• Tassietimes has five tickets from the promoters to give away to see Colm and Celtic Thunder perform in Tasmania on May 12 at the Grand Chancellor, Hobart (three tickets), and at the Princess Theatre, Launceston (two tickets) on May 13. Simply email: [email protected] First in, best dressed!x
Well, maybe that title isn’t completely true, however, Colm Keegan the subject of this article is from Dublin and does have a cheeky sense of humour, (witness his leprechaun leap during his Insight Ireland program) and he tells me that growing up in Dublin, he was a ‘big fan of the Tasmanian devil’. Now Colm,gets to indulge that passion and perhaps see a real Tassie devil when he visits Australia, and more to the point Tasmania with Irish singing sensations ‘Celtic Thunder’ in May.
The name Keegan means ‘a thinker’ or ‘fiery’ and Colm would definitely fit the role of thinker, with a lot of arrows to his bow. I can sense a bit of the cupid in Colm but more of that later …
Although Colm joined ‘Celtic Thunder’ a little earlier than was expected, due to band member Ryan’s retreat while recovering after an accident, Colm says things worked out well for him, forced to make a quick adjustment to the learning curve. Colm says being part of the group is like being part of a family as they celebrate together and cry together.
Celtic Thunder is in its sixth successful year and going from strength to strength. Conceived by Sharon Brown as a band that would have far reaching appeal, the group is made up of members of different age groups and specialising in different musical genres. David Munroe who is a master of musical arrangements gives fresh life to well known and well interpreted songs that Colm says people might be otherwise jaded about.
So successful is the band, their DVD of Mythology arguably ‘their best to date’ (a production in which David Munroe wanted the guys to return to their origins in an exploration of Irish music), has achieved number 1 in Canada, the US and Australia.
Now, the boys are bringing the live show of ‘Mythology’ to Australia.
As a sideline to his work with Celtic Thunder ,Colm also performs with fellow former band member Emmett Cahill as part of ‘Comet’ an ingenious name created from the guys first initials and so,a partnering both metaphorically and literally in the stars. The band was formed as the boys started meeting over coffee and eventually saw them perform on a cruise together.
Colm is also working on a presenting role with his internet program ‘Insight Ireland’ where he takes viewers on a tour of places he knows and loves in Ireland, The first episode to go online focuses on Dublin, his home town. This foray, just like all the social media treats they share with fans, is all part of the bands desire to connect with fans at many different levels.
As mentioned earlier although the boys perform as a group, each one also has a distinctive, specialised personality and genre of music. As Colm explains this doesn’t involve ‘acting’ but rather is an extension or elaboration of their own personalities and preferences and Colm, well, he is the romantically inclined and is the one to showcase the romantic ballads.
I have to agree this is fitting, as when I answer Colm’s wish for fans to provide him with ideas for his Ireland internet Insight feature, I suggest to Colm I’d love him to do a program on the West of Ireland, a place I myself love and which I recently visited. To my surprise and glee he answers that he will ‘just for you’.
I think this charmer will charm indeed, on his upcoming tour of Australia …
You can see Colm and Celtic Thunder perform in Tasmania on May 12 at the Grand Chancellor, and at the Princess Theatre on May 13.
Note: Some time after this conversation with Colm, Celtic Thunder fans were saddened by the news that band member George Donaldson had passed away. Because of George’s love for the group it was decided the tour to Australia would go ahead in tribute to George.
Paula Xiberras
