Celtic woman set for Irish debut

An Irish musical extravaganza which has spent over 45 weeks at the top of the World Music Album Charts is to perform in Ireland for the first time.

Celtic Woman, including pantomime star Twink’s daughter 16-year-old Chloe Agnew and Lisa Kelly, shot to stardom in the US after coming together for a special show broadcast on television in March 2005.

“What I thought was going to be one night has maybe changed into five-years,” Lisa Kelly, 28, from Dublin’s Knocklyon, said, ahead of playing Dublin’s Point Theatre on February 18 next.

The Celtic Woman CD, which was composed by David Downes, has been the No 1 World Music Album for 46 weeks while tickets for their US tour have also been selling out.

Lisa, who performed as the lead singer with Riverdance – the Show for five years, said the group had managed a tremendous feat with the five Celtic Women members also in the Top World Albums Billboard.

Soprano Chloe has the strongest debut of the five group members, entering at number four. The remaining members of Celtic Women all have albums featuring below number 15 in the World Albums charts.

Fourth-year student, Chloe, who works with a tutor for five hours a day while on tour, said she could not believe how successful her latest album was.

“I couldn’t believe it, I was absolutely shocked. I’m delighted with all the success,” Chloe, who recorded her first album at 12, said.

“We are playing fantastic venues, places I had always heard of but never thought I would get to see, never mind play in.”

On their overnight success, Lisa said: “It took us by surprise.

“We have been really, really lucky. We have been an overnight success we went over to promote it last March and did the Today Show outside Rockefeller Centre,” she said, adding that they had ended up touring the country.

Lisa said the group was nervous ahead of playing a concert in Ireland for the first time.

“Playing to a home crowd is very different. It is very nerve wracking when you know the people you are playing to,” she said.

On how the show will be received in Ireland, Lisa said: “I don’t know it is always harder to play at home it is an easier product to sell in the US as they are so into Irish culture.

“I hope the response here will be as good as the response to Riverdance.

“When you can bring a young child and grandparent to the same show you’ve got a success on your hands,” she said.

Celtic Woman perform a variety of songs including Enya’s ’May It Be’, and traditional Irish songs.

The group will return to the US after their Irish concert to play a sell-out show in New York’s infamous Radio City venue on St Patrick’s Day.