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 Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Celtic Thunder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the kids jingle-belling
And everyone telling you, ?Be of good cheer?
It?s the most wonderful time of the year
It?s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
There?ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There?ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories
Of Christmases long, long ago
It?s the most wonderful time of the year
There?ll be much mistletoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It?s the most wonderful time of the year
There?ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There?ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories
Of Christmases long, long ago
Long ago
It?s the most wonderful time of the year
There?ll be much mistletoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It?s the most wonderful time,
It?s the most wonderful time,
It?s the most wonderful time of the year
Of the year
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring
To you and your King
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding,
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding,
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding,
And a cup of good cheer.
Good tidings we bring
To you and your King
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year.
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a happy New Year.
The song "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Celtic Thunder perfectly captures the joyous mood and atmosphere during the holiday season. The song celebrates the arrival of Christmas with all its festivities and traditions. The lyrics describe the happiness and excitement that come with the celebration of Christmas, starting with the sound of jingle bells from kids and the cheers from everyone. The song evokes a feeling of warmth and togetherness that comes with having loved ones around at this time of the year.
The second verse underscores the beauty of the holiday season, emphasizing how it is the happiest season of all. The singer highlights how the holiday greetings and joyous meetings with friends and family is something to look forward to during Christmas. The song also describes the traditional Christmas celebrations, including parties, caroling, storytelling, and the preparation of delicious marshmallows. Additionally, the song reflects the reality of being together with loved ones during the holiday season by mentioning the times shared with "ghost stories of Christmases past."
Furthermore, the last part of the song welcomes everyone to Christmas with the traditional "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" carol, wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the most wonderful time of the year
The air is filled with excitement and anticipation as the holiday season begins.
With the kids jingle-belling
Children are joyfully ringing bells and celebrating the season.
And everyone telling you, 'Be of good cheer'
People are encouraging each other to be happy and enjoy the holiday season.
It's the hap-happiest season of all
This season brings the most happiness and excitement to all.
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
People are happily exchanging greetings and gathering together to celebrate.
When friends come to call
People are excited to see their friends during this festive time of year.
There'll be parties for hosting
People will be hosting parties to celebrate the season.
Marshmallows for toasting
Marshmallows will be roasted over an open flame as a traditional part of celebrating the holidays.
And caroling out in the snow
People will joyfully sing carols together amidst the snowfall.
There'll be scary ghost stories
People will share frightening stories around the fire as part of holiday traditions.
And tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago
People will tell stories about the wonderful Christmases of the past.
There'll be much mistletoeing
People will be enjoying romantic moments under the mistletoe.
And hearts will be glowing
People will feel great warmth and happiness in their hearts during the holiday season.
When loved ones are near
Being surrounded by family and friends makes the holiday season extra special.
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We hope that you have a joyful and celebratory Christmas season.
And a happy New Year
We also hope that the new year brings you much happiness and success.
Good tidings we bring
We bring you good news during this happy time of the year.
To you and your King
We send our well-wishes to both you and your family.
And a cup of good cheer
We hope that you will have good holiday company and happy moments to make memories with.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mariemoore6406
Hearing them sing always makes me feel good..Know you can't turn back time but wished I could just to see them together again like they are here especially with George...๐ข
@robin14ize
Always a wonderful day when Celtic Thunder is with us/
@Jackie-ld2ki
It nice to see George, Paul, Keith & the other guy's all together again. Love Celtic Thunder ๐๐
@a.michon7719
George passed away and Keith left...old video.
@meripederson8379
When nothing else can, Celtic Thunder can always bring a smile to my face ๐โค๏ธ
@christinamcilwaine350
Sleep Peacefully George Donaldson never forgotten ๐ชถ๐๏ธ๐ฏ๏ธ๐ค RIP ๐ค๐ฉต๐ฏ๏ธ
@vickiemcgeary5527
Miss this original group R.I.P George
@DebbieElaine
Love these guys. Awesome song. Love this. ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐
@tigre7739
A wonderful classic, and an even more wonderful Celtic Thunder classic, always helps get me into the holiday spirit!!๐๐๐๐โ
@ildicodaczo2030
It's my wonderful morning!Thank you.โค๐