรผto
Wunderschรถn๐๐๐
RoRo23
I love this song. Everyone in Celtic thunder have really amazing voices and song. Hope you can come to Vancouver one day โคโคโคโค
Santeel
Thank you for uploading that beautiful song from one of my favourite Irish singers ๐
Donna Wornek
One of my favorites from Emmet. I do miss when they traveled with the orchestra. โค
maria fogarty
Your voice is like liquid gold I could listen to you for ever. AMAZING.
Thank you. โคโคโคโค