CELTIC WOMAN, the Irish musical phenomenon celebrated around the world has been spoofed in brilliant style on the hit US sketch series Saturday Night Live.
Since debuting back in 2005, Celtic Woman has been nothing short of a sensation among fans of all things Irish in a way not seen since the heady days of Riverdance.
Multi-platinum selling albums and DVDs couples with sell-out tours around the world have seen the collective put Ireland's rich musical and cultural heritage on the map.
While the line-up may have changed over the past decade-and-a-half, the group’s repertoire of Irish classics, contemporary songs, classical favorites and stirring originals has struck a chord with the diaspora all around the world.
Even so, this unique slice of Irish entertainment remains ripe for gentle ridicule and there is arguably no one better suited to the task than the multi-talented performers over on NBC’s flagship comedy show Saturday Night Live – or SNL for short.
In an episode bringing down the curtain on the show’s 46th season featured a brilliant pastiche of Celtic Woman with guest host Anya Taylor-Joy joined by regular performers Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant and Kate McKinnon.
The skit sees SNL poke fun at the show’s questionable blend of Irish classics and contemporary hits, with the sketch billing Celtic Woman as an experience offering “Irish culture the way it was meant to be enjoyed – in Ohio”.
This, we are told, is a mix of traditional Gaelic folk songs alongside “a random assortment of not-Gaelic songs the audience just kind of wants to hear” like Sweet Home Alabama.
Poking fun at the performers memorably seductive glances, the sketch sees each of the performers pulling off some pretty decent Irish accents while Taylor-Joy more than holds her own.
The real highlight comes with the hilarious pastiche of the show’s Grammy-winning Celtic Violinist Máiréad Nesbitt.
Featuring alongside two male ponytailed percussionists, the pitch-perfect nature of the send-up was not lost on the performer herself, who took to Twitter to praise their efforts.
In my wildest dreams I never thought myself & @Celtic_Woman would be on #snl #SNLFinale @nbcsnl Hosted by @anyataylorjoy I’m howling laughing! Love you SNL! 🤣🎻💚☘️🧚🏻@MaireadFans @CelticWomanBr @jewelry @theirishpost @IrishCentral pic.twitter.com/g3iWGl8ON4
— Máiréad Nesbitt Celtic Violinist (@MaireadNesbitt) May 23, 2021
Sharing a clip of their efforts, she tweeted: “In my wildest dreams I never thought myself & @Celtic_Woman would be on #snl #SNLFinale @nbcsnlHosted by @anyataylorjoy I’m howling laughing! Love you SNL.”
It's not the first time SNL has poked fun at Irish culture with everything from Aer Lingus to St Patrick’s Day pastiched on the show.
