There is a beautiful softness at this time of year. We feel it in the quiet of a countryside at rest. We see it in the white ribbons of light on a crisp winter morning. And we hear it in the calm of midnight mass, in the gentle incantations of the carols that we all know so well.
Christmas music feels familiar and nostalgic, but it is the job of soprano Celine Byrne to deliver that message of inner comfort and peace fresh in the hearts of the Irish nation every year.
“I do so many Christmas concerts and it really is a privilege,” says Celine, speaking to Irish Country Living at her home in Co Kildare. “I sing at midnight mass on Christmas Eve in Naas, and then on Christmas Day, I go to the hospice in the Curragh and sing there. I’m the Michael Bublé of Ireland,” she says, with a laugh.
Christmas is Celine’s favourite time of year, and it is reflected in her home, which is very much in Christmas mode.
The hallway is adorned with glittery gold and snowy white decorations, sitting alongside a picture of the Divine Mercy.
Growing up in the village of Caragh, Celine still lives on the same road, pockmarked with potholes, just a few metres along from her mother’s house. “We all built on the land,” she explains. “There’s generations of us here in Kildare.” There are also farming links on both sides of the family and her grandfather was a local dairy farmer.
“Caragh is only six miles away from Naas, but it’s still rural enough. So when I was in school, they used to say ‘you’re such a bogger,’” she laughs. “From bogger to diva!”
Celine has “always loved singing” but she never thought about pursuing it as a career until she was in her twenties.
“The first opportunity I had to sing was my confirmation,” Celine recalls. “But even then, when I was chosen to sing, I didn’t realise it was because I was the best singer. I just thought I was picked out.
“I was a bit naïve,” she continues. “I didn’t know you could get your voice trained. Music meant a lot to me but it was never, oh, I have to explore this talent.”
The first in her family to go to university, Celine studied music and “that’s where I learned how to sing classically for the first time,” she says. The soprano was 18 years old when she got her first singing lesson, and the world of opera developed from there. Celine recalls a jaunt in Milan working as an au pair where, “I saw opera and thought this was a beautiful thing to do”.
Celine Byrne photographed inside St Brigid’s Cathedral. \ Claire Nash
Among her many career highlights, Celine mentions winning the Maria Callas Grand Prix in Athens [a prestigious international singing competition in memory of soprano Maria Callas]; performing to her largest audience to date of 45,000 people in Rotterdam Ahoy; singing for the first time in the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden (“that’s a pinch-me moment because it’s one of the most famous opera houses in the world”); and doing a concert with her “idol”, tenor José Carreras.
But the standout moment in her career highlight reel was at home in Ireland, Celine confesses.
“My very own first concert in the National Concert Hall in Dublin meant the world to me, because I was making it in my own country and singing on my own turf,” she says.
The meaning of Christmas
Celine is married to Thomas and as a mother of three adult children – Noel, Ciana and Cillian, who she affectionately refers to as “my babies” – she has fiercely protected her work-life balance. As well as her achievements, it is interesting to hear the singer talk about the opportunities she turned down and the offers she walked away from. It reflects the reality of being a working parent.
“I was offered the Young Artist Programme in the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden which is very prestigious and I turned it down. It was 2012 and my children were too small. I was also offered the Young Artist Programme in Berlin and a full-time job in Frankfurt Opera House. But again, I said no – I would have had to have moved to Germany and I didn’t want to do that, it wasn’t right for our family at the time. These things would have led me to have a more prestigious career, but I can’t say ‘if only’ because I’ve no regrets.
“People can be so focused on their career. I think it’s very important to have a good balance.
“I would say even farmers need to sit back. I know there’s a lot of work involved – long days and they start really early. But you have to find a balance.
“My babies are now adults and I still don’t want to miss out on spending time with them.
“I was always here when they were growing up, but I see now, as adults, they are individuals, and those relationships are very important to me too.”
The same as with many households up and down the country, Christmas is a time for Celine to nurture those family ties and relationships.
“Everybody comes to my house on Christmas Day, so I do a lot of cooking. I’m always organised – I have to be. I’ve got the Christmas concert, so I get everything done beforehand.
“The tradition within my own immediate family is that we go out on Christmas Eve. Before we leave, we prepare the dinner for Christmas Day, so the stove is just completely full with prepared food. We have our dinner out in the local hotel, and then we come home, light the fire and relax. We sit around, chat and exchange gifts.
Celine has also released three CDs this December. See celinebyrne.com for more information.\ Claire Nash
“Then the kids head to bed and I go to Mass. When I get home from Mass, I try not to bump into Santy as he’s doing his work. After a little midnight snack, it’s off to bed and then on Christmas morning, my kids still meet in the hallway and we see what Santa has brought. I know it’s mad. It’s lovely, though,” she says, with a smile.
Amazing year
Asked what her favourite Christmas carol is, the reply is given without hesitation – In the Bleak Midwinter. “I love the part: What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb, if I were a wise man, I would do my part, yet what I can I give Him, give my heart.’
“It’s beautiful and my faith means so much to me. Definitely, Jesus is a big part of my life and daily conversations. It helps me as well with mental health. It’s a nice feeling to wake up every morning and know that you’re loved unconditionally, that’s a good feeling. And that somebody’s always there, even times when I feel alone.”
Celine has just wrapped up what she describes as “an amazing year”, before she launches into yet another packed itinerary of travel and rehearsals in 2026.
“I’m in America for one week in January. At the end of February into April, I’m in Germany. And then in May to July, I’m in Austria. In September and October, I’m in Malta. Then I’ll be home to do my Christmas concerts. I’m away a lot. What’s great is that my kids can fly to see me. I can come home at weekends, and now they’re adults, they can just visit anytime they want.”
“At the end of the day,” she says, reflecting, “I sit back and I go, I’m blessed. I’m never going to be a millionaire, but I’m so lucky to do a job I love.”
There is a beautiful softness at this time of year. We feel it in the quiet of a countryside at rest. We see it in the white ribbons of light on a crisp winter morning. And we hear it in the calm of midnight mass, in the gentle incantations of the carols that we all know so well.
Christmas music feels familiar and nostalgic, but it is the job of soprano Celine Byrne to deliver that message of inner comfort and peace fresh in the hearts of the Irish nation every year.
“I do so many Christmas concerts and it really is a privilege,” says Celine, speaking to Irish Country Living at her home in Co Kildare. “I sing at midnight mass on Christmas Eve in Naas, and then on Christmas Day, I go to the hospice in the Curragh and sing there. I’m the Michael Bublé of Ireland,” she says, with a laugh.
Christmas is Celine’s favourite time of year, and it is reflected in her home, which is very much in Christmas mode.
The hallway is adorned with glittery gold and snowy white decorations, sitting alongside a picture of the Divine Mercy.
Growing up in the village of Caragh, Celine still lives on the same road, pockmarked with potholes, just a few metres along from her mother’s house. “We all built on the land,” she explains. “There’s generations of us here in Kildare.” There are also farming links on both sides of the family and her grandfather was a local dairy farmer.
“Caragh is only six miles away from Naas, but it’s still rural enough. So when I was in school, they used to say ‘you’re such a bogger,’” she laughs. “From bogger to diva!”
Celine has “always loved singing” but she never thought about pursuing it as a career until she was in her twenties.
“The first opportunity I had to sing was my confirmation,” Celine recalls. “But even then, when I was chosen to sing, I didn’t realise it was because I was the best singer. I just thought I was picked out.
“I was a bit naïve,” she continues. “I didn’t know you could get your voice trained. Music meant a lot to me but it was never, oh, I have to explore this talent.”
The first in her family to go to university, Celine studied music and “that’s where I learned how to sing classically for the first time,” she says. The soprano was 18 years old when she got her first singing lesson, and the world of opera developed from there. Celine recalls a jaunt in Milan working as an au pair where, “I saw opera and thought this was a beautiful thing to do”.
Celine Byrne photographed inside St Brigid’s Cathedral. \ Claire Nash
Among her many career highlights, Celine mentions winning the Maria Callas Grand Prix in Athens [a prestigious international singing competition in memory of soprano Maria Callas]; performing to her largest audience to date of 45,000 people in Rotterdam Ahoy; singing for the first time in the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden (“that’s a pinch-me moment because it’s one of the most famous opera houses in the world”); and doing a concert with her “idol”, tenor José Carreras.
But the standout moment in her career highlight reel was at home in Ireland, Celine confesses.
“My very own first concert in the National Concert Hall in Dublin meant the world to me, because I was making it in my own country and singing on my own turf,” she says.
The meaning of Christmas
Celine is married to Thomas and as a mother of three adult children – Noel, Ciana and Cillian, who she affectionately refers to as “my babies” – she has fiercely protected her work-life balance. As well as her achievements, it is interesting to hear the singer talk about the opportunities she turned down and the offers she walked away from. It reflects the reality of being a working parent.
“I was offered the Young Artist Programme in the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden which is very prestigious and I turned it down. It was 2012 and my children were too small. I was also offered the Young Artist Programme in Berlin and a full-time job in Frankfurt Opera House. But again, I said no – I would have had to have moved to Germany and I didn’t want to do that, it wasn’t right for our family at the time. These things would have led me to have a more prestigious career, but I can’t say ‘if only’ because I’ve no regrets.
“People can be so focused on their career. I think it’s very important to have a good balance.
“I would say even farmers need to sit back. I know there’s a lot of work involved – long days and they start really early. But you have to find a balance.
“My babies are now adults and I still don’t want to miss out on spending time with them.
“I was always here when they were growing up, but I see now, as adults, they are individuals, and those relationships are very important to me too.”
The same as with many households up and down the country, Christmas is a time for Celine to nurture those family ties and relationships.
“Everybody comes to my house on Christmas Day, so I do a lot of cooking. I’m always organised – I have to be. I’ve got the Christmas concert, so I get everything done beforehand.
“The tradition within my own immediate family is that we go out on Christmas Eve. Before we leave, we prepare the dinner for Christmas Day, so the stove is just completely full with prepared food. We have our dinner out in the local hotel, and then we come home, light the fire and relax. We sit around, chat and exchange gifts.
Celine has also released three CDs this December. See celinebyrne.com for more information.\ Claire Nash
“Then the kids head to bed and I go to Mass. When I get home from Mass, I try not to bump into Santy as he’s doing his work. After a little midnight snack, it’s off to bed and then on Christmas morning, my kids still meet in the hallway and we see what Santa has brought. I know it’s mad. It’s lovely, though,” she says, with a smile.
Amazing year
Asked what her favourite Christmas carol is, the reply is given without hesitation – In the Bleak Midwinter. “I love the part: What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb, if I were a wise man, I would do my part, yet what I can I give Him, give my heart.’
“It’s beautiful and my faith means so much to me. Definitely, Jesus is a big part of my life and daily conversations. It helps me as well with mental health. It’s a nice feeling to wake up every morning and know that you’re loved unconditionally, that’s a good feeling. And that somebody’s always there, even times when I feel alone.”
Celine has just wrapped up what she describes as “an amazing year”, before she launches into yet another packed itinerary of travel and rehearsals in 2026.
“I’m in America for one week in January. At the end of February into April, I’m in Germany. And then in May to July, I’m in Austria. In September and October, I’m in Malta. Then I’ll be home to do my Christmas concerts. I’m away a lot. What’s great is that my kids can fly to see me. I can come home at weekends, and now they’re adults, they can just visit anytime they want.”
“At the end of the day,” she says, reflecting, “I sit back and I go, I’m blessed. I’m never going to be a millionaire, but I’m so lucky to do a job I love.”
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