Rising out of the Riverdance stage production, David Downes, the show’s music director, decided to form a vocal group that could take their traditional, celtic-oriented contemporary music to a wider audience. Since coming together in 2004, the band have achieved huge success, bolstered by their energetic performances that incorporate dance and song. Their first release shot them straight to the top of the Billboard World Music chart, staying there for 81 weeks, launching Celtic Woman’s long career.