I got to see them live this week for the first time!

Apparently it's the first time they've toured in Ontario, Canada in their 39 year history. I didn't fact-check that, but if true, that's crazy!

2 of the original members (Joanie Madden and Mary Coogan) performed in the show. Joanie is funny and there was plenty of banter between the music. The show was pretty fun. They had a variety of instruments: tin whistle, flute, guitar, fiddle, piano, and an accordion. They also had not one, but TWO small groups of Irish dancers: one that tour with then, and one that was local.

There were plenty of fun tune sets, one of my favourites being one of their most popular originals, The Cat's Meow.

The credentials of the performers on that stage was astonishing. The violinist performed with Riverdance. Multiple dancers had won world championships.

Celtic Woman got a brief mention: before intermission, they pleaded with people to follow them on Facebook, or if they weren't liking the show, they could go follow the Celtic Woman instead. Lol. Sure, it was a light-hearted bit of shade, but hey, if it got just one person in that audience to follow Celtic Woman that didn't already love them, I'm ok with it.

Brendan Graham also got a shoutout as part of an introduction to introduction to Isle of Hope. That arrangement was incredible! I believe Kate Purcell was the singer / guitarist. It was refreshing hearing the songs performed with a strong, authentic Irish folksy style, very different than the way they're performed in Celtic Woman. It was really effective, especially with Joanie singing harmony.

I got a brief meet with Joanie after the show. I was about as chatty as usual. I might have gotten a sentence out before someone else butted in. Lol. It's fine, they've had fans there waiting 39 years to see them live (as well as a surprising number who travelled to see the show). I did get a signed CD for my efforts though.

They were also selling USB sticks with a ton of their music on it: Cherished Favorites, it was cleverly titled. I've got many hours of new music to listen to now.

Ya I try to make a new button each year and for each new girl, The buttons I make each year is most times a group one but because of it being the 20 year I made one for each girl and a group one and I will give them to the girls April 17 at my M&G and Mairead said they would sign some photos for the forum also.

You mean the old grumpy guy he doesn't like me because I always take to long.

I went to the Christmas show in Atlanta.  The PBS station had multiple levels of donations.  They had a pre-show gathering (about 2 hours if I remember correctly).  Buffet.  Open bar!!  Then, they came and got those of us who had the M&G.  About 20 or so.  There were about 75 total at the pre-show event.

We don't ask for autographs very often anymore. Our personal preference is to have photos and to use that time to just talk to them. But someone else in the meet and greet asked them to sign something and they did do that.