Celtic Legacy Celtic Heavy Metal / Co. Kildare

CELTIC LEGACY is an Irish heavy metal band formed in 1997 which grew out of a covers band called STOMP which formed in 1994 and eventually began recording original material. They recorded a demo under the temporary name MISCHIEF which eventually developed into CELTIC LEGACY. Despite incorporating celtic influences into several of their songs, they have always rejected the label of being a folk metal band.

Despite never having a record contract (although the band was offered small recording deals on 6 occasions) the band utilised its resources to fund and record 3 albums up to 2008. Of the 3 albums the band released during the initial 12-year period, “Resurrection” – the second album is widely regarded as the band’s high water mark. It was voted album of the year on several sites in 2003/2004 and the title track has become the band’s signature tune. The album received incredible reviews upon release and is still regarded with huge affection by both die hard fans and casual listeners to the band’s music.

The band line-up changed several times from 1997-2009 with the only constant members being Dave Morrissey and Dave Boylan who also wrote 90% of the band’s material. The band were put on hold from 2001 to 2003, and only reactivated when a fan campaign raised the money for them to record a second album. Internal hostilites following the second album caused the line-up to fragment again in 2004 and there was no serious activity again until 2006. And in 2008, after a prolonged search for a stable line-up, CELTIC LEGACY recorded the “Guardian Of Eternity” album. A year after the release of the album, Celtic Legacy finished as a gigging entity, with the various members going their separate ways. Eoin Ennis (brother of then vocalist Ciarán Ennis) temporarily replaced Keith Hendley for some shows in 2008 and was later added to the band’s line-up permanently, taking them up to three guitarists (originally they had only one). By the end of the year though he had left again and the band were back to a five-piece.

CELTIC LEGACY announced that they were splitting on July 12, 2009 due to financial problems that would prevent them from recording any new material in the foreseeable future. Dave Boylan and a few other former members briefly started a new version of the band called KELTIC LEGACY, which did not last longer than a few rehearsals.

In 2011, Dave Morrissey started work on a solo album. Ciarán Ennis joined the project in 2013, and as things developed they eventually they decided to begin using the CELTIC LEGACY name again. A single entitled ‘My People’ was released on August 4th, 2014. And followed in early January 2015 by the album “The Lie of the Land”. The line-up for this album consisted of Ciaran Ennis on vocals and Dave Morrissey handling all music.

2020 sees the line-up changing once more with OLD SEASON‘s John Bonham taking over on vocals and fellow founding member Dave ‘Slim’ Boylan returning to the fold.
A re-recording of the band first album is currently in progress and set for an early 2021 digital release to be titled “Redux”.

Some of the band’s previous albums are still available for sale both in physical format and as downloads.
The Legacy goes on and on!