Celtic Thunder

Celtic Thunder are a bunch of Irish [as far as I know] lads I came across only recently, Youtube is where I first heard them, they were singing Yesterday's Men by which was a bit of a hit years ago for The Furey's, I thought, ''not bat at all'' , a bit too much rehearsed and stage managed but a breath of fresh air for folk music.

Well they have come along well in the last year or so, releasing old classic songs like The Mountains Of Mourne, Caledonia, and an old favourite I recorded myself ''Come By The Hills'' , well if all this helps the Irish folk/ballad scene I'm all in favour, anything to help get the young people involved in singing and playing a musical instrument is great.

The reason I post this is that Marc from Germany who works out the guitar chords on some songs has sent me a few of Celtic Thunder songs with chords, by the way Phil Coulter wrote most of the songs for the lads.
The first is yesterday's men which was first recorded by The Furey's And Davie Arthur and one of my favourites.

The next is a song called Christmas 1915 which I was only vaguely aware of, but a fine anti war song with video and chords.

Next up is another Phil Coulter song called heartland which sounds like a mythical like song, an amusing concept to have the women playing the musicial instruments and the lads singing, this typs of stuff reminds me of riverdance.
All the songs are in the same key with chords as Celtic Thunder sing/play so you can strum along and stay in tune. Celtic Thunder is one of the best modern examples of polished, theatrical presentations of traditional and contemporary folk songs. They take material rooted in Irish and Scottish folk traditions and reimagine it for the stage, with rich harmonies, orchestral arrangements, and cinematic production. Who They Are Celtic Thunder is an Irish vocal ensemble created by Sharon Browne and Phil Coulter in 2007. Their members rotate over the years (Damian McGinty, Ryan Kelly, Keith Harkin, Neil Byrne, Emmet Cahill, and others), but the concept remains: a group of powerful solo voices combining for grand, emotional, folk-inspired performances. They bridge the gap between traditional Celtic folk music and modern pop-opera spectacle — think The Chieftains meets Les Misérables. What “Polished Folk” Means in Their Style Celtic Thunder takes raw, traditional folk material — songs once sung in pubs, cottages, or on the moors — and elevates it into orchestrated, cinematic productions. 

The result: accessible, polished folk that keeps traditional melodies alive for modern audiences. Key features: Orchestral and choral backing – rich string and brass arrangements replace the sparse fiddles or pipes of old folk. Professional vocal blend – instead of the rough, lived-in voices of field singers, you get trained, resonant tenor and baritone voices. Stage storytelling – lighting, costuming, and performance style evoke the emotions behind the songs. Modern production quality – studio mixing and lush reverb give their music a cinematic, universal sound. 🎻 Examples of Polished Folk Songs They Perform Here are some examples of traditional or folk-inspired songs they’ve reinterpreted — and how: Song Origin / Theme Celtic Thunder’s Take “The Rocky Road to Dublin” 19th-century Irish folk song They maintain the fast-paced traditional rhythm but add tight vocal harmonies and a polished instrumental backing. “Danny Boy” Irish ballad (early 20th century) Classic lament transformed into a soaring tenor showcase — lush strings, cinematic emotion. “The Parting Glass” Traditional Scottish/Irish farewell song Harmonically rich arrangement — layered vocals and orchestral swells turn a pub song into an anthem. “Ride On” Irish folk song (Jimmy MacCarthy) Folk roots blended with modern pop-folk guitar textures; haunting lead vocal. “Ireland’s Call” Modern Irish anthem Combines patriotic energy with choir-style production; sounds almost cinematic. “Mull of Kintyre” Paul McCartney’s Scottish-influenced ballad Folk-pop crossover elevated with bagpipes and ensemble vocals. “Caledonia” Dougie MacLean (modern Scottish folk classic) Intimate verses with full-orchestra crescendo — 

one of their most emotional numbers. “The Galway Girl” Steve Earle (modern Irish-folk hit) Retains the pub-folk feel but with layered studio polish, perfect phrasing, and crowd-friendly energy. 🌄 Instrumentation and Arrangement Traditional folk music might rely on: Fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán (drum), and simple guitar accompaniment. Celtic Thunder expands this to include: Full orchestra or ensemble band (strings, brass, percussion) Piano, acoustic/electric guitars, bass Bagpipes and uilleann pipes for authenticity Choral harmonies for grandeur So instead of rustic simplicity, you get a majestic, cinematic folk sound — accessible to global audiences. 🗣️ Vocal Style One of Celtic Thunder’s hallmarks is vocal contrast: Deep baritones (Paul Byrom, George Donaldson, Ryan Kelly) Bright tenors (Damian McGinty, Keith Harkin, Emmet Cahill) Harmonies that blend pop precision with folk warmth They structure songs like mini-dramas — alternating solo verses with full-ensemble choruses for emotional arcs. That approach is closer to musical theatre storytelling than to pub-sung folk, yet it keeps the heart of the song intact.

  Why It Works Celtic Thunder’s “polished folk” style succeeds because it: Preserves heritage — melodies, language, and emotion remain rooted in Irish/Scottish tradition. Appeals globally — modern production, cinematic presentation, and English lyrics make it accessible. Bridges generations — grandparents recognize the tunes; younger listeners appreciate the artistry. Reframes folk — showing that traditional songs can be majestic and mainstage-worthy, not just rustic.