During the late summer of 2007, Celtic Thunder made their debut. The band joined in with the Celtic Concert Orchestra. They did this with the help of their musical director Phil Coulter. Celtic Thunder has hit the ground running and since they started in 2007 has already released four different albums.

Celtic Thunder

"Dreams do come true if you hang around long enough."

Celtic Thunder is an Irish band that consists of five male solo artists. Since 2007, they have made a name for themselves performing not only ensemble numbers but solo ones as well.

Starting Out

During the late summer of 2007, Celtic Thunder made their debut. The band joined in with the Celtic Concert Orchestra. They did this with the help of their musical director Phil Coulter. Celtic Thunder has hit the ground running and since they started in 2007 has already released four different albums. In addition to this they also have a DVD that contains three live performances.

Sound

The sound of Celtic Thunder is best described as eclectic. This comes from the points of view of all five of the performers in the band. They are able to bring their own individual voice as well as coming together in ensemble performances. The live shows are thought to be one of a kind with dramatic choreography and lighting. During the concert tours, the Celtic Thunder Band accompanies them.

Members

The members of Celtic Thunder each have their own unique and interesting style that helps to make the band as successful as it is. Paul Michael Byrom has released two solo albums entitled I’ll be Home for Christmas and Velvet. He has made appearances singing at sporting events as well as for Ireland’s president. He has even performed for Emperor Akihito.

Keith R. Harkin is a guitar player and composed Celtic Thunder’s song Lauren and I. Keith has been working on a solo album since 2008. He also has his own songs separate from the band.

Ryan John Kelly went to Queen’s University Belfast. It was there that he earned two degrees before going onto becoming a successful musician.

Damian Joseph McGinty Jr. is the youngest member of the band. He was only fourteen whenever he recorded the first Celtic Thunder album.

The oldest member of Celtic Thunder, George Donaldson is well known as a flautist, guitarist as well as a balladeer from Scotland. At Celtic Park he played for nearly seventy thousand fans at the opening of the 2000-2001 season.

Neil Byrne has joined the band for their latest album as a guitarist. Neil can be heard in the songs Hallelujah and When You Wish Upon a Star.

Tours

In their fall tour of 2008, they sold almost 130,000 tickets for a total of forty nine shows. This helped them to be #20 on the Star Tour Poll.

In December of 2008, Celtic Thunder finished up their US tour. They visited fifty states and then came back the following year. They are planning to come back once again in the fall of 2010.

They toured Canada in the spring of 2009 while coming down to the US in the north eastern states.

They filmed a DVD in Casino Rama which is just north of the city of Toronto. They filmed this DVD while on tour for the album Take Me Home.

Current

In February of 2010, they released their third DVD as well as their fourth CD. Both titled It’s Entertainment. Celtic Thunder is planning on releasing Storm, their fourth DVD in the summer of 2010.

Did You Know…

• …Celtic Thunder is one of the most popular free mp3 downloads of their genre

• …in New York they opened for the St Patrick's Day Parade in 2009, later that day they performed for the president and his wife in the White House

• …Celtic Thunder's first three albums have been placed in the top ten for world albums

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