Soon after I finish speaking to Celtic Thunder’s George Donaldson (below), I have another Celtic Thunder member, in the person of Ryan Kelly, on the phone.
I greet Ryan in Irish and not to disappoint he responds accordingly although adds that when the time came for choosing options at school he opted for French!
Ryan is very excited about Celtic Thunders upcoming tour of Australia which he says is ‘fantastic’ having toured here previously last year.
He tells me that Tasmania is getting some coverage in Ireland’s news at the moment, not for positive reasons, but because of the devastation of the fires.
He also tells me that even though Tasmania is not well known in Ireland it has been a place that has captured his imagination.
Ryan remembers his aunty, his dad’s sister, emigrating with her family to Australia about 40 years ago and of a wallet with a map of Australia on it. Ryan was always captivated by the little island depicted at its base and it seems somehow serendipitous that at last he is telling me his very own Tasmanian story. Ryan thinks there is something special about Tasmania because of that early introduction and he would love to visit.
On a serious note, around June last year Ryan wasn’t thinking of visiting anywhere and indeed his whole future with Celtic Thunder was up in the air when he frighteningly was oblivious, in a coma for three weeks after he sustained head injuries from falling at home and hitting his head against a wall.
Ryan is very appreciative in what he calls a second chance at life and wants to relish his career with Celtic Thunder, with no desire to return to his previous career in accountancy and banking.
Ryan, apart from his musical talent is also a superb scholar having achieved the highest marks in high school economics in the whole of Northern Ireland. in fact Ryan was an investment banker and chartered accountant for 5 or 6 years and was ready to start a new job in a bank when his brother told him about the auditions for Celtic Thunder, which he lapped up, having loved singing all his life and instead of starting work at the bank, visited to inform them he was off to ‘join the circus’ as he called it.
Away from music and his love for the Boston Celtics Ryan is also a fan of Aussie Rules football and an admirer of Irish footballer and great Australian Jim Stynes , the pioneer in paving the way for young Irish Gaelic footballers careers in Australia.
Ryan is athletic, favouring running as a way to learn more about the cities he visits, so keep your eye out for the young Irishman who has overcome a frightening experience to sing a song of joy once again
You can see Ryan perform at:
Cairns Cairns Convention Centre Wednesday 23 January
Townsville Townsville Entertainment Centre Thursday 24 January
Maryborough Brolga Theatre Saturday 26 January
Gold Coast Gold Coast Convention Centre Sunday 27 January
Brisbane Brisbane Entertainment Centre Tuesday 29 January
Tamworth Tamworth Entertainment Centre Thursday 31 January
Newcastle Newcastle Entertainment Centre Friday 1 February
Sydney Allphones Arena Saturday 2 February
Wollongong Wollongong Entertainment Centre Sunday 3 February
Canberra Royal Theatre Canberra Tuesday 5 February
Geelong Geelong Arena Thursday 7 February
Ballarat* Wendoree Performing Arts Centre Friday 8 February
Melbourne Hisense Arena Saturday 9 February
Adelaide Adelaide Entertainment Centre Tuesday 12 February
Adelaide Adelaide Entertainment Centre Wednesday 13 February
Perth Perth Arena Saturday 16 February
Paula Xiberras
