The Irish Tenors

History

Daniel Harte and Bill Hughes conceived the trio during the Cannes film festival. They first approached Finbar Wright in 1998, but his Sony BMG contract prevented his involvement. Canadian balladeer John McDermott then accepted the lead role. After consulting vocal coach Dr. Veronica Dunne, classically trained singers Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan were invited.

The Irish Tenors: Live in Dublin debuted on PBS in 1999. Following McDermott's mother's death in early 2000, he withdrew days before filming The Irish Tenors – Live in Belfast. Harte and Hughes contacted Finbar Wright, who stepped in and later joined permanently after leaving Sony.

In 2001, the trio filmed a special at Ellis Island hosted by Martin Sheen; the album Ellis Island topped Billboard's Heatseeker list and was named to its Top 10 Best of 2001. The 2005 album Sacred featured Kearns, Wright, and McDermott after Tynan left for a solo career. Karl Scully replaced McDermott and Tynan in 2006.

The group presented a nine-part RTÉ series, The Irish Tenors & Friends, with guests including Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and others. In 2007, the South Carolina Legislature issued a Proclamation welcoming the trio to Charleston. Scully remained until Tynan's return in 2012. The current trio of Kearns, Tynan, and Hyland tours twice yearly, around St. Patrick's Day and Christmas.