MARIA CONNORS

Irish folk music might be considered a cultural item of the past, but you wouldn’t know that from a Celtic Woman concert – this all-female musical ensemble is deeply invested in honoring Irish culture through music that ranges from traditional Celtic tunes to modern songs. Founded in 2004 by David Kavanaugh, Sharon Browne and David Downe, Celtic Woman has embarked on fifteen world tours and won Billboard World Album of the Year a total of six times. Now, they celebrate 15 years of stardom with their Celebration Tour. On March 29th, they will be performing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, Massachusetts.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Máiréad Carlin, a lifelong musician and member of Celtic Woman for the past seven years. Carlin cites her childhood as an important period for developing her love of music, and since completing her studies at Trinity College of Music in London has performed for the President of Ireland, sung the Irish Anthem for the England-Ireland Rugby International to millions of viewers on television and toured the UK and Ireland with American singer-songwriter Don McLean. In addition to Songbook, her debut album released in 2013, she has recorded five albums as a member of Celtic Woman.

Carlin describes the group as being “incredibly grateful” to their loyal fans, who allow the group to “sing and travel the world together.” What to expect from a Celtic Woman concert? Carlin characterizes the group’s music as “a mix of lots of different genres” that stands out through the “harmonies and blend of our voices.” She states that group’s ultimate goal is to deliver a performance that leaves people “feeling moved, changed in some way.” As artists who have been stunning audiences for fifteen years, and have cultivated such a loyal fan base, they refer to their audience as the 5th members of Celtic Woman: “their experience is so important to us.”

Celtic Woman is always looking for ways to keep their music original and offer new experiences to their listeners while honoring tradition. Carlin cites The Staves, an indie folk group based in Hertfordshire, England, as one of her primary musical influences. Listening to calming, string-laden songs of The Staves, it is easy to see where Carlin draws her inspiration. She raves; “All I have to do is put on their music and songs just pour out of me.” Her “heightened inspiration” allows Celtic Woman to stand apart from many of their contemporaries in the strength of each individual instrument and vocal qualities, their songs taking on a mythical quality, wrought with whimsy. The vocal harmonies meld seamlessly with their assembly of instruments, both components of their songs standing out as distinctly unique while working alongside the other. Carlin asserts that her favorite songs to perform live are, “either ‘Newgrange’ or ‘Dulaman’” because “I get to be very dramatic in both of those songs, and I totally buzz off that.” This sentiment reaffirms Celtic Woman’s dedication to delivering both an auditory and visual experience to their audience – it is through vocals, accompaniment and an ethereal, captivating visual performance that they have achieved and maintained such a level of success for so long. Their concerts are theatrical, with folk narratives and tropes
often woven into their performances that tell a story through the music.

Celtic Woman received a nomination at the 59th Grammy Awards in 2017 for the Best World Music Album category, an experience which Carlin expresses will be hard to beat. Despite their worldwide success, Celtic Woman still views their achievements as something that can never be taken for granted. “So many people out there are incredibly talented but just don’t get the break,” Carlin muses, reflecting on how luck factors into the creation of successful artists. With the odds stacked against artists in a constantly evolving landscape of art and media, Celtic Woman is keenly aware of the necessity in creating music that is fresh but remains honest to their style, and never letting their fans forget how important they are to the success of their group. This is evident even in the ensemble’s performances – videos of the group’s concerts often show the audience positioned in a circle around the stage, as if to include them in the music, or show the singers walking through the audience to greet their fans and dance with young children. The intimate connections they form with their audience allows Celtic Woman to remain true to the folk roots of their music, a tradition which values community within the arts.

Art is so heavily commercialized in 2020 that it is easy for creatives to remain distant from their audience, crafting themselves into untouchable celebrities. Celtic Woman has married celebrity status with a palpable passion for both their art and their audience, using their platform to elevate the musical traditions that raised them.