Being a Celtic Woman is a full-time job.
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The glamorous quartet tour the world for most of the year, not including other recording commitments, and have just finished a four-month run of dates in the US.
Member Susan McFadden is enjoying a summer holiday in her hometown of Dublin, but will have to squeeze in a TV special and new record between genuine relaxation time.
“We’re [recording] in August, so they’re giving us a little bit of a break at the moment,” McFadden says.
“The last 12 months has been incredibly busy, which is great – we’re so lucky.
“Then the next 12 months are very busy too.”
Before joining Celtic Woman in January 2012 McFadden had carved a career in London’s West End musicals, appearing in productions of Grease, Legally Blonde and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Joining Celtic Woman was a big decision for McFadden.
“It was a bit of 50-50 [decision],” she says.
“Obviously it was a bit of a no-brainer, I had to do it because it’s such a great opportunity.
“And just a great experience to travel the world, and to go back to my roots to perform the music I grew up with.
“But it’s a huge commitment and we’re travelling 10 months of the year at the moment and it’s very difficult to sustain your friendships and your family.
“That’s what I struggled with initially, I’m a bit of a home bird.
“I miss home a lot when I’m away, but the upside of it is that you’re getting these incredible experiences that you wouldn’t get in other jobs or scenarios.
“I’m getting paid to go to Australia and that’s amazing.
“And I know it’s not forever, so you just have to grab opportunities while they’re in front of you.”
Celtic Woman are marking their 10-year anniversary when they return to Australia in September.
“It’s a celebration of the last 10 years and taking all the fan favourites, the songs that are prevelant for Celtic Woman and everybody knows and recognises as us, and putting them all in the one show.
“It’s not too far removed from what we’ve done before, it’s pretty much the same idea, but it’s celebrating all the songs that people love.
“It’s very interactive this time – there’s lots of interaction with the audience, and high-energy.
“It’s evolved a lot, there’s a lot more up-tempo moments and percussional numbers happening within the show that wasn’t happening 10 years ago.”
McFadden, sister of former Westlife member Brian, says America remains the biggest market for the production, which celebrates Irish music, dance and culture.
“It’s very popular over there because our TV specials are shown a lot on PBS there,” she says.
“But we have a lot of fans and support from Australia, people there are so enthusiastic and it’s a lot more genuine too.
“It’s a very genuine enthusiasm.
“When you go to other countries a lot of people think they’re Irish, but when you go to Australia a lot of people really are.
“There’s a lot of ex-pats in Australia.
“We’ve met people that emmigrated 50 years ago and never got to go back, so I think it really strikes a chord with people like that, which is lovely.
“It brings them home spiritually.”
Celtic Woman perform at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre on Wednesday, September 16.
Alive has two gold double passes to give away to the show.
For your chance to win fill out the coupon in Thursday's Mercury and return it to our office by noon on Wednesday.