CelticWomanForum.com

http://www.celticwoman.com/trellis/alex_message (http://www.celticwoman.com/trellis/alex_message)

She will be missed! 

I'm so sad, I read in Facebook and in CW.COM this thing :
"Alex Sharpe has decided to take a full time break and will no longer be touring with Celtic Woman. Alex will be truly missed..."
"It has been a great joy and pleasure to be a part of the Celtic Woman family these past 3 years but the time has come for me to be with my own family full time back at home.

I would like to thank all the fans for the support they have given me from the beginning and throughout the years.

Thank you especially to Lynn, Lisa, Máiréad and Chloë for welcoming me into Celtic Woman with open arms, and to all the Celtic Woman team on and off stage....You are amazing!

I will always cherish this experience and wish everybody continued success and happiness for the future.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Sharpe
"
Good luck for the next Alex..

I'm so sad for this news... I hope the new girl will be good...

Alex,
      Thank you for bringing so much to Celtic Woman. I loved seeing your smile light up the stage during every song. You will be truly missed.
      -Libby/Irish CW Fan

This is sad, but I wish her the happiest times with her family. hopefully she can find time to release aq solo CD as well.

also, In keeping with the traditopn of 5 members, Are they going to find someone else?

It's always a balancing act between family and career, but then, so are many things in life.  Best wishes to you, Miss Alex.  Thank you for sharing your voice with us.  You are part of what makes these concerts a wonderful experience.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!   :o :o :o :o :o

Does anyone know who's gonna fill her spot?

Alex,
You brought back my love for musical theater and along with the other girls made me believe in myself :) Thank you for being in Celtic Woman these past 3 years. I will truly miss you!
P.S: Thanks for being so cool in Jacksonville, FL. It was an honor to have you at my M&G!
Good luck!
-ABBY-CWPRIDE

Its very sad but I know she will go on to accomplish great things:) I love you Alex! Good Luck with everything!!!!

Say it isn't so.  :(  Now my heart will never be able to go home again.  :'(

I can certainly understand her desire to be home with her family, though, particularly as her son begins attending school.  Stability is a good thing for children.  It's a shame she couldn't finish out the short summer tour and perform at Red Rocks one more time.  We'll just have to put our trust in David that he will find someone to fill her shoes.  He hasn't failed us yet so I expect great things.

Alex, you will be missed terribly and you may have broken a few hearts with this announcement.  You have been a joy to watch and listen to and certainly have earned the title of "Celtic Woman" for life.  I want to wish you all the best in whatever your future may hold.

 :'( :'( :'( Alex, we'll miss you.  :'( :'( :'(

Good bye! May God bless you in your endeavors!

http://www.celticwoman.com/trellis/alex_message

About two minutes after you... some posted this: http://www.celticwomanforum.com/index.php?topic=13087.0

O my word! :o  My heart just broke!  :'(  Alex I will miss you!!!

Really is sad news for us (but not her family). Alex has been such a joy to listen to and watch. Cannot say I'm overly surprised as while during the CW show in Memphis she spoke (paraphrasing from memory here) of gaining a southern husband this past year while in the states and here she is back in the south of the states and he was now in southern Ireland. Our prayers go with her; such a talented and classy lady will be sorely missed.

Its very sad to see you leave, Alex.  I was lucky to see you perform five times over the last year, though!  I will continue to support you in whatever you do.  You will be missed! 

Love,
Kristine

Alex - you'll be in my heart always, Hope all goes well and best of luck for the future :)
xoxoxoxoxo

I will miss Alex sooo much but at least she'll have time to record that Christian CD she's been wanting to do.  Whenever it comes out, I'm so getting it.

WOW!!! this is truly sad news...

Alex...thanks for bringing all your talents to CW...You will surelty be missed. Best of luck in your future endeavours...
Kelly  :'(   :'(   :'(

Devastated to hear the news as I never got the honor and privilege to meet Alex. However, I wish her the best in all she does and hope that she knows how much she has meant to us Celtic Woman fans. This is not a chapter closing, merely a page turned. Our love and appreciation for Alex's contribution does not stop with her departure. No doubt, tabs will be kept and updates will be made and words of love, prayers, and warm thoughts shall be exchanged.

Go raibh maith agat, Alex, for the blessed memories you gave me from watching you perform. I'm sorry I never got to meet you, but who knows what the future will bring?

Slan go foill.

Sincerely,
Taylor "Angus" Gibson

Alex, you have touched a lot of hearts along your journey with Celtic Woman.  Count mine among them.  I'll miss you onstage.  I wish you and your family peace and joy, and you always have support here!

I wish you the best, Alex!!
I only wish that i could have seen you perform as a part of Celtic Woman....you have an amazing voice!
We're all very sad you're leaving, but understand your reasons.
Love, Jen
lisakellyfan

NOOO! Why does this keep happening :(  ON a more mature note lol, Alex, you will be truly missed. You've made a fantastic addition to the Celtic Woman family and have brought such new and wonderful things to the group. You will be missed greatly by all of us and I, and I'm sure all the others, wish you well in your future endeavors and we can't wait to hear from you in the future! Te amo mucho Alex :) !

Wow! I'm really surprised by this. But then again I have noticed these tours are getting longer and longer every year so I don't think it's making it any easier on them. I'm sure who ever they get to fill the role will be just as good. Have we been disappointed yet? :)  We all will miss Alex but as we always said "Once your a Celtic Woman, Your always a Celtic Woman." :)

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116836208358591

The Facebook page for Alex !

I'm pretty sure it'll be Orla, she said before she left that she would return after IOH/SFTH

Where did she say that? I don't remember her saying anything to that effect.

There's no way in my mind that it will be Órla who return to the group. She has a newly released CD and in her Myspace blog released earlier today she sayd she has tour dates planned.

I have complete faith in David and he will find someone incredible. Hopefully he can find someone who has that traditional/classical Irish voice like Órla.

Orla has no intention of returning to Celtic Woman.

I will definitely miss Alex. I saw her at one of her first CW concerts while Lisa was on maternity leave. She's a great performer, I wish her luck in all of her other ventures! I understand why she's leaving, family is a lot more important!


It almost looks as if it's just Lisa, Chloe, Mairead, and Lynn touring this summer.
From CW's website:

Alex Premires in Dallas.... A look at the concert and time to cherish the moments since that Special event. Alex like all of the girls, has given her grace and talents to us for just over two years, and has earned Love and Respect from coast to coast. Now it's time we celebrate her departure as a symbol of success, and free her to join the Family that shared her with us.
Sláinte

http://www.celticwomanforum.com/index.php?topic=3587.msg121910#msg121910

Dearest darling Alex,
Although you've now been with Celtic Woman for three wonderful years, this is only my first year being such a true fan of the group. But I could not possibly be more ecstatic and grateful that you were one of those five original girls that first pulled my heart into loving the group as much as I do today. And having the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see you live for the first and only time with the group this year has truly been a blessing. I cannot find the words to thank you enough. Your voice will forever be treasured and remembered in Songs from the Heart, and it will be the wonderful feeling that every single person gets when they see your smiling face come on the screen, or hear your breath taking voice come on the CD, that will let all know that you made more of an impact than you will ever imagine by joining the group in the first place. I personally have been forever deeply touched by your voice, your personality, your laughter, your joy, and your mere presence more than I can ever say. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I wish you absolutely nothing less than the best for you, your family, and your career in the future. I so hope to see your smiling face somewhere new very soon.
Good luck, and thank you always <3
-Lindsey E.
(Broadway Baby)

Wow, didn't see that one coming! Alex has my full support in all of her future endeavors. I am honored that I was able to meet her just a few weeks ago. She is a delightful person, a beautiful lady and fun to meet. I will miss her stage presence and her beautiful voice.

Saw this while in class and had to keep my jaw from dropping open in front of my professor!

It's surprising, since she's the "newest" girl, but at the end of day not as surprising to me. Family always, always comes first.

I've had Alex at EVERY M&G I've been to, so I have had the pleasure of chit-chatting with her. She's a sweetie and will be missed! I will miss hearing "My Heart Was Home Again."

And can I, as a member, make a small request? Can we not speculate on who is gonna fill her spot and if such and such person is coming back, etc. etc.? Let's just leave it up to CW and wish Alex the best. :) :)

We love you, Alex!! :)

awww... Alex you will be missed!! I guess I'll never be able to get to see her in concert with Celtic Woman....  :'(  :'(  :'(

i fourth it!!

Oh, wow!  Alex, you will truly be missed.  Thank you for everything you've done during your years with Celtic Woman!

my first reaction was what!! *faint* but i agree family comes first!! she will defiantly be missed :'( :'( i hope that her family is OK. she has such a presence about her that will not be forgotten. i too hope she might find time to make a CD that would be soo cool!! ;D ;D hint hint ;) he he. i wish her the best :-*
YR

I will dearly miss Alex, but I'm very very glad I got to see her perform at least once.  I was hoping I'd get to see her perform again. :(  However, I know she will go very far in her musical career and I wish her the best of luck. :D  So, now, I would like to say, Thank you for being with Celtic Woman, Alex.  It was a real joy. <3

Alex... I'll miss you :'(

Alex you have touched the lives of so many of us! I am one of the lucky ones who has seen you perform since the beginning!! I am very sad to hear to you will no longer be touring with Celtic Woman but I wish you nothing but happiness in whatever you decided to do. I love you so much and i wish you the best in your life!...

"you'll be in my heart from this day on now and forever more"... ? ?

? Rachel (Iluvcelticwoman)

I knew this was coming, but I didn't think it would happen so soon. I fully understand and support Alex's desire to spend more time with her family, however, I am very sad to hear she is leaving before the summer tour. Thank you for sharing a part of yourself with us Alex. You will be missed by all!

Love,
Elizabeth

I was saddened to read of Alex's 'retirement'. It is truly a loss. However, I can appreciate the reason of spending more time with her family. The schedule the women are on is decidedly taxing.
I don't know if they have considered a replacement but I wish CW continued success. And a blessing for Alex as she moves in a different direction.

oh that is a shocker  :(  Alex will be missed dearly, and I fell so privilged to have seen her perform not just once but twice, and get her autograph!  Family is very important and she prob. felt like this was the right time and i respect that!  Plus I would definately buy her cd if she recrds one!  I'd be the first in line! I do wonder a little bit though who David is going to have now?? since the summer tour is coming up!  But I sure who ever she may be will be wonderful just like Alex, i'm sure!

Sounds to me like Alex will not be replaced at least for the summer tour.

First of all, I would like to compliment all the forum members who have responded with such grace to Alex's departure from Celtic Woman. I know it has been a blow to all of us who have come to respect and love Alex . However, everyone has responded in a mature and positive manner.

I will miss Alex as well. She brought her own style and talent to Celtic Woman. I have been blessed to have seen her perform onstage and meet her several times at M & Gs. Her dazzling smile and that twinkle in her eyes will forever be imprinted in my memory.

Alex, I wish you only the very best - you deserve that much and more for all you have given to us over the last several years.

Zee

Awww...Alex :'(  I absolutely love her!!  To Alex:  We'll miss you!  How wonderful for you to be able to be back with your family full-time!  Thanks for brightening the stage with your smile and lovely voice;) 

well alex will have more time to work on her solo career. perhaps she will be able to finally release her solo CD and perhaps tour on her own like Orla has done

    What a shock this is!  We'd come to know and love Alex since she replaced Lisa on tour in 2008.  She was one of the soloists at my last meet & greet in Louisville last month.  Had I known it would be the last time I saw here, I would have made every effort to tell her how much I appreciate her and her talent.  Instead, I wasted our conversation in small talk.  :'(

    Let's all wish her the best and support her in any way that we can in her new endeavors!   :( :-*

I suppose there's really nothing I can say except agree with everybody else, Alex, you will be missed. I was sad when learned I wouldn't be seeing you perform this summer, but at the same time felt so lucky to have seen you 4 times over the past year. I'm so glad to have you on a Celtic Woman CD and DVD so I can be reminded of just how beautiful your voice is and how amazing of a performer you are on stage, and definitely look forward to any solo CDs that may come up. Thank you so much for the last 3 years and I wish you all the best in things yet to come.

I will miss you Alex:) I feel so bad that I have only had the pleasure of hearing you delight me in song for a year but I am so thankful that I was able to see you sing:) You will always be in my heart:) Your songs will never sound the same again:)
Love,
Rebekah  :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Does this mean Alex is not even finishing the tour?

Yes, that's correct. Unfortunately Alex will not be involved in the summer tour.

I have to say this comes as something of a surprise, I didn't think we'd start to see the "second generation" start to go so soon.  I'm also not sure I accept Alex's given reasons at face value, but that's because I'm a 40+ cynical lawyer who rarely takes ANYTHING at face value.  It is a pity, I had just started to like her for her warm personality, However, I respect whatever her reasons are, this constant touring has to take a lot out of any participant, and we've seen it can be hard on families.   

Alex, I'm glad I got to see you and meet you when I had the chance.  All the best.

Wow!!!.....I'm really, really glad I got to see her in concert. And I hope she will be able to find the time to record a solo album...... I hope she sees this and knows how much she'll truelly be missed.

Wow, I was shocked out of inactivity when I heard the news, and I knew I had to come here to get the whole story.

Alex, you were at my first M&G. It was such an honor and a pleasure to meet you. I hold those memories very near and dear to my heart. Thank you for gifting us all with your talent and your beauty. You will be missed!

Sincerely,
Chris B.

Well, I can vouch for Alex and her reason that she wanted to be back home with her family full time. That is the real and only reason she chose to leave the group.

Thansk, Elizabeth. :) Your perspective is really nice and helpful here!

I totally believe Alex's reasons. It makes perfect and complete sense to me and I can't say I blame her.

Like I said before, all the best to Alex!

As most people have said, this is definitely sad news, but I hope Alex knows that we all will continue to support her no matter what her future decisions may be!  I'm going to miss her, and I am so glad I got to see her with Celtic Woman, though I am very sad that I never got to meet her.  I do hope I get to in the future. 

Alex,

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful gift with all of us!  :) You are truly one talented woman, and we will miss you! 

Love,

Katharine

We've never allowed speculation about CW. It doesn't do anyone any good and it causes all types of problems when people read things as fact instead of conjecture.

aislin

I knew this was coming. I mean, she has a young son and missing him growing up and being apart from him for so long would be hard and heartbreaking. It's for the better, and I totally understand. But forever she will be part of the Celtic Woman, remember, "Once a Celtic Woman, always a Celtic Woman"

I never got to meet Alex. I raised money to go to the show, but my mom wouldn’t let me go. It's depressing, but we'll hear more of Alex someday again. She is a wonderful woman and is my role model for great reasons and I look up to her to pursue my dreams and reach my goals.

She may not read this, but I thank her for everything she has done.

Thank you Alex Sharpe for showing and teaching me how to keep my head held high, push through it all and reach towards my dream. You are a great role model and inspiration to not only young girls like me.

Thank you
Beck

First, I want to thank Alex for being a part of the group. You rock! Good luck ! Hope to see you perform again someday.

Second, and I have said this before now and then. Maybe ex-members who don't wish to be committed to such a long tour away from family, home, and other projects can get together and do a short tour, like maybe a 25 city USA tour over maybe a 6-8 week period. We have 5 former members now right? Alex, Orla, Meav, Hayley, and Deirdre. So, if say 3 were to team up and tour (again a brief tour) it could be fun for us fans and good for them too, give them a chance to make a few dollars and sell their solo CDs.

Third, I am not surprised by Alex departure. But I am surprised by the timing and lack of a 5th member for the summer tour. The show is set for 5, now they have to adapt. Can they adapt? Sure, they are professionals, I know they will come up with something thats great, as they always do. Its gonna seem very different though, but it will still be great. 

Also, I hope Alex will work on a CD and that CW will allow her to include the heart is home again song. It would be a shame if that doesnt get recorded and sold to us fans somehow.

This is an assumption...they haven't said they won't have a 5 member line-up, only that Lisa, Lynn, Chloe, and Mairead will still be with the SFTH tour.

Good luck with everything, Alex.  You will be missed.

My heart had crashed Alex, we miss you lots! I hope my dreams will come true to hear you coming back. T.T ;(

true. I should not have leaped to that assumption. I was thinking they just dont have a lot of time to find and train a newbie for a tour thats only about 8 weeks away. But they probabaly knew this in advance (yes an assumption again, but a fair one I think) and already have a plan in place, choosing to wait until the end of tour to make the announcement, which is the right thing to do.

I was really and truely shocked when I found out that Alex was leaving...Of course, we can all understand her reasons for wanting to be with her family and I wish her all the happiness. Alex will forever have a place in my heart, she'll never be forgotten. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to see her perform live twice. She's a gem. :)

Loving you, Alex, and wishing you the best in life!

Love,

Michaela

Wow, this is a shocker. :'( But Alex, I completely understand and respect your decision to spend your time with your family. I have seen you perform 3 times, and each was truly a gift and one of the best nights of my life. Thank you for bringing your warm personality and stage presence as well as your wonderful and unique voice to the show. You will be very missed. :'( I wish you the best of luck!!! :)

Eric

With respect, I don't think Alex discusses her career decisions with fans in any detail, even if she is friendly with them, any more than any of the attorneys I've known goes into detail about career choices.  Most either give a pat answer or refuse to discuss them.  I myself have brushed off inquiries, though I rarely get nasty about it unless the person doesn't take the hint.  I don't doubt this is AMONG the reasons.  I also believe, as I do with most things, that there's usually a story behind what we're hearing.  I'm not saying we need to go digging into whatever the story might be, in fact I think it's good that the media DOESN'T go digging around behind the scenes with CW, I just believe there's usually more than what you hear or are told.  And I don't think believing that makes me less a fan or less a supporter.

B BABY  says it all for me, too!  So happy and elated I got to meet you in Denver last summer and you talked with us then about him
           and I gave him my little flag...etc..Lord, woman, what will we do without you? The birds won't sound as sweet with your sweet
           voice gone silent...but ENJOY your time with your family, church and hope you will cut an album soon because your fans
            will support it 100%..God Bless
Carla

This is a sad day... but I am glad that Alex will have time with family (I myself right now know how important that is).  Alex, you totally won me over with several unforgettable moments at Red Rocks last year and at Roanoke this year... best of luck in all your endeavors, and please know that we love you very much!!!

Good luck Alex with whatever the future may bring.  You will be missed.

What a sad news to start this morning with..  :-\ But I wish her the very best, Alex, you've been a pleasure to watch and a phenomonal Celtic Woman...

Wish you were my mom....

 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO



=[

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WE ALL WILL MISS YOU!

Axel

 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( 
I must have gotten something in my eyes.  They were teary all yesterday afternoon and again this morning. 

Celtic Woman will never be the same without this incredible lady.  I am crushed and will never be able to watch or listen to "You'll Be In My Heart" again without choking up. 

Godspeed, dear sweet Alex.  Take care of yourself and your family and when you're ready we'll be out here, front row center, waiting to cheer you on and to enjoy your enormous talents once more.

A fan forever,
Jack

They may fill in with Haley Restenra and get someone permanent to start the next tour cycle. Haley is very popular in Austrailia.
I will miss Alex. When the girls were in Fairfax on St Patricks Day I was there picking up my ticket when the
buses arrived from New York. A little later I went around to where they had sat up and Alex was on her laptop,
sitting on some steps. She and I chatted for about 15 minutes ( I couldn't believe there was no security) and she said she really missed her family because St Pat's was such a big deal in Ireland. She was really nice and allowed me to take a few photos. She kept saying how nice we 'yanks' were to her and the girls. I was disappointed when she was not at the M&G.
As with all the girls, she is down to earth and not pretentious. I wish her all the success and joy she deserves.

Alex, truly , 'You'll be in My Heart'.

Can't argue with that, Alex was really nice the two times I met her and actually was able to talk to her.   Umm, can we see any of these pics you took?     

Please keep in mind how hard this entire experience has been for Alex.  It has no doubt, been an amazing experience for her, but Alex had to have been away from home for how long?  Several months.  It's very very hard to be away from home and family for that long of a time; she has a young son after all.  It was her decision, and as far as I'm concerned, it's a very good reason to leave: family in my opinion, should always come first.  

Alex was an amazing addition to the group, but now it's time for her to move on.  Support her for who she is and where life may take her--she'll go very far, I know she will.  Support Celtic Woman for who they are too: they were and always will be a special group of talented women.

Alright, let's tone things down just a notch and continue to show respect to Alex and the remaining members of the group.  We are all unhappy that Alex is leaving, but her family is deserving of her undivided attention.  We encourage you to post your thoughts and messages here, but ask that it be respectful.

Thank you.

Thanks, Kelli.

And to get back on topic, this actually opens a door for her to go solo, doesn't it?  Performance time with Celtic Woman brought a lot of positive attention to her, so I'm sure she'll go very far if she decides to do something. :)

It was amazing to watch Alex at each show. She has an amazing talent and her eyes express such feeling in her performance. She will be sincerly missed. I am grateful to have had the pleasure of meeting her in Orlando last year and what a wonderful person. Thank you for giving such pleasure in each and every performance. God be with you and your family..

There was an article a couple of months ago that called CW something like the hardest working group out there today.  Think about it -- essentially living on a bus for 4 months straight.  No "home cooked meals".  No privacy.  Generally, no days off.  Extensive travel.  (It would be interesting to know how many miles the buses drive on the tour).  I can understand why you would want to spend more time (or actually ANY time) with your family based on the touring schedule. 

Like everyone, I'm sad to see Alex leave.  I became an Alex fan when I heard My Heart Was Home Again. 

I'll really miss her... But who knows what treasures she might give in the future?   Once a celtic woman, always a celtic woman

I have to say that this is one of those things that you know is coming, yet it still surprises you when it happens. The CW tour schedule is absolutely brutal and doubly so for someone with a young son at home. Being gone so much is really too much to ask of a person. When you look at the situation, Mairead, Chloe and Lynn are all single, and Lisa has Scott and the children traveling with her, so it’s easier (albeit still a huge burden) for them.

I count myself among the fortunate to have been able to see Alex perform and will miss her, but I completely understand and wish her nothing but the very best in whatever she decides to do next. An old Bob Hope song comes to mind: "Thanks for the Memories."

Gary

As this is the second time this has come up, Alex's son traveled on tour with the show, much as Lisa's kids travel with her. Her husband on the other hand, stayed in Ireland.

aislin

Thanks for the correction, Aislin. I don't remember ever seeing that before. I still think it had to be tough for her.

Gary

I first saw Alex at the CW Concert at RCMH in March 2008.  While she did a fantastic job (and I loved her from the first time I saw her on stage), I couldn’t see her as anything other than Lisa’s temporary replacement.  In the IOH Concert Tour, however, when she was given her own songs, she really shined.  (Giving her two Phil Collins songs – True Colors and You’ll Be In My Heart - was a stroke of genius because she owned them from the first time she sang them.)  Moreover, during the SFTH Tour, one of my favorite songs is Alex’s My Heart Was Home Again, which never failed to choke me up just a little.

And so, with another chapter of the continuing CW story coming to a close, I am saddened a bit.  But, I understand how tough this decision must have been for Alex, and respect her even more for making it.  Family, after all, takes precedence over everything else in life.  So, I want to thank her for sharing herself with us, and wish her all the best in all her future endeavors.  Lastly, on a purely selfish note, I'm praying for another opportunity to bask in her wonderful talent.  

Bob  

Ugh, that's gotta stink for both parents.  Sorry, but if I were in the husband's place (I THINK his first name is Mark but I could be wrong) I would not want to be separated from my son so long.  On the other hand, I also wouldn't want to be essentially a single parent for the majority of the year.  An arrangment like that is not sustainable in the long run, at least not to have a normal family life.

As I said, I'm sure there's a unique story behind this decision, there always is, but an arrangment like that is certainly more than enough reason to decide enough is enough.

A little non-important-but-just-want-to-make-correction, True Colors isn't a Phill song, it's was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly for Cindy Lauper who sang it first.
But her performances are wonderfull indeed.. Never saw the ladies live, so I didn't had big expectations for Alex singing You'll Be In My Heart when SFTH wasn't released yet... (I'm a very loyal fan of Phill Collins, and by all the covers of his songs I was like. : Phill owns it, go write your own songs) Have been put to SHAME. First the arrangement, it was very mystical and not pop at all.. and then her singing, her lively performance and strinking eyes.. she is truly awesome. Also True Colors... I always hated the song when Cindy sang it, but Alex made it lively, beautiful and was sending the message of the song with her eyes: I see your true colors shining through, and that's why I love you!'

Thank you Alex, I will miss you! You were a beautiful addition to Celtic Woman!
We will never forget you...! :-*

Alex, we'll miss you. May God guide you in everything you do. :)

this news makes me incredibly sad, being that i am planning on going to their concert in Lancaster and was hoping to meet Alex... I was really looking forward to hearing her sing You'll Be In My Heart and My Heart Was Home Again and Songs From The Heart/Give Me Your Hand :(

 :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\    I hate to say this, but it seems like they have no intention on finding a stand-in for Alex.  So from now on, it looks like it will just be Chloe, Lisa, Mairead and Lynn  :'( :'(  Also, the CW website stated that she left b/c she wanted to spend more time with her family, it never mentioned anything about her wanting to persue a solo career, which all of us were hoping that she would do in the future.


on the other hand, if they do plan on adding another vocalist to CW, they could add another part to Mairead's role....  :D  :D :D  

but seriously, Alex, you will be truely missed.


Best wishes in all you do

Of course they will, that message on their site is just to tell the other vocalists are still there.. don't expect that they find a new vocalist in one day  :D

I don't think, at this point, anybody knows anything about what will happen with a replacement. It could be they will just tour with four girls, or they could add someone. I don't think anyone knows for sure. People are interpreting that message on the website several different ways.

We shall see!

Fair points. Well, we shall see.. I hope they'll find a new lady.

A lot depends on what went on behind the scenes, which we don't know the specifics of.  However, once they knew, I'm sure their staff were immediately on the phone to Steve Abbott, to Brian Lane (UK/Ireland management types), and similar people to see who they could find.  Whether they add a new fifth lady or not, though, you don't get a lady chosen, negotiate her compensation package, sign her, measure her for her costume, teach her the music and the choreography, and have her all ready to go in a week.

Thank you Alex for your wonderful addition to Celtic Woman.  You will be greatly missed!

So sad to hear that Alex isn't going to continue being with Celtic Woman. We've had the pleasure of seeing her 3 times in concert and she is absolutely amazing. We'll miss her!!!!!

Alex,
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful talent with the world  As many people have said, you hvae toucheed many people' s hearts for the past few years.
I wish I could've met you, but I am very honored I got to see you for  the 3 years you have performed with Celtic Woman.
I wish you the best of luck in your future!
I love you!!!!
Love,
Melody

spiritual side of human nature is the willingness of people to sacrifice immediate self-interest in the pursuit of a higher goal, the family......

Love. It cannot be detected or directly observed. Yet the power of its existence is immensely clear to every human being who has ever loved or been loved.

I just wanted to say that these quotes perfectly describe part of who Alex Sharpe truly is. Family is incredibly important to her and she gives so much love....

Thanks for posting that!!

She can't leave. Didn't she just get here? I'm confused. Doesn't she know how much we like her and want her to stay? Oh well. These things have happened and will probably happen again. It's a shame. But now this makes me wonder. Will she have time to record a solo CD?

She's been with Celtic Woman for three years. And yes, she does know how much her fans love her, but she has to think of her family first. She does have a desire to record a solo CD but she has given me the impression that she wants to take a break first. She will be missed, but I don't think this is the last we will see or hear from her.

While this announcement is news to us, I have to believe that David and CW management have known about it for quite a while.  It wouldn't surprise me that Alex made her decision when she discovered that there was going to be a summer tour and she decided that another two months away from home was too much.  Assuming that David has known about it for a while, then I'm sure that by now he has already decided what changes will be made.  He may be auditioning new soloists, reworking some four-part harmonies for three, or resurrecting some older songs.  Existing songs would be easier to incorporate than new ones because they already have the arrangements and backing instrumentation; only the lighting might need a little tweaking.  If each girl gets one additional solo back, then I vote for The Voice, Nella Fantasia, and Carolina Rua.  It's obviously not the first time David has had to deal with this situation and we may be pleasantly surprised what he cooks up. 

While Alex will be sorely missed, both Meav and Orla were, and still are, missed as well.  The silver lining in this, if you want to see it, is that this will likely give Alex the time she didn't have before to produce a solo CD.  We were lucky that the other girls' CDs were released before they became Celtic Women (Lynn's just barely!) and, of course, we haven't seen a new one from any of them since.

My personal opinion is that instead of doing these monster four-month tours they should do 4 six-week tours with 6 weeks off between each one and the extra 4 weeks being around the Christmas holidays.  It would be much easier on the girls and their families.  While we tend to think about the husbands and children when thinking about the girls' families, Chloë, Lynn, and Máiréad have family and friends that I'm sure they miss, too.  It would also give the girls the time they need to pursue personal projects and lay the groundwork for (as much as I hate to even mention it) a post-CW career.

I became a fan a little too late to see Meav and Orla in concert very often, so their departure didn't hit me as hard as Alex's has.  However, we have been blessed with both of them returning in solo roles where their star can shine a little brighter.  I have not yet had the opportunity to see Meav in concert, but I've seen Orla three times and she is amazing.  I firmly believe that we will eventually get the same gift from Alex once her son is older.  While I mourn Alex's decision as much as anyone, I am an optimist at heart and am curious, if not quite excited yet, to see what David will do in July.

I was happy that, after 24 years, I could finally understand all the lyrics. ;D

I agree.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the way they do the schedule now. The fact is is that there are plenty of bands and recording artists who work just as hard and tour for years on end because that's what it takes to be successful in the business a lot of the time. I think what Alex's departure shows us is that a schedule like this isn't for everyone, and that's fine. Plus, at the moment, all Alex has said is that she wants to spend time at home with family. She didn't say "The tour schedule is too hard for me so that's why I'm leaving." People are jumping to conclusions and blaming CW Ltd for making the girls work too hard.

Personally, I really think they'd lose the momentum by splitting up the tours.

My two cents.

Alex's family gets alll her love now...... thanks for sharing some with us....

Uhhhm I seriously doubt we're anywhere near that point.

I wish people would stop speculating and making assumptions. This thread is supposed to be used to leave Alex your well wishes....

I agree.  Let's stay on topic, folks.

I dreamed of CW last night!!! I was sitting watching the show, and it was going by way tooo fast! Then I felt a hand on my shoulder.... I turned around to find............... Alex was in the audience! I was like "Alex! (See if I ever shrug someone's hand off my shoulder again without looking to see who it is.) Hello, how are you?" Then we talked a little and I told her how someone I knew loved her song "You'll be in My Heart", but Alex kept talking really loudly and friendly so I had to ask her to please be a little quieter so people could hear the girl's on stage singing! She was like,"Oh! I'm sorry! You probably want to see the show, right?"

It was very nice to meet her, she seems very nice.

Best wishes to you Alex,you will be missed.You were a perfect part of CW.I hope you will record a solo cd someday soon.Thank you so much for blessing us all with your talent and charm.

I remember when Alex was first starting with Celtic Woman, I was one of the "phone-in" team at WMFE Studios
for The High Kings PBS live Promotion.
During a break, Darren Holden said "Celtic Woman have been really lucky to get Alex Sharpe, she's great".

The first time I saw her on stage, I knew what he meant.

She sparkles.....not only her eyes, she just has a luminescent quality about her.

I shall miss her sparkle.....and the songs she made her own.
I loved the moment she took her bow at Powerscourt, seen on the DVD, she gave a cheeky nod to the audience
as she curtsied, and they loved her. 
I met her twice and she was so sweet and funny......(remember, Emily?)

From mid-July to the first days of September is when Irish children have their Summer holidays from school,
and childhood goes by so quickly. You can never get those times back.
For her son to be away from home, his friends, and his extended family would be hard.
Then in October there is the Australian Tour, with promotions and appearances....
Alex has made exactly the right decision for herself and her family.

Just as David Downes will have made the right decision, I'm sure!

I wish Alex the very best of success and happiness, in her family life and in her career.

Alex
Thank you for allowing us to meet you, fall in love with your voice, and share some of your time with us. Life and family is a wonderful blessing ....best wishes and enjoy! Home is wonderful!

God Bless
kathleen

Alex,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent with us.  You will be missed. I had the great pleasure of meeting you three times this past tour. You are an incredibly warm, sweet, lovely lady. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.  Most importantly, enjoy your time off at home with your family. 

Coleen

It's very hard to see you leave CW, dear Alex.  I love Orlagh so much, so when you moved into her place, I set the bar very high for you to be accepted and you flew over the bar the very first time I saw and heard you.  I had the very wonderful pleasure of meeting and chatting with you several times. You were so gracious, so kind, and always so magical on the stage you owned when you were performing.  Your voice is incredible, but your eyes, your smile, your presence made you an equally bright light and beautiful Celtic Woman from the very beginning.  Thank you for giving us these past three years.  I hope you know CW fans stay loyal forever, you'll always be a Celtic Woman in our hearts, and we have you on DVD and CD for one of the most fantastic performances CW has done.  I'll all be looking for any of your future work and I'll be praying that you have the time to do your solo album as soon as you have had some R&R with your family.  You will be missed, you be in my heart forever and always loved. I'm happy for you that your heart is home again in Ireland.  May God continue to bless you.  With much love, Lucie

It's very hard to see you go, Alex. I loved you, your voice, your stage presence, your personality, and your dedication to your faith the moment I heard you sing with Celtic Woman. I know that God has huge plans for you--enjoy your time with your family (you've earned it!) and may He guide you always.

Boy, am I glad I got to see her on this tour! I will really miss her being in the group...  :'(

"True Colors" soundcheck at Powerscourt House & Gardens:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncdt4qvCuNY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncdt4qvCuNY)

For me one of the best rememberance of Alex!

Axel

Thanks for posting the link, Axel. :)

That is so beautiful!  really good video! Thanks!  :)

Alex,

It saddens me greatly to hear that you are leaving Celtic Woman. I only wish that I had had the opportunity to meet you in person. But know that you will always be in my heart. I want to wish you all the best of luck in whatever you do in your life and hope that it will be filled with more blessings and beauty than you can ever imagine, because that is exactly what you gave to us.

Matt

     I was privileged to have seen Alex fourteen times with Celtic woman and at five meet & greets.  I will certainly be among those here who will miss her tremendously!  She helped carry us through the uncertain times in 2008 during Lisa's maternity leave and endeared herself to us at that time.  Later, when it became necessary to find a replacement for our beloved Orla Fallon, Alex felt like an old friend to the rescue.  She certainly will be missed.   :'( :'( :'(

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo316/jwmann/starman/AlexSharpe.jpg)

Once again, I'd like to say how said I am. I liked her ever since I heard the song You'll be in My Heart performed by her. I changed my banner in honour of her (I even just spelled honor the English way for her). It's a shame that she has to go and she will greatly be missed by everyone.  :'(  :'(  :'(  :'(

Also, I don't want to speculate, but how could they do anything without a member? I understand how good David is at arranging all their pieces, but you'd think that'd have some replacement lined up. If not, couldn't they just go with a choir member for the moment?

Thank you Alex for an amazing few years with Celtic Woman and for to wonderful (major understatement) 2 shows at Radio City. cwfan#1

Alex,
     I am truly sad to hear you are leaving Celtic Woman.  You will be missed!  I am very thankful I was able to see you perform on the SftH Tour and meet you in Rosemont.  You really grab your audience in the live show.  "My Heart Was Home Again", "Walking the Night"(with Lynn)  and "You'll Be in My Heart" were all amazing to witness.
     My youngest daughter (4) will miss her "Ally" to be sure.  You are her favorite.
                                                     
                                                            God Bless You, Alex!
Phil

We're letting go of something we love.....just maybe she will return

Alex,
I hope that these past 10 pages of comments, and all those that follow, show you how much you are loved by your fans.  You have touched our hearts and given so much of yourself to each performance.  For that we are forever grateful.  Know that a piece of our hearts goes with you, and we long for the opportunity to enjoy your gifts again.
Thank you,
Martin

 ;D  Rachel, there is material galore on this THREAD for the Tribute book you and Tink are proposing...I suggest you
      print them out...edit them, maybe grab a phrase or two from each one...to "decorate' your pages...

  Just a thought...That is / was genuinely loved Vocal performer if there ever existed one...and of course there
                          are those that  DO exist e.g. Lisa Kelly, Chloe Agnew, Mairead Nesbitt, Lynn Hillary, Deidre
                          Shannon, Orlagh Fallon, Meave Ni Maolchatha ( sp) and Hayley Westenra....to mention some...

 Good Luck with the Tribute Book, be sure to use Big Dave's Pictures...OK??

shankdee

Thanks Carla I will!!!

You should probably ask first. Otherwise you're using people's words without their permission which might make people angry.

aislin

If there's anything worth using in my post feel free to use it.

I second that :) But I doubt I said anything meaningful!

I think a good cry is in order. :(

Bless you Alex for the joy you brought to my family's heart. I wish you and your family the very best, you deserve it.

I haven't been on this site for some time - not because I don't like CW anymore (FAR FROM IT ! ! !)....... I've just been SO BUSY with other things, but decided to check this site out after an absence (my work company is now almost non-existent [having me call in re: any work each day], and have been busy looking for other openings to email resumes to, plus working at home towards my own business because I'm tired of all the layoffs I'm been stuck in through the last 25 years, here in So. Calif).

Imagine my sad shock upon finding that what I suspected would happen (after enjoying my new DVD of the Powerscourt concert / behind the scenes) HAS already happened ! ! ! (Alex leaving)    When I heard her comment on the "Making of Powerscourt" section of the DVD, my first reaction was, "OH NO ! ! ! Another one leaving, after I starting liking her expressiveness" (I LOVE her during the two songs they dance to - she's really into it during the second dancing one; which is why we fans absolutley LOVED the Slade Castle concert, when they finally got to "let go" and move with the music.

Goodbye and thank you so much for all you have given to your fans in your time with Celtic Woman.  Never has anyone risen so far so fast, at least by me.  God meant for you to do this and now you have done it,  You have brought much beauty and happiness into many people's lives.  You have made a difference in the world.  We will all miss you.  Sorry I never got to meet you!

Well said! :-*

i made this for our dear Alex
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4667393538_4067b1b418_b.jpg)

Very nice, kat.

thanks jim

Yes, I suppose so-it would be wise...I was thinking of the quotes being nameless....Rich says that anything we publish on here is immediately in the public domain....ON GOOGLE alert recently...it led right to one of my quotes on here !! ! ! I was kinda floored and flattered at the same time...
My  first experience was typing in Denver Post and Celtic Woman which led right to our Forum and everyone's comments.
Thanks for the reminder...

Alex I understand why you are leaving and I wish you the best in whatever you do in the future. You will be missed. You will always be in my heart and your true colors will always shine thru. Take care of yourself and your family and know that you will always be a member of CW no matter where you are.

Love from a fan.

Steven M.

I know that it will be hard to enjoy Celtic Woman without you. It happened before and I guess it was going to happen again. But now this gives you a chance to do a solo carrer or at least a solo CD. Please do one! I'll donate hypothetical money to the cause if I must. You will be missed greatly by everyone who enjoys your wonderful work. Don't ask me who wouldn't. There'd have to be something seriously wrong with them. Thanks for being part of Celtic Woman and blessings on your future endeavors.

The Leprechaun

Alex, you are just amazing, we love you :)

Thank for sharing your voice and your life with us :)

<3 Alex, you´re wonderful <3

We are sorry to see Alex is leaveing and she will be missed just as Meva and Orlagh.  But family is about the most important reason I can think of for leaving the Celtic Woman.  Celtic Woman Concerts are some of the longest tours I can think of and this year its the longest ever.  We will contiune to support these ladies  in there contiuning careers.  I also wish Alex all the best in her future and look forward to seeing her again.

I already miss her :'( :-\

me too!  I really hope that they dont stick with just having 3 singers,...i hope that they add another girl :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

ANYONE ELSE THINK THEY ARE KEEPIN SPOT OPEN IF ALEX WANT TO RETURN????

That would be nice. I guess time will tell.

I wish, but I highly doubt Alex will be making any plans to leave her boys and hit the road again. It would be way too hard for her. But trust me...Alex isn't going to disappear.  ;) I don't know her timeline as of yet, but she wants a nice long break for now....then we'll see.

Yes, for the logistics...having a 4th gives them MORE REST, and the harmonies with four are so incredible...I do hope they
add a 4th, just so they won't wear themselves out ! !  C S

We just have to wait and see. I don't expect that they keep it up with three singers, but you never know. If they'll add a new lady, she'll be a phenomenal celtic woman, for sure.

agree, but i wish that alex will return.. miss her!!!

 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(