Emmet Cahill to sing at Croker

Paul Hughes

This weekend, for the third time in his career, internationally-renowned Mullingar baritone Emmet Cahill will sing Amhrán na bhFiann at Croke Park.

The Knockdrin singer (22), who is currently a lead vocalist with international Irish music phenomenon Celtic Thunder, will sing the national anthem before Sunday's televised Allianz National Football League Division 1 final between Dublin and Tyrone – just moments after his native Westmeath take on Derry in the Division 2 decider.

"Its going to be a fantastic occasion, especially with Westmeath playing in the Division 2 final," Emmet told the Westmeath Examiner.

"I'll have to try not to shout too much during the first game, but it'll be hard!"

If music is first in Emmet's affections, Gaelic football is a close second. He's known to tog out for St Loman's, Mullingar when not touring, and two of his clubmates, Paul Sharry and John Heslin, will start for the Maroons against Derry on Sunday.

Off the field, Emmet's career continues to blossom, and his experience before massive, live audiences in the United States, Canada and Australia belies his youth.

As well has touring, he has performed with the group on television and radio stations worldwide, and notably performed in a special concert for the US Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff at the US military headquarters, the Pentagon, in November 2012.

The group has sold over one  million albums worldwide to date, and more recently their new album entitled 'Mythology' went straight in at No. 1 on the World Music Billboard Charts.

Later this year Emmet will embark on a 62-city tour of the United States and Canada, as well as a tour of Australia and New Zealand scheduled for spring 2014.

But it all began in Mullingar for him, and he never forgets his roots.

A member of a musical family and a former student of the Schola Cantorum Music Scholarship programme at St Finian's College, Mullingar, he has also been a student of renowned vocal coach Mary Brennan for the last five years.

Emmet is a multiple past prizewinner at Dublin's Feis Ceoil, and in 2010 he was awarded 'The Most Promising Young Singer Award' at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, as well as being awarded 'The Most Promising Young Tenor Award' by the John McCormack Society.

While at home, Emmet performs at church, charity and corporate events all over the country, and he will appear in two solo shows at Mullingar Arts Centre in late July, in aid of Westmeath Hospice.

www.emmetcahill.com
www.celticthunder.ie