MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CELTIC THUNDER
A Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year from all of us here at Celtic Thunder. Christmas is a wonderful time to embrace the year that has passed, to remember loved ones and rejoice with new additions to our families. It’s a very busy time for shopping, sharing meals, sending cards, catching up with friends and family and driving home for the holidays. Christmas and the New Year are also a wonderful time to reflect on the year gone by and our resolutions for 2018.
THE NEW CELTIC THUNDER STORE
As you will all know, we upgraded our CELTIC THUNDER STORE this year and are always trying to keep the store as fresh and vibrant as possible for all our fans to shop and make your shopping experience as easy as possible. We have a great collection of Celtic Thunder memorabilia such as jigsaws with all the guys, key rings, mugs, calendars and lots more. Of course, there is also the full catalogue of all Celtic Thunder CD's and DVDs from all our shows and all of our DVDs are guaranteed to play everywhere in the world, we also have a great selection of t-shirts and hoodies!
CHRISTMAS E-GREETING CARD
As the Celtic Thunder 2017 North America tour is coming to an end, the singers, band and crew are all taking a well-deserved rest to spend Christmas with their loved ones. From all of us here at Celtic Thunder, a very happy Christmas to you all!
See you in 2018.
xx
FANCLUB CORNER
We know our fans request birthdays and special occasions to be mentioned on stage at the Celtic Thunder concerts, unfortunately, we cannot facilitate this on stage so we are sending out a call out here through the Fan Corner. If you have any special occasions coming up, birthdays, weddings, births, anniversaries’, retirements’, we would love you to send us some photos from your SPECIAL occasion and we will do our very best to add to the fan corner.
CELTIC THUNDER 10TH ANNIVERSARY CRUISE
We had a great time on the Celtic Thunder Cruise. It was absolutely fantastic to see so many fans and we had great catch ups. There was a lot of laughter, music and just a wonderful vibe. It just felt like one big happy family and I know that it meant a lot to the fans to catch up with not only the band but Sharon, David and Elaine.
COLM, LAURA AND BABY OISIN
Colm & Laura here. We just wanted to stop by and thank you all for the ongoing love that comes our way on a daily basis. Thanks also to Celtic Thunder for asking us to be a feature of the Celtic Times this month, especially given the special month that it is. Christmas is without a doubt our favourite time of year and we could not be any more excited to be filling one more stocking in our home.
IRISH JOKE FOR DECEMBER
Two paddies were working for the city public works department. One would dig a hole and the other would follow behind him and fill the hole in. They worked up one side of the street, then down the other, then moved on to the next street, working furiously all day without rest, one man digging a hole, the other filling it in again.
CHRISTMAS RECIPES
We have featured roast turkey with thyme and onion stuffing and MacNean Christmas Ham with Sticky Apricot and Ginger Glaze. Both recipes were sourced from Bord Bia, and is the Irish Food Board that acts as a link between Irish food, drink and horticulture suppliers and existing and potential customers throughout the world.
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN IRELAND
The unique Christmas spirit in Ireland is irresistible. Even the Grinch himself would be charmed by a Christmas in Ireland. To prove it, here are things you’ll need to know about celebrating Christmas on the island of Ireland.
WINTERVAL CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL IN WATERFORD
Now in its sixth year, Winterval will return once more as the place magical memories are made. Last year 650,000 visitors explored the enchanted streets of Waterford to experience the magic of Christmas.
NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL - DUBLIN
Now in its fourth year, New Year’s Festival Dublin has announced a new and exciting programme of events to ring in 2018. Dublin city will light up with imagination and wonder over 2 days with 5 spectacular events from 31 December 2017 until 1 January 2018. Gather together in the heart of Dublin with family and friends as The Custom House, Dublin’s iconic landmark, becomes the centre for NYF Dublin’s countdown and New Year’s Day celebrations this year.
DUBLIN - ALWAYS READY TO OFFER NEW EXPERIENCES
As a vibrant and dynamic European city, Dublin is constantly adding to its formidable cache of things to see and do. Here’s just some new experiences that can be enjoyed in 2018.
PEARSE LYONS DISTILLERY - A new whiskey distillery has opened its doors in the historic St James’ Church. The Pearse Lyons Distillery is another chapter in the Irish whiskey renaissance story which has gathered great pace in recent years. The visitor centre will showcase the rich history of distilling in Dublin’s Liberties area and reveal the process of making the famous ‘uisce beatha’, the Irish name for whiskey, that literally translates as ‘water of life’.
ADARE MANOR REOPENS AFTER TRANSFORMATION
Famed Castle Golf Resort Begins New Chapter, Restoring Cherished Heritage of Hospitality. Ireland’s most anticipated luxury hotel project, Adare Manor, has reopened following a meticulous 21 month restoration, renovation and expansion to return the storied property to its 19th century splendor.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND
Here's a taste of what you can expect this festive season in Ireland. Wrap up warm and relish a Winter Wonderland in Ireland this festive season. In the run-up to Christmas the island also becomes a shopper’s paradise with Christmas markets adding colour and character to towns and cities up and down the country.
TRADFEST 2018
Beat the January blues with this five-day festival celebrating the eclectic sounds of traditional Irish music. What better way to beat off the January blues than a five-day festival celebrating the wholesome and eclectic sounds of traditional Irish music, Celtic rock, folk, nufolk and world music. The festival is a not-for-profit event and is one of the few fully independent music festivals in the country – an ethos that ensures ticket prices are kept low alongside many free events.
IRELAND'S CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
Traditions are especially cherished at this time of year, and often in parts of the country where the past does not seem so long ago. Author Felicity Hayes-McCoy recalls some of the Christmas rituals being celebrated in her corner of west Kerry.
In Ireland in the past, doors were left unlocked on Christmas Eve and fires that were usually covered with ashes at bedtime burnt brightly all night on the hearthstones. Each night during the Christmas season candles shone in the windows, sometimes anchored by sea-sand in jars wrapped in colored paper, sometimes just set in a hole gouged out of a turnip.