An acclaimed Irish soprano looks set for stardom in the USA courtesy of actor Gabriel Byrne.

Naas woman Celine Byrne is in talks with Byrne to undertake a joint tour of the US this autumn performing verse and Irish classic folk song.

Winner of one of opera's most prestigious prizes, the Maria Callas Grand Prix in 2007, Byrne hopes the tour will offer American audiences, more used to shows like Celtic Women, an opportunity to hear a different kind of music from Ireland.

"I absolutely love the world of Irish dancing and think Celtic Women are great, having seen them on stage," she said, "but what I love about this project is that we can bring another element of Irish music, that's classical.

"This is more classical and it's nice for people to hear that and not think that Irish music is all about Irish dancing and 'Danny Boy'."

Performing standards along the lines of 'My Lagan Love', the mother of three, who previously toured with opera star José Carreras, will be accompanied in the US by Gabriel Byrne, who will read Irish verse.

"Gabriel wanted to do the tour in the autumn because a lot of the poetry he has chosen to read would be reminiscent of the season and he wanted that ambience to go with it," said Celine Byrne.

The two met at a concert given by the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra which featured the Irish soprano in New York last month.

"Gabriel had been in touch the day before, to offer his services as MC," Byrne said. "He did a wonderful job and, seeing as though the concert took place at 4pm, invited the performers out afterwards for dinner and drinks. I found Gabriel to be a really nice guy and very funny, particularly with my friend Joy who joined me over there. I told him she was a big fan and he really played it up with a great sense of humour."

Following the tour, 2010 could be an even busier year for the Irish soprano who is due to play the role of Mimi in a Scottish opera production of La Bohème at Glasgow's Theatre Royal.

"I'm really only starting off in the world of opera but with 10 years of training behind me... I've been well-prepared for this," she said.