20 years of ‘A Christmas Celtic Sojourn’: Brian and Lindsay O'Donovan on sharing their family and music

Brian O'Donovan brings spirit and fun to Boston every weekend as the host of A Celtic Sojourn, heard on GBH 89.7. But around the holidays there’s some extra spirit that O’Donovan brings each year, drawing on his Irish roots to showcase music, dance and performance in “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn.”

Now in its 20th production, O'Donovan and his wife Lindsay O'Donovan are joining forces to take the stage once again. They joined GBH Morning Edition hosts Paris Alston and Jeremy Siegel to talk about their latest production. This transcript has been lightly edited.

Jeremy Siegel: Earlier this year, I was at your St. Patrick's Day Celtic Sojourn in Somerville. I've not been to the Christmas event before — for people who haven't been, haven't watched, haven't heard, how would you describe what it is, Brian?

Brian O'Donovan: Well, it is a similar kind of a celebration of what it means to gather in our house. Lindsay, what would you say?

Lindsay O'Donovan: I think the whole show has really been an amalgamation of parties and celebrations that, through our different traditions, we've really tried to bring to audiences outside of our own living room.

Paris Alston: That sounds absolutely festive and delightful. And as Jeremy mentioned, you've been doing this for 20 years now. When you reflect back, what comes to mind for you?

Lindsay O'Donovan: Well, about 20 years ago, Brian and his friend Robbie O'Connell, a musician, we all together just thought it would be nice idea to do a big Christmas concert and work with GBH. And, like I said, bring our traditions to the public and as you will maybe invite them into our space and celebrate with them over Christmas. And that very first show at the Somerville Theatre happened with about two or three hours rehearsal in a blizzard. And we went on. The band Cherish the Ladies arrived and went on stage a few hours later. And that was the beginning, right?

Brian O'Donovan: It really was the beginning. And we realized very, very quickly that there was a hunger for this, that people just wanted to be in the comfort of each other and in the calm of Christmas gathering. And we had not intended for this to grow as big as it did, but it's something that seems to have hit a note with people. And we are so privileged to be able to continue to do it.

And this year is a special celebration for us, the 20th anniversary. And with a lot of support from the community out there and a lot of support from GBH, we look forward to continuing it into the 20th year.

Siegel: You can really feel the love that the audience has for it being there. When I was there earlier this year, I've almost never been in an audience that is that excited and that focused on what's going on on stage. But at the same time, you have faced your fair share of challenges with the Christmas Celtic Sojourn, including a show where the entire cast quarantined, being able to bring a virtual event during the pandemic. Now, Brian, you're dealing with your own challenges as you undergo treatment for terminal brain cancer. How are you balancing that with the extreme amount of attention that I know goes into planning and hosting an event like this?

Brian O'Donovan: Well, you're absolutely right, Jeremy. But it really is — life is part of family, and that's what we have been bringing to people, really, is a kind of an aspect of our family and our family gatherings. And, you know, that comes with ups, and it comes with downs, and that's really what we're celebrating and dealing with the realities of it.

So we feel pretty good about it. And Lindsay has been a big part of that. Lindsay, as the matriarch of the family, has been pretty good about bringing that in a very honest way to the audience there — Lindsay, would you say?

Lindsay O'Donovan: Yes. And I think that the support that we've had from our wonderful staff. And actually one particular person, Brian's new partner in the venture, Jenna Worden, who started off with us several years ago working in costumes. And we all answer to Jenna, and she's been amazing. And along with the rest of the staff — our music directors, Seamus Egan and Maeve Gilchrist, and we still have Eric Levenson, our set designer who was our original set designer 20 years ago.

Brian O'Donovan: It really is a shared experience.

Lindsay O'Donovan: Exactly. Exactly.

Brian O'Donovan: Good and bad, you know. That's why, with the challenges that we have this year, we will go through and we will go through together, because of the commitment of the community and the support of the community.

Alston: So it's really clear that music is a big part of your relationship and of your family. Lindsay, I'm curious, how has that bond over music helped you, as you've had to support Brian through this really significant life change as a spouse?

Lindsay O'Donovan: It's been a big part of it. We've found that, when we're out together and can experience music together and be part of any kind of musical gathering, it's an incredible boost to Brian's spirits and mine, of course. And for this year’s production of Christmas Celtic Sojourn, having our two daughters back — they've both been in it. Our younger daughter was in it for many, many years until she went to college. And then our older daughter made a few different appearances over the years. And to have them both back with us on the Sunday shows is going to be really wonderful and exciting.

Brian O'Donovan: Encouraging, really, kind of a boost for us as a family.

Lindsay O'Donovan: Yes, totally.

Siegel: This isn't the first interview you've done ahead of “The Christmas Celtic Sojourn.” You were on the air with our colleagues Jim Braude and Margery Eagen not too long ago. And after that, you talked about how you've received letters and calls from people who appreciate your show and appreciate Celtic Sojourn. I'm curious what it means to you to hear from people, and what it'll mean to both of you in the days, ahead to be in front of those people that you've heard from over the past few weeks.

Brian O'Donovan: I think it's a very, very uplifting thing, Jeremy. You know, this is a small community here in Boston and family is one of the things that sets it apart. And that's certainly is the case here at GBH, as an institution, and certainly the case with a lot of the events that we do: bringing that sense of family, the sense of community back and out over the airwaves and indeed on stage in many cases, as is the case with “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn” now coming.

And we feel pretty privileged to be in that position and we think that the audience really appreciates it as well. So really looking forward to it this year, it being the 20th anniversary. It's hard to really believe, but here it is.

“A Christmas Celtic Sojourn” will go up in New Bedford on Saturday, Dec. 10; in Worcester on Monday, Dec. 12; in Rockport on Tuesday, Dec. 13; in Boston Friday through Sunday on Dec. 16-18; and will be available virtually Dec. 20–Jan. 2. Tickets are available now.