Mairead is pregnant.

Oh my god. I suppose congratulations must be in order.

How far along would she be by Christmas? There’s a slim chance that she might still be able to go. Susan toured up till she was around six months pregnant, right?

I hope she’ll still stay with CW…but we’ve lost Emma and Tara for the same reason as well. I do wonder if maybe it’s to do with CW management not being able to provide accommodations for an infant on tour. But Mairéad just announced a new single early next year, so she’ll still maintain her solo career. Obviously, what’s most important is her happiness and health, but I am afraid this could mean another lineup change for CW.

I mean i highly doubt she’ll be on this next tour, she took all references to cw out of her bios about four months ago. I take it that is when she officially left, but I’m just glad we got to have her back for about three more years after she had originally left before postcards.

I noticed this as well. I also think that's why none of the ladies posted about the Christmas tour yet. It would look odd if only 3 of the 4 re-posted the Christmas tour promos. I am guessing they are waiting to see if she will be on the Christmas tour (wishful thinking) or who her replacement will be. Please let it be a former CW, like Emma.

I am also glad she came back after her first break from CW. I am super thankful I got to meet her in person.
 

I’m really hoping we get Chloë back at least for a tour, kind of doubtful about if she would, but I just think that her voice would be amazing paired with Caitriona’s and Muirgen’s. I feel like it would sound a bit more like Postcards which of course is darling. 🥰 But a new member would also be lovely! Hopefully they announce it sooner than last year with announcing Caitriona and Ciara, I do prefer more timely updates, especially since I think that for a lot of people, deciding whether or not to go to the tours depends on who the members are, more so now that you might have to make a full trip out to see them.

If it's just for a temp 3-4 weeks for the Symphony tour, I'd love to see Susan.

I kind of like what you said earlier about Emma potentially rejoining…Méav was kind of the go-to replacement person for transitional periods for a while, and then it was Susan, so it would be interesting if Emma would be a sort of third-generation successor to that role. But it probably is more likely that Susan would take over if this was temporary. I would rather there be an old member returning than there be a new one, especially if it’s a temporary replacement. But it could also be nice to see some new talent, so I’m not opposed to someone new, change just frightens me.

This IG post makes a lot of sense now. I theorized that she may have wanted to spend more time with her family
https://www.instagram.com/p/DX3PRwFDgMP/?igsh=cjVyOHZham5rZnQ=&igsi=cjVyOHZham5rZnQ=

If it's just for a temp 3-4 weeks for the Symphony tour, I'd love to see Susan.

I would love that, I'm always for more Susan, even though having Lisa Lambe actually return but also when Tara was there was a dream that in itself!

I kind of like what you said earlier about Emma potentially rejoining…Méav was kind of the go-to replacement person for transitional periods for a while, and then it was Susan, so it would be interesting if Emma would be a sort of third-generation successor to that role. But it probably is more likely that Susan would take over if this was temporary. I would rather there be an old member returning than there be a new one, especially if it’s a temporary replacement. But it could also be nice to see some new talent, so I’m not opposed to someone new, change just frightens me.

The go-to replacement person for transitional periods for a while for me was Alex Sharpe and Susan but maybe Chloe now as well. Lynn was also but it looks like now Lynn has officially moved on a different path in her life. There's always opportunity space again for Lisa Lambe with it being temporary open offer needed again. As for anyone knew, I alway's thought Edel Murphy would be a great fill in or replacement for Mairead Carlin while you was looking for someone..

Oh my god. I suppose congratulations must be in order.

How far along would she be by Christmas? There’s a slim chance that she might still be able to go. Susan toured up till she was around six months pregnant, right?

I hope she’ll still stay with CW…but we’ve lost Emma and Tara for the same reason as well. I do wonder if maybe it’s to do with CW management not being able to provide accommodations for an infant on tour. But Mairéad just announced a new single early next year, so she’ll still maintain her solo career. Obviously, what’s most important is her happiness and health, but I am afraid this could mean another lineup change for CW.

I mean i highly doubt she’ll be on this next tour, she took all references to cw out of her bios about four months ago. I take it that is when she officially left, but I’m just glad we got to have her back for about three more years after she had originally left before postcards.

I noticed this as well. I also think that's why none of the ladies posted about the Christmas tour yet. It would look odd if only 3 of the 4 re-posted the Christmas tour promos. I am guessing they are waiting to see if she will be on the Christmas tour (wishful thinking) or who her replacement will be. Please let it be a former CW, like Emma.

I am also glad she came back after her first break from CW. I am super thankful I got to meet her in person.
 

I’m really hoping we get Chloë back at least for a tour, kind of doubtful about if she would, but I just think that her voice would be amazing paired with Caitriona’s and Muirgen’s. I feel like it would sound a bit more like Postcards which of course is darling. 🥰 But a new member would also be lovely! Hopefully they announce it sooner than last year with announcing Caitriona and Ciara, I do prefer more timely updates, especially since I think that for a lot of people, deciding whether or not to go to the tours depends on who the members are, more so now that you might have to make a full trip out to see them.

If it's just for a temp 3-4 weeks for the Symphony tour, I'd love to see Susan.

I kind of like what you said earlier about Emma potentially rejoining…Méav was kind of the go-to replacement person for transitional periods for a while, and then it was Susan, so it would be interesting if Emma would be a sort of third-generation successor to that role. But it probably is more likely that Susan would take over if this was temporary. I would rather there be an old member returning than there be a new one, especially if it’s a temporary replacement. But it could also be nice to see some new talent, so I’m not opposed to someone new, change just frightens me.

I feel like them bringing back older members, even for temporary times, is also great for marketing since more people and casual fans would know them. Like back in 2024 with Lisa Lambe, they sold out at least one or a few of the shows. 😁

It also begs the question of how may they may rearrange the vocalists. Muirgen started off taking over for Mairead on the high soprano notes. Catriona also seems like she's more of a mezzo soprano or high alto from what I've heard of her singing. So, depending on who they ultimately get to join, some of the vocals may be different.

It also begs the question of how may they may rearrange the vocalists. Muirgen started off taking over for Mairead on the high soprano notes. Catriona also seems like she's more of a mezzo soprano or high alto from what I've heard of her singing. So, depending on who they ultimately get to join, some of the vocals may be different.

I hope they keep Muirgen where she is now…I’m not fond of most of the vocal direction from Postcards From Ireland (sorry, Wilderness151), but Muirgen’s voice was especially done a disservice in my opinion. She really shines in her position now. But it’s not like the music industry is in shortage of high sopranos.

If we get a former member replacing Mairéad, we could get an idea of how the vocals would be arranged beforehand. I’m sure someone like Susan or Lisa L could take over the high soprano role (though Lisa L does sound great in her lower register). Does anyone have any clips from the 2024 Symphony Tour with Lisa L?

And hey, Mairéad could still be there for the tour…? (👉👈🥺)…all of the above comments are just theories (a MUSIC theory…please let someone get the reference), and someone having a kid doesn’t automatically mean they can’t also have a career…

Haha! 😄Fair point!
You are right though about the small chance Mairead stay. I really hope so! I guess we just have to wait and see what happens. (I am terrible at waiting and seeing!). 🙃

Haha! 😄Fair point!
You are right though about the small chance Mairead stay. I really hope so! I guess we just have to wait and see what happens. (I am terrible at waiting and seeing!). 🙃

It seems like lately the thing after maternity leave is either resigning or self-demotion to being the "on call" member.
*Meav -- Maternity Leave: Summer and Fall 2005, Return: Early 2006, Rotation with Hayley: Spring 2007, Departure: Aug 2007. A Christmas Celebration DVD was the last project before her departure. Fill-in often: 2012-2016, Vocal director: 2016--???  New solo album releasing soon.
*Lisa K -- Maternity leave: Spring 2008 tour, Returned: Summer 2008 through the end of 2011, Maternity Leave again: 2012, Resigned to open voice academy at the beginning of 2013.
*Susan -- Finished the spring 2018 tour. Filmed her pregnancy announcement on stage in Nashville before the show. Sat completely out of Ancient Land. Filled in at the very end of the Ancient Land tour when Mairead had a medical emergency. Planned to take Chloe's place for a few shows in 2020 (got one in before the shutdown). Recorded a few songs for Postcards from Ireland. That tour began and they revived the plan where she did a few shows instead of Chloe, Recorded the 2022 christmas EP.
*Emma -- Last performed in May 2024. Not been seen at all since the 20 tour finished. Is it safe to assume Emma's gone for good??
Wonder if Eabha would return in Mairead's place???

Haha! 😄Fair point!
You are right though about the small chance Mairead stay. I really hope so! I guess we just have to wait and see what happens. (I am terrible at waiting and seeing!). 🙃

It seems like lately the thing after maternity leave is either resigning or self-demotion to being the "on call" member.
*Meav -- Maternity Leave: Summer and Fall 2005, Return: Early 2006, Rotation with Hayley: Spring 2007, Departure: Aug 2007. A Christmas Celebration DVD was the last project before her departure. Fill-in often: 2012-2016, Vocal director: 2016--???  New solo album releasing soon.
*Lisa K -- Maternity leave: Spring 2008 tour, Returned: Summer 2008 through the end of 2011, Maternity Leave again: 2012, Resigned to open voice academy at the beginning of 2013.
*Susan -- Finished the spring 2018 tour. Filmed her pregnancy announcement on stage in Nashville before the show. Sat completely out of Ancient Land. Filled in at the very end of the Ancient Land tour when Mairead had a medical emergency. Planned to take Chloe's place for a few shows in 2020 (got one in before the shutdown). Recorded a few songs for Postcards from Ireland. That tour began and they revived the plan where she did a few shows instead of Chloe, Recorded the 2022 christmas EP.
*Emma -- Last performed in May 2024. Not been seen at all since the 20 tour finished. Is it safe to assume Emma's gone for good??
Wonder if Eabha would return in Mairead's place???

Yeah, it’s quite the shame none of them went on further. But I think Lisa K was a different story…granted, I was barely a toddler when she officially left, but from what I’ve gathered, she didn’t necessarily leave because of having a kid, but moreso used that as a way to leave before officially signing off. She’d already been performing with three kids beforehand, including one that I’m pretty sure she had before CW even started. Alex also performed while having a kid, though she did eventually leave because she wanted to stay home with him. Granted, Alex is a part of the LDS Church and a single mother, so there’s cultural and practical differences there. (This is mentioned on her website, by the way.)

It seems a bit odd just how many have gone because of this, though. I’ve mentioned this before, but I wonder if management might be pushing them out because of financial constraints with potentially having to accommodate a child on tour. This, of course, applies to just the more recent years, since Lisa K was able to bring her kids with her on tour.

I’m not sure if Éabha would want to come back…she’s done a lot with her solo career since she left CW, so it’s not too unlikely that she’d have prior commitments during CW’s tour.