The Irish Tenors

The Irish Tenors

The Irish Tenors are an Irish traditional pop vocal group formed in 1998 for a PBS television special. The project begins as the idea of television producer Bill Hughes, who develops the concept of a trio of Irish tenors after seeing the Three Tenors perform at the Cannes festival.

Formation and line-up

Hughes first approaches Finbar Wright in 1998, but Wright cannot join because of a recording contract. Canadian singer John McDermott then joins the group, followed by Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan after consultation with vocal coach Dr Veronica Dunne. In 1999, the group debuts on PBS in the United States with The Irish Tenors-in Dublin.

After McDermott leaves in early 2000, Hughes contacts Wright again shortly before filming The Irish Tenors - Live in Belfast. Wright agrees to step in and stays on permanently. In 2006, after Tynan leaves to focus on a solo career, Karl Scully joins Kearns and Wright. The group’s members include John McDermott, Ronan Tynan, Anthony Kearns, Finbar Wright and Karl Scully.

Recordings and television projects

The Irish Tenors record five PBS specials and seven albums. Their third special is filmed in 2001 at Ellis Island in New York and is hosted by actor Martin Sheen. The accompanying album, Ellis Island, reaches number one on Billboard’s Heatseeker chart and is included in its Top 10 Best of 2001 list.

Hughes later produces a nine-part RTÉ television series, The Irish Tenors & Friends. Guests on the programme include Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Paul Carrick, Finbar Furey, Hayley Westenra, Shayne Ward, Sharon Shannon, Peter Grant, Rebecca Storm, Lucia Evans and Celine Byrne.

Performance history

The group tours regularly. In 2007, the South Carolina Legislature issues a proclamation welcoming the trio to the state for a performance in Charleston.