Happy 20th Anniversary!

Today is the 20th Anniversary of the filming of the first Celtic Woman PBS special at The Helix.

On September 15, 2004, Dave Kavanagh, Sharon Browne, and musical director David Downes had a vision and brought together 5 of the most talented women in Ireland: Orla, Chloë, Lisa Kelly, Méav, and Máiréad Nesbitt, along with an amazing band and choir. I don't think anyone could have imagined the synergy the performers would have on stage and how deeply the music would resonate with people. What started as one incredible night became a worldwide phenomenon. We all fell in love with Celtic Woman for different reasons at different times, but we are all here because of of what happened on that night 20 years ago. Since then, they have had a profound impact on our lives. And still to this day, they raise us up.

They brought World Music to a whole new level. They've sold millions of albums, were named Billboard Wold Album Artis of the Year 6 times. They were nominated for an Emmy and a Grammy. They've had many members come and go (and come again). The group has had 4 different musical directors and we have so far had the great fortune of listening to 18 principal performers, each with their unique sound and talents.

It seems appropriate now to reflect on all the joy they've brought us over the past 20 years. What are some of your favourite Celtic Woman memories?

Lots of memories. 

Been to 7 shows at Red Rocks.  That has to be a high point.  Depending on who's survey, it's the best venue in the world.  I think it was in 2009 that they did the second verse to YRMU.  That was incredible.

6 shows at Radio City.  First was 2008.  All with my daughter.  Met all the girls there. 

First time I met Chloe was in 2009 in Fort Myers, FL.  From that point on, she recognized me.

I really don't want to think about how much money I spent traveling all over the county.

Thank you for sharing those memories.

I feel like this is a good time to re-share my story for those that missed it earlier.

I still remember a bit of the promos for the original PBS special. I was certainly intrigued by the sound, but for various reasons, I missed it and all of its re-airings. It was near the start of a decade of hell for me, personally, professionally, physically, and in pretty much every way, when depression got really bad and rarely let up.

The first time I actually listened to a full track was Lisa Kelly's May It Be in the late summer of 2006. I discovered the track when looking for Enya's version, just after Celtic Woman had recorded A New Journey. Music wasn't as readily available online then as it is now and I wasn't into buying albums (I was super-conservative spending money in those days). I saw videos of them from time to time online, usually looking up songs I had heard somewhere else and then finding the Celtic Woman versions instead of the ones I was looking for. I had no idea how the PBS pledge drive schedules worked, so I kept on missing the specials.

In 2010, I watched the Emmy Awards when Songs from the Heart was nominated. That came on the heels of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, which ended up winning. I was still riding the wave of patriotism and that couple of weeks in February were a rare time of intense joy amidst a lengthy time of misery. In hindsight, I'm somewhat sorry to say I was rooting for the Opening Ceremony.

I also remember seeing a bit of the Believe PBS special as I was channel surfing. I tuned in at the wrong time though and caught the few songs I didn't like from that production. So that was the end of that. I also remember seeing promos for local shows a few times, but I didn't go to any concerts then. I wasn't in the mood. I wasn't yet ready to appreciate how beautiful it was.

It wasn't until Destiny that I sat down and watched a whole PBS special at once for the first time, as opposed to enjoying fragments on YouTube. I stumbled upon it upon in the final 6 months of the decade of hell, when depression was bottoming out. I suppose it wasn't until then, when nothing else would bring me joy, that I was ready to let them into my heart. Then, all those songs I'd heard before, and the many I hadn't, suddenly meant the world. I remembered all that fleeting happiness they had brought me over the years. The harmony was overwhelming. Over the Christmas holidays that year, I binged everything incessantly.

I saw my first concert on St. Patrick's Day. I didn't want to sit anywhere near the stage and I almost didn't go. My parents saw how much the music meant to me and got me a seat in the pit though. Looking forward to that show got me through the hardest months of my life and I couldn't have imagined what a profound impact that concert would have on me.

I had read some of the reviews of Destiny. Needless to say there were plenty of fans who didn't like the change in sound or the lacklustre stage setup for the Destiny special. It hurt a lot to read those and it made me want to support Celtic Woman so much more. I suppose that's what lead me to join the fan forums, to share my experience, and to interact with people that felt the same way about the music. I wanted so badly to tend the flame.

I watched Chloë's first few online shows. One of the tipping perks was for Chloë and her friends to record a music video of a song for me. After that experience, I had to go see her in person: the first time I'd ever travelled anywhere separately from my family.

When Máiréad Nesbitt left, I was very worried that the departure of the last original member of the group would devastate the fan base and I think a lot of people did move on with her. But the new wave of music led by Gavin Murphy also drew in a lot of new fans, some of whom I'm lucky enough to call my friends.

I somehow managed to get a ticket for the Ancient Land filming at Johnstown Castle, which inspired my first trip overseas. I never expected to go to it. I certainly didn't have much of a resume as a fan at that time. Being there in the audience was cold, but very special.

I got to see the Ancient Land US tour finale at Red Rocks on my birthday. It will be pretty hard to top that birthday experience.

I was also lucky enough to get a ticket to the 20th Anniversary DVD recording last year in The Helix, the place it all began.

Celtic Woman has had a rough few years. The pandemic cut short their Celebration tour. Their 2023 tour was cancelled for reasons that were never confirmed. The Postcards from Ireland album was heavily criticized. Their 2025 touring is presently up in the air. But in spite of all the struggles, their evolution in sound, and all their lineup changes, here we are, celebrating 20 years of their brilliance, born from a vision in the bleak of winter, brought to life on stage 20 years ago.

Here's to all the music we have yet to hear and to all all those about to discover this group we so dearly love.

I first landed on them more than a decade ago. Don't really remember how -- might've been a case of seeing a CD at the library and grabbing it.
My first show was Songs from the Heart in Rochester, MN. That was a two year tour & the Rochester date was year 2 so the group was Chloe, Mairead and the two Lisas.
While I did watch on PBS subsequently I did not attend a show again for six years.
I finally attended again on Voices of Angels when they came back to Rochester & met them beforehand. Though the meet and greet was short they were a nice group (I can assume the same about the ones I have not met).
Since Voices of Angels I've attended more frequently (with a few years missing due to them not coming or not touring).
2018 Homecoming: did not attend as they did not come and I did not travel.
2019 Ancient Land: Attended in Minneapolis MN.
2020 Celebration. I was supposed to go the end of May just before the tour wrapped up in early June but along came COVID and pushed the Minneapolis date to mid April of the new year.
2021 Celebration. Postponed again. New tour made mostly of dates that had been cancelled announced.
2022 Postcards from Ireland. Attended in Minneapolis MN at State Theater (just like Ancient Land -- my last show at the State before COVID was Celtic Woman May 18, 2019 and Celtic Woman was my first show back there following COVID). Had the tickets 2 1/2 years.
2023: No spring tour Went to Byrne & Kelly, Pink Martini (if you're in this group and not a fan check them out) & Andrea Bocelli as substitutes. Did however finally attend the christmas tour at Mystic Lake Casino -- spent time on the floor a little after the 83 minute show.
2024: 20: Attended in Minneapolis MN same date AND location I attended Postcards from Ireland. 2023 Christmas tour/20 was the first time I had seen the same group in back to back shows (SFTH--VOA was the biggest change where everyone changed, VOA--Ancient Land was one different in the time between, Ancient Land--PFI was two women different in the time between, PFI--Christmas/20 was two women change in the time between. So glad to see Mairead Carlin come back).
Whatever is next (album, tour, special) I am all for it.

I'm catching up & enjoy everyone's posts. 

The lineup for VOA & Homecoming (and Destiny too ...) might be my favorite. Not to take anything away from all the other great lineups. But we all have our personal favorites.

I'm catching up & enjoy everyone's posts. 

The lineup for VOA & Homecoming (and Destiny too ...) might be my favorite. Not to take anything away from all the other great lineups. But we all have our personal favorites.

The Destiny/VOA/Homecoming group came after a time when it seemed like every year or other year someone was leaving.

I believe that was the longest lineup since the originals.

I believe that was the longest lineup since the originals.

Might’ve been. Of course Mairead N departed after the North American leg of the Destiny tour was over.
The shortest lasting individual member (non sub) is Hannah.
The longest lasting members are Mairead C with 9 years (2013-21 & 2023–current — this is subtracting her absence), Susan with 10 years total (6 as main member + being a sub from 2019-22  and recording Postcards/Christmas cards  from Ireland),  Chloe with 11 years (combining her two tenures)  & Mairead N with 12 years.