Celtic Thunder hits Bendigo

Bendigo Weekly | Bendigo Weekly | 09-Feb-2012 2.05pm

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Celtic Thunder play The Capital on February 19.
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BY NUHTAYA JOHNSON.


Celtic Thunder perform in Australia for the first time later this month.

And the Thunder's five soloists, George Donaldson, Ryan Kelly, Emmet Cahill, Keith Harkin and Neil Byrne will embark on their Australian tour fresh from a break after an intense tour of America.

"We started up in Canada and then crossed the border to America. We toured there until Christmas," Kelly says

"It’s going to be a long spell".

Celtic Thunder have previously been to Australia, for a week and a half of promotion.

‘We are dying to get back because it is such an amazing country. The people are really supportive about the music and the show and we're really excited," Kelly says.

"We are looking forward to playing, having a beer and a good time."

With similarities in culture, he said Australia was like a home away from home.

Celtic Thunder’s DVD The Show was released July last year, and the CD/DVD release has gone two times platinum here in Australia; the group have also sold over 1 million albums and toured America’s coasts four times, selling over 400,000 tickets. 

The group was established by Sharon Browne and Phil Coulter, with performers playing both traditional Irish songs and modern hits. The ensemble reflects the individuality of the soloists, who range from 19 to 42 in age.

"I was an accountant beforehand," Kelly says.

"Back then I wasn’t aware of what this was going to become. I was nervous, but if I had known that we would go on to play at the White House and in Australia, I think I would have been a lot more nervous."

"We were invited to perform for the President around two, three years ago and we got to meet him."

Michele Obama told him she was a big fan of the group.


Celtic Thunder play The Capital Theatre on February 19.

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