Celtic Thunder’s fall tour has seen the popular singers returning to their distinct Irish roots.
From left, Emmet Cahil, Geoge Donaldson, Keith Harkin, Neil Byrne, and Ryan Kelly of Celtic Thunder.Celtic Thunder fans will not only get to enjoy songs from their Heritage Tour on Tuesday night at Springfield’s Symphony Hall, but will get taste of their Christmas show as well..
Celtic Thunder’s fall Heritage Tour has seen the popular singers returning to their distinct Irish roots. The tour features performances by fan favorites - Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, Neil Byrne and George Donaldson - along with the newest member of the ensemble, Emmet Cahill.
“Sharon Brown held auditions all across Ireland last year and I don’t know how she managed to pick me, but she did. I started as an understudy, then officially became part of Celtic Thunder this January,” Cahill said.
The 21-year-old Cahill hails from Mullingar in County Westmeath in Ireland. His musical journey began when he was just five years old learning the piano. By the age of seven, he had begun voice training and he went on to win a music scholarship for high school in Mullingar.
Cahill spent the next five years studying and playing music. At school, he furthered his studies in piano, organ and violin, as well as vocal training. He continued his education at the prestigious Royal Irish Academy of Music where he received a university degree in Music Performance.
“My family was very much involved in music. My dad was a piano teacher and my mom was a classical singer who would always bring us along to church when she was singing in the choir or for a wedding,” Cahill said.
“After all the training I received since the age of seven, it was a natural progression to do this as a full-time job,” added the classical singer.
Tuesday’s performance will include Cahill performing “This is the Moment,” the toe-tapping ensemble piece “A Place In The Choir,“ Harkin’s version of the romantic ballad “The Dutchman,” and a Harkin/Byrne duet of the the Thin Lizzy classic “Whiskey In The Jar.“ In addition, Celtic Thunder will be adding never before seen numbers such as the Gaelic “Dualaman.”
After the Thanksgiving holiday, Celtic Thunder fans began getting the opportunity to not only hear music from their popular “Heritage” album and tour, but hear their heart-warming interpretations of holiday favorites. The songs to be performed on Tuesday night are featured on their “Christmas” compact disc from last year and include “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,” “Amazing Grace,” “Most Wonderful Time of The Year” and “Silent Night,” as well as a few pop favorites such as “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and “Last Christmas” alongside some specially-written originals, like “Going Home For Christmas” and the “Christmas Overture.”
Since the airing of their first PBS television special in 2008, Celtic Thunder remains one of the most popular musical acts for the network. In addition to selling over one million compact discs and DVDs, their official YouTube channel, “Thunder Tube” has received nearly 21 million upload views since its inception in 2008. Celtic Thunder had the distinct honor of performing for President Obama at The White House’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration in 2009, and they also opened New York City’s famed St. Patrick’s Day Parade on 5th Avenue two consecutive years in a row.
Cahill attributes the success of Celtic Thunder and the many Irish shows and other groups touring the United States and internationally to the fact that Irish music is “very accessible.”
“Irish music is very much a global thing and like the Irish culture it is very accessible. Americans have a strong connection to Ireland since many are originally from the country. And as soon as they learn a show like ours is coming into town, they want to see it. It’s like a taste of home for them and they get very nostalgic,” Cahill said.