Edmonton Journal
2002


Tenors Serve Up Blarney and Romance

by Sandra Sperounes 



Ronan Tynan, Finbar Wright and Anthony Kearns comprise the Irish Tenors. 



EDMONTON - In the sweepstakes of love, the Irish have traditionally received a bum rap. 



While Italians and Spaniards are thought of as great romantics and hip retailers sell 
"Texas is for lovers" T-shirts, those lads and lassies from the great green island are 
considered nothing more than nasty drinkers. 



It's a stereotype that Irish tenors Ronan Tynan, Anthony Kearns and Finbar Wright were 
trying to break Tuesday night in front of 2,600 fans at the Jubilee Auditorium.



In a span of two hours, the not-so-wee leprechauns of love repaired Ireland's unfairly 
damaged reputation by singing heartfelt ditties about their fondness for the town of 
Tralee or red-haired girls named Mary. 



Older women appreciatively murmured "ahhs" and "oh my God!" as the tenors, accompanied by 
the lilting strings of an orchestra, introduced each of their songs. 



"In the Irish music tradition, there's more songs about women than any other subject," said 
Wright, with a twinkle in his eye. 



Of the three, Wright played the James Bond character -- suave of voice, handsome, witty and 
confident enough to sing like a girl or attempt a non-Irish tune, Jimmy Kennedy's South of 
the Border (Down Mexico Way). 



Kearns was his offbeat cousin, daring to wear his jacket unbuttoned and singing carefree tunes 
about kissing strange girls or sombre, deathbed pronouncements (Love Thee Dearest).



Tynan was the rotund and balding figure -- sort of like Mr. Rumbole on Are You Being Served? 
minus the crotchetiness. Tynan was actually the card of the three, jovially singing about a 
"very generous" Red-Haired Mary and cracking up as the tenors performed a comical song about 
50 years of marriage. 



He also had one of the most annoying habits -- continually fiddling with the button on his jacket, 
as if it contained the volume to his voice. 



Of course, all lovers have bad habits, which we eventually learn to ignore. 



Fortunately, the trio's vocals were majestic enough to let the audience overlook Tynan's fixation 
and seriously consider taking a romantic Caribbean getaway with the Irish singers. 



ssperounes@thejournal.canwest.com

Reproduced by permission of "Edmonton Journal"