The Irish Tenors are fresh off a flight to Boston and slap-happy from exhaustion. Gathered in a hotel room, where the trio is grateful for a night off after three shows in a row, the old guard, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan, are teasing the newbie, Patrick Hyland, the newest member of the group. It’s his first tour. “There’s a lot of pressure on Patrick,” said Kearns. “He’s a farming boy, so he’s got big shoulders. He’s singing with sheep most of the week, so he can take the pressure.” Hyland just seems delighted to be there. He doesn’t have an immediate pithy anecdote from his first tour, so Kearns answers for him. “He doesn’t know what end is up,” he says. “It’s baptism by fire. It’s a good grounding for this man. It’s a tough business to be in, and if he can hack it with The Irish Tenors, he can make it anywhere.” The group will perform Sunday at Phil Long Music Hall at Bourbon Brothers. The Irish Tenors formed in 1998. Courtesy The Irish Tenors The holiday show comes in three parts, accompanied by a quartet and pianist: Irish tunes, spiritual and religious songs, and a repertoire of Christmas songs. “It’s full of upbeat, emotional, nostalgic and fun stuff,” Kearns said. And, of course, a rendition of everybody’s favorite classic Irish song, “Danny Boy,” which Kearns estimates he’s easily sung thousands of times. “It’s our passport,” he said. “It’s never the same. Every time you approach it in a different way. It’s about the people in the audience and the interactions you have with them. That’s the key to the whole thing. We never get bored of that song.” The popular Irish singing group first found its footing in 1998 when organizers decided Ireland had such a wealth of music that it would take generations to get through all of it. The group made its debut appearance, which included Kearns and Tynan, on a PBS special. John McDermott was the third initial tenor, but since then, that position has gone through a few different singers for various reasons. After its debut, the group inspired reams of other Irish-themed groups, such as The Celtic Tenors, The Five Irish Tenors, Celtic Thunder and The High Kings. “It’s (Irish music) authentic. And it resonates with people in a real way,” Kearns said. “People connect with us. Of course, Irish Americans, but people around the world connect with it in a meaningful way.” If you go What: The Irish Tenors When: 7 p.m. Sunday Where: Phil Long Music Hall at Bourbon Brothers, 13071 Bass Pro Drive Price: $67-$98; phillongmusichall.com, 719-401-0600 ...read more read less