Celtic Thunder, a brand-new show created and produced by Sharon Browne, made its debut in the US with a public television special airing on local stations nationwide beginning in March. Filmed in the Helix in Dublin last August, the special features five male vocalists (Damian McGinty, Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, Paul Byrom and George Donaldson) performing an eclectic mix of songs, ranging from the traditional "Mountains of Mourne" to international hits such as "Brothers in Arms" as well as original compositions by Celtic Thunder's musical director and composer Phil Coulter.

Damian McGinty is only 14 years old and is in his third year in middle school in Derry, Northern Ireland. Damian began singing at a young age, winning his first music competition at the age of six. Currently Damian is in a drama society and the City of Derry Choir, along with a local church choir that recently recorded a gospel CD. After winning a singing competition in 2006, Damian's public profile was significantly boosted and he made appearances at various concerts: The Millenium Forum for Derry City football team, and for the Red Cross. Damian recorded a solo CD and sent a copy of it to Phil Coulter who passed it on to Sharon Browne. As a result he was chosen to become a member of Celtic Thunder.


George Donaldson is a self taught musician, he plays guitar, flute, mandolin, bodhran and banjo. George's love of Celtic musis stems from his childhood in Glasgow, where his main influence was his father Bernard who had a love and appreciation of all kinds of live music played from the heart. Now at 40 years of age, George is a well-established singer in the vibrant Glasgow and West of Scotland Folk scene. He has recorded folk sessions for BBC Scotland and made appearances at Glasgow's own Celtic Connections and the Glasgow West End Festival. To date, George has toured in America, Canada and Europe, and has developed a fondness for Germany, where he has a great following.

Keith Harkin from the age of four had been wowing audiences with his beautiful voice and musical virtuosity, he is also an accomplished songwriter and guitarist. Now 21, Keith has played at the Tavistock Festival in the UK and was the lead in BBC's "Dha Theanga" in 2006. Keith has shared his talents by opening for acts such as John Martyn and David Kitt in 2007. It was a serendipitous day when Keith returned from London one afternoon and heard about the auditions for Celtic Thunder, as they were already in progress. He called into the auditions just as they were finishing, auditioned and was very happy to be asked then and there to attend the final auditions in Dublin, and was ultimately selected as one of the five soloists for the Celtic Thunder show.


Ryan Kelly has been singing since the age of seven in various choirs and became singing champion at the SCOR competition in March 2007. Ryan, now 28, finished second in the BBC television "country Cool" competition in 2003, and performed alongside Westlife, Girls Aloud and Simply Red in the televsied "Children in Need Live Charity Concert" at the Odyssey in Belfast to an audience of over 8,000. Ryan is actively involved in Amateur Dramatics and has played the lead in "Blood Brothers" and the role of "Judas Iscariot" in "Jesus Christ Superstar." Auditioning for Celtic Thunder and being chosen as one of the five successful vocalists has taken Ryan's passion for Traditional Irish Music to a professional level.   

Paul Byrom was born in Dublin and has been hailed as Ireland's premier young tenor. Singled out at an early age as having a special vocal talent, Paul was encouraged to pursue his dream and began voice study and training at the tender age of seven. He studied under Dr Veronica Dunne, Ireland's leading lady of opera and a renowned vocal teacher. A professional singer by his early teens, Paul recorded his first album as a boy sopranowhen he was 14. He released his album VELVET in Ireland in 2005 to great critical acclaim, placing him firmly at number two in the music charts. When the auditions for Celtic Thunder were announced, Phil Coulter contacted Paul and invited him to audition for Sharon Browne, and he was naturally selected as one of the five brilliant members of Celtic Thunder.

Ciara Nolan

Feature Content thanks to Jean Clancy - C&L Promotions