Clannad () is an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal by siblings Ciarán,

Pól Pól is a masculine given name in both the Irish and Faroese languages. Persons with the name *Pól Brennan, (born 1956), Irish, musician. *Pól Callaghan, Northern Irish, politician. * Pól Ó Foighil, (1928–2005), Irish, politician and activis ...

, and Moya Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Duggan. They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history, including folk, folk rock, traditional Irish,

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language * Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Fo ...

and

new-age music New-age is a genre of music intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation technique, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management to bring about a state of ecs ...

, often incorporating elements of smooth jazz and Gregorian chant. Initially known as ''Clann as Dobhar'', they shortened their name to Clannad in 1973 after winning the Letterkenny Folk Festival with the song "Liza". By 1979, they had released three albums and completed a successful US tour. From 1980 to 1982, they operated as a six-piece with their sister/niece Enya Brennan on additional keyboards and vocals, before she left the group to pursue a solo career. Later in 1982, Clannad gained international attention with their single " Theme from Harry's Game" which became a top-five hit in Ireland and the UK. The song was featured on '' Magical Ring'' (1983), which was met with much acclaim. They experimented with more new-age and pop-influenced sounds in the 1980s and 1990s, as evident on ''

Macalla ''Macalla'' is a 1985 musical album by Irish folk group Clannad. It is their ninth album and became prominent with a collaboration between Clannad's singer Moya Brennan and U2 vocalist Bono on the duet "In a Lifetime". Furthermore, it feature ...

'' (1985), and '' Anam'' (1990). This transition would ultimately go on to define their sound as almost purely '

', making them innovators of that genre. After '' Landmarks'' (1997), the band went on a hiatus in order to pursue solo projects. They regrouped in 2007 as a four piece again, with Moya, Ciarán, Noel, and Pádraig completing a world tour in 2008. In 2013, Pól rejoined and they released '' Nádúr'', their first studio album in fifteen years. Pádraig Duggan died in 2016, leaving the group to embark on their 2020 farewell tour as a quartet. Clannad have won numerous awards throughout their career, including a Grammy Award, a BAFTA, an Ivor Novello Award, and a Billboard Music Award. They have recorded in six different languages and scored eight UK top 10 albums. They are widely regarded as a band that have brought Irish music and the Irish language to a wider audience, often experiencing more popularity abroad than in their native Ireland.

History

Formation

Clannad was formed in 1970 by siblings Ciarán Brennan,

, and Máire Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and

Pádraig Duggan The Duggans ( ga, Na Dúgáiní) were an Irish musical duo from Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. The twin brothers Noel Duggan and Pádraig Duggan ( ga, Ó Dúgáin) came to prominence in the 1970s with the folk group Clannad, and took a ten ...

. The five grew up in Dore, an area of Gweedore, a remote parish in County Donegal in the northwest corner of Ireland. It is a Gaeltacht region where Irish is the main spoken language. Raised as a Roman Catholic family of musicians, the Brennans' mother, Máire "Baba" Brennan (née Duggan), was a music teacher while their father, Leo Brennan, was a member of the Slieve Foy Band, an

Irish showband The Irish showband was a dance band format popular in Ireland from the mid-1950s to mid-1980s. The showband was based on the internationally popular six- or seven-piece dance band. The band's basic repertoire included standard dance numbers and ...

. Later in their careers the two bought and ran

Leo's Tavern Leo's Tavern ( ga, Tábhairne Leo) is a restaurant and pub in the Donegal Gaeltacht, known as the home of music artists Clannad, Enya and Moya Brennan.the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and

Joni Mitchell Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell ( Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian-American musician, producer, and painter. Among the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitchell became known for her sta ...

. The band adopted the name Clann as Dobhar, Irish for 'Family from Dore', when they entered a local music competition, and they used that name until 1973. The Brennans' and Duggans' interest in traditional Irish music reached beyond their native Gweedore, and they performed elsewhere including Tory Island, off Donegal's coast. Armed with some 500 Gaelic songs, they would later begin to arrange these songs for a full band.

1973–1982: Early years and six-piece band with Enya

In 1973, Clannad came in first place in the annual folk festival in Letterkenny, County Donegal which led to a deal with Philips Records. Having now secured a label the group prepared material for their debut album and recorded at

Eamonn Andrews Studios Eamonn Andrews Studios was founded by broadcaster Eamonn Andrews, famous for being the presenter with the big red book of '' This Is Your Life,'' a British television programme. In the 1960s, the launch of television in Ireland led him to become the ...

in Dublin, choosing Gaelic and English songs and a cover of " Morning Dew" by Bonnie Dobson. Released in 1973, '' Clannad'' was met with initial resistance from the label due to the Gaelic songs and the group soon found themselves more popular outside Ireland, particularly Germany. Later in 1973, Clannad competed for Ireland in the heat stages of the

1973 Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest 1973 was the 18th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, following the country's victory at the with the song " Après toi" by Vicky Leandros. Organised by the E ...

for Ireland with "An Pháirc" from ''Clannad'' as their entry. The band followed their debut with '' Clannad 2'' in 1974, released by Gael Linn Records and produced by Dónal Lunny, founder of

Planxty Planxty were an Irish folk music band formed in January 1972, consisting initially of Christy Moore (vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhrán), Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, hurdy-gurdy, harmonica), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitars ...

and

The Bothy Band The Bothy Band were an Irish traditional band active during the mid 1970s. They quickly gained a reputation as one of the most influential bands playing Irish traditional music. Their enthusiasm and musical virtuosity had a significant influen ...

. Like their first, ''Clannad 2'' features a mixture of English and Gaelic songs, this time with Lunny and Bothy Band members on additional instruments. '' Dúlamán'' was released in 1976 and named after the Irish folk song " Dúlamán" which became a stage favourite at Clannad concerts. It was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and is their first album produced by Nicky Ryan. At the time of its release, Clannad capitalised on their growing popularity in Europe with their debut tour across the continent. At one show, the standing ovation they received after an extended rendition of "Níl Sé Ina Lá (Níl Sé'n Lá)" from their debut album convinced the group to continue full-time. Recordings from a tour of Switzerland in 1978 were released in the following year as part of their first live album, ''

Clannad in Concert Clannad () is an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal by siblings Ciarán, Pól, and Moya Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Duggan. They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history, including f ...

''. Also in 1979, Clannad underwent a 36-date tour of North America, the most extensive by an Irish band at the time. In 1980, Clannad became a six-piece band following the addition of Enya Brennan on keyboards and additional vocals. Ryan wished to expand the group's sound with vocals and electronic instruments and invited her to join. Enya's first recordings with the group were made as a guest musician for their '' Crann Úll'' (Irish for ''Apple Tree''), their fifth studio album recorded in Cologne, Germany and released in 1980 on Tara Music. "

Ar a Ghabháil 'n a 'Chuain Domh "Ar a Ghabháil Chun a Chuain Damh" (''As I Went to the Harbour'') is an Irish folk song. It is also known as "Béal Átha hAmhnais", which is the Irish name for the town of Ballyhaunis in County Mayo, Ireland. The song has six verses and roughl ...

" featured a particularly full band arrangement reflective of their live jams at the time. "Lá Cuimhthíoch Fán dTuath" showed the first hints of the more atmospheric side of the band's arrangements. By the time Clannad entered Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin to record '' Fuaim'' (Irish for ''Sound''), Enya had become a full-time member. The album displays the group's further experimentation with electronic instruments, and Enya is featured on lead vocals on "An tÚll" and "Buaireadh an Phósta".

Neil Buckley Neil Buckley (born 25 September 1968) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. He began his career with Hull City, where he spent six seasons in the first team. During the 1989–90 season he had a spell on loan wit ...

plays the clarinet and saxophone with Noel Bridgeman on percussion and Pat Farrell on electric guitar. ''Fuaim'' was released by Tara Music in 1982. After a further European tour, their managers Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan left the group. Nicky had brought Enya into the group to expand their sound, yet the group soon settled into their "boring" musical formula once more and called a meeting during the tour. After a group vote, the Ryans split. Enya followed suit, feeling increasingly restricted in a band setting and pursued a solo career with the Ryans as collaborators, causing a rift between the two groups for a short time.

1982–1988: "Theme from Harry's Game", ''Magical Ring'', and commercial success

In 1982, the now five-piece Clannad signed to RCA Records. They then accepted an invitation to record a song for '' Harry's Game'', a three-part television drama depicting The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Ciarán, Pól, and Máire got together and wrote " Theme from Harry's Game". The song became a commercial success upon its release as a single in October 1982, peaking at number 2 in Ireland and number 5 in the UK. It remains the only UK hit single to be sung entirely in Irish. From 1983 to 1987, rock band U2 used the song at the end of every concert.
Following their newfound success with "Theme from Harry's Game", Clannad included the song on their seventh studio album, '' Magical Ring'', released in 1983. The single and album marked the start of their international career, and ''Magical Ring'' became their first to be certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). After ''Magical Ring'', Clannad were commissioned to score the 26-episode drama series ''

Robin of Sherwood ''Robin of Sherwood'' is a British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. Created by Richard Carpenter, it was produced by HTV in association with Goldcrest, and ran from 28 April 1984 to 28 June 1986 on the ITV network. In the ...

'', aired from 1984 to 1986. They once again began to stretch themselves, creating music for a range of characters and events. For the first time in the career, the album was recorded in its entirety in English. The soundtrack was released in 1984 as '' Legend'' and won the band a BAFTA award for Best Original Television Music, the first Irish band to win it. In 2003, Clannad revealed that there were other pieces recorded for the third series of ''Robin of Sherwood'' that were not included on ''Legend'', yet the master recordings have yet to be found. In 1985, Clannad released ''

'' (Irish for ''Echo'') which was recorded in Switzerland, England, and Ireland. It contained all original material except one traditional song and yielded the group a hit single " In a Lifetime", a duet with U2 singer

Bono Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name Bono (), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Born and raised in Dublin, he attended M ...

which begins with Máire being heard teaching Gaelic to Bono during the introduction. The album features numerous backing musicians who have continued to tour with them, including ex- King Crimson saxophonist Mel Collins, Moving Hearts' guitarist

Anthony Drennan Anthony "Anto" Drennan (born on 1 November 1958) is an English-born Irish guitarist noted for his involvement with the Corrs, Genesis and Mike + the Mechanics among others. Drennan is from a musical Irish family and was born in Luton, England ...

, and drummer Paul Moran. Also on board was producer

Steve Nye Steve Nye is an English music producer for several artists. Career Nye started out as a tape op at AIR Studios in London in 1971, where producer Rupert Hine discovered him. There he got into engineering (and later producing) many well-known a ...

, who oversaw the pop-flavoured " Closer to Your Heart" and the ballad "

Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn) "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)" is a 1985 single by Irish group Clannad. It is the second single from their album ''Macalla''. The song was used as the official Children in Need charity single for 1985. The song stalled at number 80 in the U ...

" and became hit singles, the latter serving as the Children in Need charity single in 1985.

1988–1990: ''Sirius'', ''Atlantic Realm'', and ''The Angel and the Soldier Boy''

''Sirius'' was released by RCA in 1988 and was recorded in Los Angeles with rock producers Greg Ladanyi and Russ Kunkel, the drummer for James Taylor's band. The album included a duet with Bruce Hornsby and guest appearances by Steve Perry and

J.D. Souther John David "J. D." Souther (born November 2, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He has written and co-written songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles (band), Eagles. Souther is probably best known for his songwriting ab ...

. The title track was Pól's encouraging call to the environmental movement, and to the

Greenpeace Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, immigrant environmental activists from the United States. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth t ...

ship of the same name. " Something to Believe In" features Hornsby on vocals and keyboards. Completed with the help of some of the biggest names on the Californian rock scene, ''Sirius'' was another different creation, just like their previous three albums. Between 1988 and 1991, Clannad were involved in side projects including '' Atlantic Realm'' (1989) and '' The Angel and the Soldier Boy'' (1990). ''Atlantic Realm'' was a small album made for a BBC documentary about the Atlantic Ocean. The recording was mainly instrumental as their voices as instruments. ''The Angel and the Soldier Boy'' was a half – hour animation without voice overs, with the music telling the story. Both albums proved to be a minor success, and also demonstrated once again that Clannad were one of the most acclaimed soundtrack artists in the music industry. Two greatest hits albums were released at around this time: ''Past Present'' and ''The Collection''. In 1990, Pól initially left the group to pursue a solo career and work with the WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) organisation in Britain. Pól rejoined the band in January 2011, when Clannad performed at

Temple Bar TradFest TradFest Temple Bar is an annual music and culture festival that takes place in late January in Dublin, Ireland. Founded by the Temple Bar Company, a not-for-profit organisation who work on behalf of businesses in the cultural quarter of Temple ...

. Initially a single concert, it was extended with an extra two nights.

1990–2000: Four-piece band, ''Anam'', ''Banba'', and ''Lore''

After Pól's exit, Clannad continued as a quartet and recorded '' Anam'' (Irish for ''Soul'') in Dublin and England. It marked a return to their sound heard on ''Magical Ring'' and ''Macalla'', and features greater contributions from Ciarán who is credited as a writer on nine of the album's ten original songs. The US edition, released in 1992, features "In a Lifetime" with Bono and "Theme from Harry's Game", which had been included in the film '' Patriot Games'' and a Volkswagen television advert, boosting the group's recognition in the country. The public interest generated from the advert made ''Anam'' reach No. 46 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, still the group's highest position on the chart. The latter won a Billboard Music Award for World Music Song of the Year. Clannad dedicated "Rí na Cruinne", the opening track, was included on the ''

One World One Voice ''One World One Voice'' is a world music album intended to raise awareness of environmental issues, produced by Rupert Hine in 1990. A video of the entire album was produced for television together with a "Making of" documentary. It was created a ...

'' charity album to raise awareness of environmental issues. In 1991, Clannad released a duet with Paul Young, a cover version of the

song " Both Sides Now". The track had been put together for the Blake Edwards film ''Switch'', featuring

Ellen Barkin Ellen Rona Barkin (born April 16, 1954) is an American actress and a producer. Her breakthrough role was in the 1982 film '' Diner'', and in the following years, she had starring roles in films such as ''Tender Mercies'' (1983), ''Eddie and the ...

. In the storyline, a nasty male chauvinist, is reincarnated as an attractive female. The use of the Joni Mitchell song was therefore suitable and proved a hit for the group. Released in 1993, '' Banba'' became Clannad's 13th studio album and received rave reviews and the band's first

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

nomination. The album jogged comfortably to the number one spot in the World Music Chart. ''Banba'' is a romantic mythical name for Ireland. In the track "I Will Find You," written especially for the film '' The Last of the Mohicans'', Máire sings in English, Mohican and Cherokee. Once again all the songs were written and produced by Ciarán Brennan, except "Sunset Dreams", written by Noel Duggan. Moya Brennan described the album as ''"a fusion of various styles of music, growing out of a traditional Gaelic root."'' ''Banba'' has been described as one of Clannad's most visual albums, and has sold over 1 million copies to date. The album '' Lore'' (1996) gave some thought to the Native American Indians. On "Trail of Tears", when Noel Duggan imagines how it felt to be exiled from one's ancestral land, he was also thinking about these people and their connection with the Irish. It opens with "Croí Cróga" ('braveheart' in English) which was written as a theme tune for the Mel Gibson film ''

Braveheart ''Braveheart'' is a 1995 American historical drama film directed and produced by, and starring Mel Gibson. Gibson portrays Sir William Wallace, a late-13th century Scottish warrior who led the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence ag ...

'' which, for unknown reasons, never made it onto the soundtrack. ''Lore'' features American drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and Mel Collins. It contained a strong jazz element, with songs such as "Seanchas" blending contemporary sounds with traditional Irish music and the

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

. Clannad toured Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand in 1996 to promote the ''Lore'' album, but due to apparent disagreements with

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

, plans to tour the USA were scrapped. In 1996, they received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish recording industry (the IRMA). Clannad returned in 1997 with another album, '' Landmarks''. In the song "Of This Land", Máire sings about Ireland, of its past and of its future. The track "Fadó" (translates as ''Long Ago''), demonstrates the influences of old

Celt The Celts (, see pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples () are. "CELTS location: Greater Europe time period: Second millennium B.C.E. to present ancestry: Celtic a collection of Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient ...

ic history on Clannad's music. It became one of the most celebrated Irish albums in history and in 1999, it won the group a Grammy award for Best New Age Album. In 1999, the group composed the song "What Will I Do" for the Kevin Costner film, '' Message in a Bottle''.

2000–present: Hiatus and return to activity

After ''Landmarks'', Clannad ceased to make any more studio albums, but had promised to return in the near future. In 2003, they released the best of album, '' The Best of Clannad: In a Lifetime'', which is one of their biggest-selling albums to date. In 2005 the two Duggan twins, Noel and Pádraig, as the musical duo The Duggans, got together for the first time outside of Clannad and recorded the album '' Rubicon''. During the 2006 solo tour of Moya Brennan in The Netherlands, the concert in

De Doelen De Doelen is a concert venue and convention centre in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was originally built in 1934 but then destroyed in 1940 during the German bombardment of Rotterdam in May 1940 at the outset of World War II. It was rebuilt in 19 ...

, Rotterdam, was dedicated to Leo and Baba Brennan. The whole of Clannad, including former member

and sister Deirdre, performed five songs during the second half. The audience, Leo and Baba were unaware of the plan to bring Clannad on-stage, which resulted in multiple standing ovations from the audience.
The five original members of Clannad appeared on stage together at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow on 19 January 2007. The concert was greeted by 2,000 fans who travelled from places such as the US and Brazil to see the legendary group perform some of the most loved songs in their history. While at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards that were held in Dublin on 1 February 2007 Clannad were presented with the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. In March 2008, Clannad began their first UK tour in over 12 years, starting at The Sage in

Gateshead Gateshead () is a large town in northern England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle to which it is joined by seven bridges. The town contains the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Sage ...

. The tour culminated in a dozen dates, including concerts in Ireland and Thailand. In May 2008, Clannad's version of the traditional song "

Down by the Salley Gardens "Down by the Salley Gardens" (''Irish: Gort na Saileán'') is a poem by William Butler Yeats published in ''The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems'' in 1889. History Yeats indicated in a note that it was "an attempt to reconstruct an old song f ...

" was featured in the listening paper for Music

GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...

from the Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations exam board. On 25 August 2008, Clannad released a new compilation album of their early music to contrast the music of their previous compilation album at the beginning of 2008, '' Beginnings: The Best of the Early Years''. In June 2009, Clannad was nominated for an IMA Award in the category ''Best Revival Act'', along with other revived bands

, Moving Hearts,

Arcady Junctions is a software package by Transport Research Laboratory. It incorporates the previously separate programs ARCADY, PICADY and OSCADY. The latest version, Junctions 10, was launched Wednesday 3 February 2021. ARCADY ARCADY (Assessment o ...

and

Stockton's Wing Stockton's Wing is an Irish band formed in 1977 by four All-Ireland champion musicians; Paul Roche on flute/whistle, Maurice Lennon on fiddle, Tommy Hayes on bodhran, and Kieran Hanrahan on banjo/ mandolin, along with Tony Callinan on guita ...

. In January 2011, Clannad's concert at Christ Church Cathedral TempleBar TradFest in Dublin was extended by two nights due to fast ticket sales. The group appeared on

RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...

's ''

The Late Late Show ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...

'' on 21 January 2011 performing the " Theme from Harry's Game" with choral group Anúna. It was their first appearance on the show in 14 years.
On 18 June 2013, Clannad announced that their brand new studio album Nádúr (their first new album since the release of Landmarks in 1998) was to be released worldwide in September 2013. An international tour commenced in October 2013 starting in Australia and New Zealand. In 2019, Clannad embarked on their ''In a Lifetime'' farewell tour, but it was postponed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new compilation album entitled, '' In a Lifetime'' which included two new tracks, was released. Noel Duggan died on 15 October 2022.

Musical style and legacy

When Clannad first started out in the early 1970s their music and sound stemmed solely from their traditional background. Despite this they managed to popularise such old songs as " Dúlamán", "Teidhir Abhaile Riú" and "Coinleach Glas An Fhómhair", and these songs have remained popular numbers at their concerts. On the departure from their folk and traditional background in 1982, they created a new sound that would define the meaning of

new-age New Age is a range of spiritual or religious practices and beliefs which rapidly grew in Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise definition difficult. Although many scholars conside ...

and

Celtic music Celtic music is a broad grouping of music genres that evolved out of the folk music traditions of the Celtic people of Northwestern Europe. It refers to both orally-transmitted traditional music and recorded music and the styles vary considerab ...

forever. When "Theme from Harry's Game" and "Newgrange" were first heard, radio stations all over the world became fascinated by the earthly and spiritual sound that they had never encountered before. One critic said "the tunes were seeped in the old ways, but the production and the arrangement was fresh and inventive". This transition in Clannad's career is often seen as the birth of

, and to this day they are regarded as the pioneers of that genre. They are also noted for their melodious

harmonies In music, harmony is the process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions. Often, the term harmony refers to simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches ( tones, notes), or chords. However, ...

, which have been at the heart of their music since their first album. ''Legend'' (1984) was based on English folklore. With later albums, Clannad delved further into the realms of

electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that started in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mostly used to r ...

and even

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

. Due to this, many of their singles entered pop charts all over the world, and widened their fan base once again. Despite their success with this genre of music, the group managed to maintain a link with their Gaelic roots throughout their career, giving traditional Irish songs such as "Tráthnóna Beag Aréir" and "Buachaill Ón Éirne" the Clannad treatment. Even though the

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

-infused '' Sirius'' and the pop-inclined ''

'' were successful for Clannad, it was their breakthrough style that they created themselves that has left the greatest legacy. Clannad's influence can be found in the film '' Titanic'', where James Horner admitted to basing the soundtrack on Clannad's style. The soundtrack was so like Clannad's work that it has been incorrectly credited to them for many years. Clannad's 'Celtic mysticism' is a recurring theme in the film '' Intermission''. The " otherworldly" and "ethereal" Clannad sound comes from the ancient hills and glens that surround Gweedore, according to lead singer Moya Brennan. Traces of Clannad's legacy can be heard in the music of many artists, including Enya, Altan,

Capercaillie ''Tetrao'' is a genus of birds in the grouse subfamily known as capercaillies. They are some of the largest living grouse. Taxonomy The genus ''Tetrao'' was introduced in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his ...

, The Corrs, Loreena McKennitt, Anúna, Riverdance,

Órla Fallon Órlagh Fallon (born 24 August 1974), professionally known as Órla Fallon, is an Irish singer, songwriter and former member of the group Celtic Woman and the chamber choir Anúna. Early life and education Fallon was born in Knockananna, Irelan ...

and even U2. Bono stated that Moya has "one of the greatest voices the human ear has ever experienced". A Japanese visual novel released in 2004, which spawned a 2007 film and a 2007–08 television series based on it, was named after the band because screenwriter Jun Maeda mistakenly believed it to mean the word "family" in Irish.

Private lives

Band members

The private life of lead member Moya was detailed in her autobiography in 2000. In it, Brennan recalls her upbringing as the eldest of nine siblings in rural County Donegal, Ireland. Along with the highs of success in the music business, she also recounts low periods where alcohol, drugs and an abortion made her re-evaluate her life. She emerged from dark years as a committed Christian with rekindled faith. She remarried in 1991 (having previously been married to a Dublin musician) and now resides in Dublin with her husband, photographer Tim Jarvis, and children, Aisling and Paul.

The Brennan family

The Brennans are Ireland's most successful music family, with combined sales of over 90 million records. Máire (or Baba) Duggan and Leo Brennan are the parents of the Brennan siblings Máire (or Moya), Leon, Ciarán, Deirdre,

, Olive, Eithne (or Enya), Bartley and Brídín. Baba was the local school's music teacher and Leo led the celebrated Slieve Foy show band. The catalyst that would propel the entire family onto the stage was the opening of

Leo's Tavern Leo's Tavern ( ga, Tábhairne Leo) is a restaurant and pub in the Donegal Gaeltacht, known as the home of music artists Clannad, Enya and Moya Brennan.Brídín, who for years toured with Clannad as a backing vocalist, has released a solo record, ''Eyes of Innocence''. Enya is also Ireland's best selling solo artist, earning international success. Máire 'Baba' Duggan is currently the lead member of the local Catholic choir, Cór Mhuire Doire Beaga, but no longer continues to teach in the local community school

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (''Gweedore Community School'') is an Irish-medium secondary school in the Gaeltacht district of Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland. It has a pupil attendance of around 400. Alumni *Aoife Ní Fhearraigh, singer ...

. The choir has been frequently joined by Leo Brennan and the Brennan siblings. Leo Brennan died on 22 June 2016 (age 90) at his home at Upper Dore, Gweedore in West Donegal, Ireland. Leon Brennan, one of the nine siblings of the Brennan family died in December 2021. Online announcements were made by his sisters Moya, and Enya, in a rare personal message on 17 December 2021.

Members

;Current members * Ciarán Brennan – bass, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, vocals (1970–present) * Moya Brennan – vocals, harp (1970–present) * Pól Brennan – flute, guitar, percussion, whistles, vocals (1970–1990, 2011–present) ;Former members * Noel Duggan – guitar, vocals (1970–2022; his death) * Pádraig Duggan – guitar, mandola, mandolin, vocals (1970–2016; his death) * Enya Brennan – percussion, keyboards, vocals (1980–1982)

Discography

Studio albums

* '' Clannad'' (1973) * '' Clannad 2'' (1974) * '' Dúlamán'' (1976) * '' Crann Úll'' (1980) * '' Fuaim'' (1982) * '' Magical Ring'' (1983) * '' Legend'' (1984) * ''

'' (1985) * '' Sirius'' (1987) * '' Atlantic Realm'' (1989) * '' The Angel and the Soldier Boy'' (1989) * '' Anam'' (1990) * '' Banba'' (1994) * '' Lore'' (1996) * '' Landmarks'' (1997) * '' Nádúr'' (2013)

EPs

* ''Christmas Angels'' (1997)

Live albums

* ''

'' (1979) * '' Clannad: Live in Concert'' (2005) * '' Clannad: Christ Church Cathedral'' (2012) * ''Turas 1980'' (2018)

Videography

* ''

Pastpresent ''Pastpresent'' is a compilation album by Irish folk group Clannad, released in 1989. It is a collection of selected songs recorded by the band from 1982 up to 1989, including two new songs exclusive to this release (until their inclusion on t ...

'' (1989) * '' Clannad: Christ Church Cathedral'' (2012)

Bibliography

* ''

'' (1989) :Sheet music book for 'Past Present' * ''A Woman's Voice'' (1991) :Eddie Rowley in conversation with Máire Brennan * '' Ireland: Landscapes of God's Peace'', Máire Brennan (2002) :sometimes called ''God of Peace'' * ''

The Other Side of the Rainbow ''The Other Side of the Rainbow: The Autobiography of the Voice of Clannad'' is Máire Brennan's (Moya Brennan) 2001 autobiographical account of her life until 2000. In the book, Brennan gives a details and full account of her life and musical su ...

'', Máire Brennan with Angela Little (2001) :Later subtitled: The Autobiography of the Voice of Clannad *''

Moments in a Lifetime ''Moments in a Lifetime'' is a biographical/autiobiographical book about the Irish band Clannad, written by Barbara Bennett with band member Noel Duggan The Duggans ( ga, Na Dúgáiní) were an Irish musical duo from Gweedore, County Doneg ...

'', Noel Duggan (2008) :Detailing Clannad's journey as a band

Awards and nominations

Won #1982: 1982 Ivor Novello Awards, ''Best Soundtrack'' for " Theme From Harry's Game" #1984: 1984 BAFTA Awards, ''Best Television Music'' for "

" #1992: Billboard Music Award, ''World Music Song of the Year'' for "

Rí na Cruinne Rí, or commonly ríg (genitive), is an ancient Gaelic word meaning 'king'. It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings, and those of similar rank. While the Modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottish G ...

" #1999:

Grammy Awards of 1999 The 41st Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 24, 1999, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1998. Lauryn Hill received the most nominations with 10, setting a record for Grammy Award ...

, ''

Best New Age Album The Grammy Award for Best New Age Album is presented to recording artists for quality albums in the new-age music genre at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in several c ...

'' for " Landmarks" #2007: Meteor Music Awards, ''Lifetime Achievement Award'' #2014: BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, ''Lifetime Achievement Award'' Nominations #1982: 1982 BAFTA Awards, ''Best Television Music'' for " Harry's Game" #1994:

Grammy Awards of 1994 The 36th Annual Grammy Awards were held on March 1, 1994. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Whitney Houston was the Big Winner winning 3 awards including Record of the Year and Album of the Year while opening th ...

, ''

'' for " Banba" #1996:

Grammy Awards of 1996 The 38th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1996, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. The awards recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Alanis Morissette was the main recipient, being awarded four trophies, in ...

, ''

'' for " Lore" #2009: Ireland's Music Awards, ''Best Revival Act''

References

External links

Official Clannad website
* * {{Authority control BAFTA winners (people) Celtic fusion groups Celtic rock groups Culture in Gweedore Family musical groups Grammy Award winners Irish folk musical groups Irish folk rock groups Ivor Novello Award winners Musical groups established in 1970 Musical groups from County Donegal RCA Records artists