The Irish music industry has another breakthrough to celebrate with Celtic Thunder's Act Two album debuting at number 61 this week on the American Billboard 200.

Aided by a PBS TV special on them that was shot in the Dublin Helix and viewed by over 5 million people, the Sharon Browne and Phil Coulter-assembled collection is receiving a further boost as the all-male five-piece head out on a 48-date US tour, which includes such major venues as New York's Radio City Music Hall and Chicago's Rosemont Theater.

The group comprises Paul Byrom (age 28 from Dublin), Keith Harkin (20 from Derry), Damian McGinty (14 from Derry), Ryan Kelly (28 from Moy, County Tyrone) and George Donaldson (39 from Glasgow) who offer up new solo and ensemble versions of classics like 'Nights In White Satin', 'My Boy' and 'I Want To Know What Love Is'.

Hardly groundbreaking, but good for the old balance of trade!