Anthony Kearns says the personalities of the Irish Tenors might be more of a draw to their current concerts than the tunes of Christmas.

"We're three different characters who present sides of different walks of life," says Kearns, a member of the trio that will perform here beginning Tuesday. "That creates the basis for a good show."

The tenors — Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Finbar Wright — will perform their holiday show Downtown, but Kearns points out that the concert is more than just yuletide favorites.

Irish classics also will be offered, along with tunes such as the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," a song that has become something of a theme since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

But, really, the singer suggests, the group's fans probably are there for other reasons than the holidays.

"I think people just enjoy the fun and the camaraderie," he says.

The stories of the three singers by themselves might stir some curiosity.

= Kearns is a polished singer who was the top choice of Irish television producers when they put the group together for a special in 1998.

= Wright became disenchanted with the Catholic priesthood and left religious service in the late ’80s to start a singing career

= Tynan is a medical doctor who is an orthopedic specialist, but also the victim of a disability that led to the amputation of both legs from the knees down.

"We all bring our individual talents to the table," Kearns says.

The trio also has been helped along by the promotional capabilities of the modern era. Tapes of their first concerts were broadcast on the Public Broadcasting Service. Kearns credits that with causing a swell of popularity in the United States.

He also credits the sound and vocal strength of the group with building support.

"We have the muscle to put on a good show," he says.

That strength is helped in these Christmas shows by a 47-piece orchestra made up mostly of local musicians.

He says the tenors try to bring some variety to the holiday show, too. For instance, he says, they are doing "Pie Jesu" this year as well as other classical works. Those pieces are not necessarily Christmas songs, but have a spiritual nature that helps them fit the show.

"Finbar and I even do an Italian lullaby," Kearns says. "I like the challenge of presenting music that is different but still appropriate to Christmas."

That may be an another reason for their popularity, he says. They are doing 19 shows in the United States in a tour that began Nov. 21 — a holiday swing that has become something of a regular trip in the few years of the trio's existence.

A spring visit to the United States for St. Patrick's Day concerts also provides a number of jobs, as do tours in Australia, New Zealand and, next year, Germany.

"We have a good following (in Pittsburgh)," Kearns says. "It will be good to be back."

8 p.m Tuesday and Wednesday. $76.50; $66.50; $56.50. Benedum Center, Downtown. (412) 456-6666

One of Finbar Wright's earliest memories is of an Irish family tradition: The youngest child lights the Christmas candle.

"I was the youngest of eight children. I was lifted up to light the candle. I couldn't have been more than 3,'' Wright said.

"The Irish always put a candle in the window at holiday time. The idea is to welcome Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. As houses have gotten bigger, there are more and more candles. It's probably a terrible fire hazard,'' he said, with a laugh.

The Irish tenors -- Wright, Ronan Tynan and Anthony Kearns -- return to Columbus this weekend with the 2002 edition of their "Christmas Spectacular.''

The new show, holiday classics mingled with Irish ballads and a few new works, is drawing capacity crowds throughout the nation, including New York's Carnegie Hall, where the tenors presented two shows last week.

"Yes, the hall was pretty much sold out,'' Wright said from New York's Trump International.

"It's a beautiful hall, not just because of the architectural design, which wraps the audience around close, but because of the acoustics. And then there is the history. Think of all the artists who have performed there.''

A new favorite hall for Wright, who was once a Roman Catholic priest, is the Rudolfinum in Prague.

"The acoustics were just fantastic. I think it was named after one of their early kings," he said.

Speaking of kings, how about the title to their just-released holiday CD, We Three Kings? Has media attention gone to their heads?

"No, we've not been crowned. It really just came about because We Three Kings is one of our favorite Christmas songs and it opened every Christmas program we did for years. We did worry a bit that it might sound pretentious, but we wanted it to work with this quirky notion of three singers.''

chat with an Irish Tenor is always enjoyable. These internationally acclaimed artists have a huge following but haven't let success go to their heads or alter their willingness to share time and energies. Their senses of humor are infectious.

Is it because he's Irish?

"I'm from County Cork. Down South. Near the Blarney Stone,'' Wright chuckled.

Irish traditions are much in Wright's mind. Christmas is the biggest Irish holiday, and home and hearth beckon.

He and his wife have two children, ages 8 and 10, who are looking forward to the arrival of Santa on Christmas Eve.

"In Ireland, you leave a carrot for Rudolph and a shot of whiskey for Santa. He's barely standing by the end of it.

"We always have a lot of people come 'round this time of year. And we'll have 10 for Christmas day. If I were home right now, I'd be plucking the turkey. It's a gruesome job, but we live in the country and if you want to eat you have to pluck.''

Irish Christmas dinners customarily offer both roast ham and turkey. Traditional desserts include plum pudding with brandy sauce, another rich and heavy Christmas cake and mince pies.

Mulled wine is the favored holiday drink, rather than egg nog.

With the tenors' busy touring schedule, they won't be home until Dec. 23.

Then they will prepare for their biggest shows of the season, their customary programs in Belfast and halls around Ireland on Dec. 27 and 28.

The day after Christmas, however, is a cherished holiday for the Irish.

"It's St. Stephen's Day. You know, like 'Good King Wenceslas . . . on the Feast of Stephen,' '' he said, breaking into song.

The Irish search for a little wren on this day. It goes back to pagan times. And the young people dress up in crazy costumes and go door to door, like on Halloween. And they recite this silly poem -- 'Up with the kettle and down with the pot. Give me your answer and I'll be off.' ''

Last year's Christmas program was an inspirational experience, a huge success in Columbus. Wright promises another such event this year.

"This is our third Christmas series. We always do a few different things. This year Ronan has a new song by Brendan Graham (Fairytale of New York) -- I Will Raise Him Up -- written just a year ago. And we are bringing back some of our old songs. People began to miss them.''

Ireland's finest contribution to the international tenor craze returned last night to the Palace Theatre for a bit of "the wearin' of the green'' -- and red.

The Irish Tenors' Christmas Spectacular -- the singers' third trip to Columbus in recent years -- drew a near-capacity crowd that happily followed along with their every low and high C.

Accompanied by full orchestra and a modestly festive slide and light show, the tenors offered heartfelt performances of many holiday favorites, both serious and not so, including Mary's Boy Child, O Holy Night, We Three Kings and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. All three -- Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Finbar Wright -- were in fine voice, giving no indication that their vocal health is threatened.

The programming also had both an Irish and an American dimension to it. They opened with The Star of County Down, first sung in Gaelic, and went on to include the lovely Isle of Inisfree -- from the Irish-American movie classic The Quiet Man -- Danny Boy and Whiskey in the Jar.

The nods to the United States, seemingly offered in the spirit of friendship and sympathy for recent tragic events, included America, the Beautiful and God Bless America.

The inclusion of Love Me Tender, however, seemed a bit of a head-scratcher and even provoked a few uncomfortable laughs. (Don't they know Elvis has left the building?)

The Irish Tenors captivate their fans not only through their artful singing. They also win concert-goers' hearts by their emphasis on inspirational songs that have meaning for many people, such as How Great Thou Art, The Lord's Prayer, Battle Hymn of the Republic.

These singers evoke great joy and sincerity in their performances -- joy in music-making and in sharing good music with an audience.

In a country overpopulated with cynical and self-indulgent celebrities and entertainers, the Irish tenors evoke an old-fashioned sense of simply wanting to do their job well.

Now that the Irish Tenors and their favorite songs are familiar to many Americans, perhaps it's time for the trio to break out a bit from the formality of their typical concert format.

Tynan's antics always seem to please the audience, and at times it appears as if the trio is ready to burst out in other directions.

Perhaps they might commission a songwriter to compose something specifically for their voices and personalities. Or perhaps they could include a few more anecdotes or jokes.

Self-interest is speaking here. No fan of the Irish Tenors wants the trio to go stale. Then they might stop touring.