I just updated the post to add Destiny photo.

Quote from: AeFondAshley on January 23, 2026, 12:00:38 PM

Quote from: stars_at_dawn on January 23, 2026, 11:09:54 AM

Quote from: stars_at_dawn on January 23, 2026, 08:58:02 AM

A bit off topic, but does anyone else feel that the promo pictures look a bit off? The dresses appear to be the Symphony tour dresses photoshopped blue, except for Muirgen, who for some reason is the only one wearing a different dress, and even that looks strangely fake. The poses for that picture are also almost the same as the Symphony tour promo. Even this new violinist’s dress is the same as what Ciara had in the previous promo.

Attached is the Symphony promo for reference. Caitríona and Mairéad’s dresses are the exact same apart from colour.

Here’s the general A New Era image used for reference. All except Muirgen are in the exact same positions with identical dresses except that they’re coloured blue. Muirgen might actually be photoshopped in. Another way to tell is Mairéad’s hair. Her hair was quite a bit longer during the Symphony tour (when A New Era was announced) than when that photo was taken, going past her shoulders (although she recently cut it into a bob). It’s in the exact same style in both pictures.

I did notice only one image result for that other violinist, and it seems to be just for that specific show. Maybe Ciara has a schedule conflict and Tara didn’t want to come back just yet so they had this woman be a temporary stand-in?

Well they are all photoshopped in, at least most promo pics since around Ancient Land have been. In that original photo, Muirgen is in her pink dress from 20 photoshopped blue, Mairéad is in her dress from Cinema Paradiso on 20 also edited to be a darker blue, Caitriona appears to be in Megan’s dress from the symphony tour in 2022, and Ciara seems to be in Megan’s red dress from the Postcards tour 2022, also edited blue. Caitriona was the only one who posted getting new photos for this tour in late December, then she was actually wearing that blue dress.

Huh. That’s odd. Does that mean that Caitríona and Ciara were wearing Megan’s actual dresses or did they just get others of the same model? Although, if Caitríona is wearing a re-used dress, it might actually be Chloë’s teal Postcards From Ireland dress, or at least the same model.

I didn’t even realise that Mairéad’s promo dresses were the Cinema Paradiso dress! Thank you for pointing that out! Although Mairéad’s dress does appear to be lacking the layers of tule that she had in that number.

So they've been doing edits like this for years. Remember the 15th Celebration tour promos? When Eabha left, Chloe was edited in wearing the same dress. But when Susan stepped in, she was added to promo content in another dress which was her Destiny dress in green color. See photos below.

So I was having a chat with AI tonight about Celtic Woman, just to see what information it can provide. It did bring a lot of insight of production and the different shifts and eras over the last 20 years. Then it gave me the following. This is very interesting and I had no clue Synan returned for the 20th special. Please fact check the following as I copied and pasted from the generator.

Since Synan O'Mahony left after the 10 Anniversary tour (2015), the group has gone through three distinct phases of costume design, utilizing a mix of a new lead designer, high-end fashion sourcing, and eventually a nostalgic return. The 10th Anniversary tour was effectively his "swansong." It was the final chapter of the original visual era before the big rebrand happened later that year.

Here is the breakdown of the designers who followed Synan:

1. Jen Kelly (The "Destiny" Rebrand)
Era: Destiny (2015) – Voices of Angels (2017)

 * The Change: Jen Kelly was the first major replacement for Synan. She was responsible for the complete visual overhaul of the group, moving them away from the "fairy princess" ballgowns to the sleeker, more modern "red carpet" couture look seen in the Destiny special.

 * The Style: Fitted silhouettes, sequins, lighter fabrics, and a move away from crinolines and hoops.

2. The "Stylist" Era (Sourcing & Ready-to-Wear)
Era: Ancient Land (2018) – Postcards from Ireland (2021)

 * Instead of hiring a single couturier to custom-make every dress (like Synan did), the production shifted to a Stylist-led model.

 * Designers Used: During this period, the group wore gowns sourced from various high-end Irish and international designers.

   * Don O'Neill (THEIA): Many of the gowns seen during the Homecoming and Ancient Land tours (especially the sequined gold and silver dresses) were from his label, THEIA.

   * Rubin Singer: Some of the more structural, architectural gowns seen in Ancient Land were sourced from this designer.

   * Outdoor Gear: For Postcards from Ireland, because it was filmed outdoors, the "costumes" were often high-end coats, boots, and knitwear sourced by stylists (like Lia Lenehan) from Irish brands like Celtic Fusion or Dubarry, rather than stage gowns.

3. The Return of Synan O'Mahony
Era: 20th Anniversary (2024 – Present)

 * In a massive nod to the group's history, Synan O'Mahony returned to design the gowns for the 20th Anniversary special.

 * This is why the current look feels like a modernized version of the original 2004 aesthetic—he brought back the vibrant jewel tones (emerald greens, deep reds) and the custom-made, cohesive "ensemble" look that defined the group’s first decade.

Summary of the Timeline:
 * Synan O'Mahony (2004–2014)
 * Jen Kelly (2015–2017)
 * Stylist/Sourcing Team (using Don O'Neill, etc.) (2018–2023)
 * Synan O'Mahony (2024–Present)

This could have been planned since the beginning. Only knowing they wouldn't be touring in 2025, they would spend the year releasing singles to continue the "New" for the group. This helps continue the listening and clicks in 2025 when they aren't touring and releasing content.

There's usually more songs recorded for their albums and some are cut from the album. Some examples, Ancient Land deluxe edition additional tracks were recorded with the original album, but was not released in the original and not filmed.

Now that Lisa will be joining them for the tour, all three ladies in the group singing now have done Dúlamán as a solo on a tour before. Listening to the 20th Album made me think of that fact.

Cool fact, this is the first time Lisa Lamb and Mairéad Carlin has shared the stage since Emerald Tour.

I believe that was the longest lineup since the originals.