It's a long way from Knockananna to Carnegie Hall but that's been the exciting journey of Orla Fallon, star of Celtic Woman the latest Irish-based show to take America by storm.
The success of the show has been simply phenomenal since it first broadcast on the world famous US station PBS, and proved the launch pad to a much acclaimed tour of the US performing to sell out audiences.
The show promises to do for the voice what Riverdance has done for the feet, with the emphasis very much on the voices of the main soloists --central to which is Orla.
"It's just really taken off.... I never thought in my wildest dreams I'd sing in Carnegie Hall," enthused Orla.
"As my husband John says, I've achieved all my dreams in one year. It's just been fantastic," she adds.
Orla is extremely proud of her roots in Knockananna and Hacketstown and of the wonderful support she's enjoyed from her family and friends there.
Daughter of the well-known John and Eileen Fallon, Orla grew up in Knockananna until the family moved to Kilmacart, Hacketstown when she was 14 years old. She is married to John.
"I remember so well singing in talent shows in Knockananna when I was 16 and the support I always got from the people there.
"The night Celtic Woman performed in Carnegie Hall, it was a very emotional one for all of us because our families had come over to see us. John and my parents came over, and my brother and sisters.
"When we were about to go on stage I said 'It's a long way from Knockananna to Carnegie Hall' and the American's were asking where that was," Orla laughs.
"People from Knockananna and Hacketstown have always been so supportive to me... I just appreciate it so much," she adds.
The Celtic Woman experience began for Orla in September 2004 when she was asked by Celtic Woman Musical Director/Composer, David Downes, to perform in a concert recorded from The Helix, Dublin.
An album and DVD quickly followed.
Celtic Woman was then broadcast to an audience of millions on PBS on St Patrick's night this year and immediately it took off... the rest is history!
"The switchboard was jammed with calls the night it was shown. We did interviews with Channel 15 in New York, which again is huge.... Everything just really took off from there," Orla told The Nationalist.
Within weeks, the album Celtic Woman reached number one in the World Music charts in America and on the Amazon charts. Since then it's gone both gold and platinum!
A 7-week tour of the US was embarked upon by Celtic Woman taking in a host of 3,000 seater venues across the country and, of course, the legendary Carnegie Hall on November 8 last.
"We did three nights in Boston in a theatre which held 5,000 people - that was 15,000 people in Boston who came to see the show. It's now so big and everyone really seems to like it.
"People are moved by the music which includes music that really pulls at the heart to more up tempo pieces," Orla explains.
The show is now going global with plans for further tours in the US and a tour to Tokyo. But the venue that excites the cast most is their upcoming show in The Point Theatre on February 18, 2006.
"I can't wait for The Point and I hope to see a big contingent from Carlow and Wicklow at it," laughs Orla.
"It's fantastic to be home and it promises to be a really nice show, which is fully seated," she adds.
Following Celtic Woman's performance on the Late Late Show recently, this show too is set to be a sell out.
"The show has developed a lot since the first performance in The Helix.
"My favourite piece in the show is the song I sing The Isle of Innisfree which also involves playing the harp... that goes down very well with people.
"In the show I also get to perform my own song Shooting Star which is really great to get to perform my own work," Orla adds.
Orla admits that she is a really home bird and rings home "at least five times a day" when she's away.
"It is difficult being away but my husband John has been so supportive and encouraging as have my parents who, from an early age, always encouraged my love of music," she explains.
Music was always a huge interest for Orla, which was fostered as a child by her grandparents and later when she attended Mount Sackville secondary school in Dublin.
Prior to moving into music as a full time career, Orla was a teacher for six years and during this time taught for two years in Tullow Community School.
Tickets for Celtic Woman at The Point will go on sale on December 3 while the CD and DVD are currently available.