Clannad
Encyclopedia
Clannad are an Irish
musical group, from Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal
. Their music has been variously described as bordering on folk
and folk rock
, Irish
, Celtic
and New Age
, often incorporating elements of an even broader spectrum of smooth jazz
and Gregorian chant
. They are known for performing in various languages, including English, Latin
, Scottish Gaelic, Mohican
and most of all in their native tongue, Irish
. They have won several notable awards throughout their career, including a Grammy, a BAFTA, an Ivor Novello
and a Billboard Music Award
.
Clannad comprises siblings Moya Brennan
, Ciarán Brennan
, Pól Brennan
and their twin uncles Noel Duggan
and Pádraig Duggan
. Sibling Enya
left the group in 1981 to pursue a solo career.
Clannad first made their mark in the folk
and traditional scene in the 1970s in Ireland and mainland Europe. They subsequently went on to bridge the gap between traditional Celtic music
and pop music
in the 1980s and 1990s with albums such as Macalla
and Anam
. During their career they toured the world extensively and gained fans in every major territory. Lead singer Moya Brennan and her sister Enya
have also enjoyed significant success as solo artists. The band won a Grammy Award in 1999
for Best New Age Album
, and their record sales exceed the 15 million mark. They are also widely regarded as the band which, for the first time, put Irish traditional music and the Irish language on the world stage and paved the way for many other Irish artists.
Ten years after "taking a break", the five original members of Clannad reunited on stage at the Celtic Connections
Festival in February 2007 in Glasgow
, Scotland. Moya, Ciarán, Noel and Pádraig embarked on their first UK tour in over 10 years in March 2008, starting in Gateshead
. In 2009, the band's Pádraig Duggan
announced that the band were recording a new album.
Uí Bhraonáin (Brennan) and their two twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin (Duggan) grew up in Gaoth Dobhair, a rural village in County Donegal
, in the northwest corner of Ireland. The village is in the Gaeltacht
and they were an Irish-speaking and Roman Catholic family. The Brennans' mother, Baba, was a music teacher, and their father, Leo, was a former member of a cabaret band. Leo was travelling extensively in the early family years. Later, they bought a pub with a stage called Leo's Tavern
(Tábhairne Leo). The children would occasionally do cover version
s of Beatles, Beach Boys and Joni Mitchell
songs at home and in their family pub.
The children were performing late at night in the pub (the story was recounted by Máire, TG4, 17 March 2007, Clann as Dobhar & Clannad Beo) when the local police sergeant walked in. They feared a summons, but instead the policemen had a form to enter a local music competition. They didn't have a name at the time, but had to find one for the competition. Someone suggested Clann As Dobhar (Irish for "the family from Dore"), which was provisionally blend
ed into Clannad in 1973.
The young Brennans' and Duggans' passion for the traditional music of Ireland soon expanded beyond their native Gweedore. They would later visit such outlying communities as Tory Island
off Donegal's coast. Armed with some 500 Gaelic
songs, they would later begin to arrange these songs for a full band.
, County Donegal
, and won first prize, a record contract with the Irish arm of Phillips, when they were still in college and school. They did not make the record until 1973 because the record company did not like the idea of them doing half the album in Irish, as it was not heard of to sing Irish in mainstream music.
The first album was recorded in 1973, simply called Clannad
, and it showed a band aware of contemporary Irish music of the day. There were hints of modern influences, most notably Pentangle
's, in songs such as "The Pretty Maid" and "Morning Dew", but it was the Irish songs, particular an early arrangement of "Níl Sé Ina Lá", a drinking song
they found on one of their Tory Island
expeditions, that really showed the band's ability to form contemporary, jazz-influenced versions of traditional material. This album was also released under the name The Pretty Maid. One of the tracks, "An Pháirc", was performed by Clannad in the 1973 Irish heat of the Eurovision Song Contest
. The second album followed in 1975 on Gael-Linn records and was titled Clannad 2
. Produced by Planxty
and Bothy Band
founder Dónal Lunny
, it showed a tremendously more mature band that was quite committed to singing mainly in Irish. Their arrangements were still experimental for the times, but their increasing skill in the use of traditional acoustic instruments kept the music well within the boundaries of folk music. Clannad 2 featured some ground-breaking traditional music, including Máire's harp playing on the O'Carolan song "Eleanor Plunkett" and ensemble work on songs like "Rince Briotánach" and "Teidhir Abhaile Riú", an Irish matchmaking
song.
The following year they produced Dúlamán. The title track was a song about two dúlamán, or seaweed merchants, one of whom is trying to win the hand of the other's beautiful daughter. It has been a favourite of Clannad's live shows for a very long time and is still performed in a rock version which captures the flavour of the original recorded acoustic version.
The band in 1976 still consisted of Máire on lead vocals and harp
, Ciarán on double bass
, electric piano and vocals, Pól on flutes, guitars and bongos, Noel on guitar, vocals and Pádraig on mandolin
, guitar and vocals. They still kept the Gaelic spelling of their surnames of Ó Braonáin for the brothers, Ní Bhraonáin for Máire and Ó Dúgáin for Pádraig and Noel. During their first tour of Europe in 1976 a standing ovation
after an eight-minute version of "Níl Sé Ina Lá" convinced them to become full time professionals. The band's next album was Crann Úll
(Irish for apple tree) released in 1978 on Tara Records. It featured a stronger emphasis on Máire's harp
-playing. "Ar a Ghabháil 'n a 'Chuain Domh
" featured a particularly full band arrangement reflective of their live jams at the time. "Lá Cuimhthíoch Fán dTuath" ("A Strange Day in the Countryside") showed the first hints of the more atmospheric side of the band's arrangements. On "Gathering Mushrooms" they included their sister Eithne Ní Bhraonáin (now known as Enya) on supporting vocals.
Clannad in Concert
was released in 1979, featuring excerpts from their 1978 Swiss tour and a now world-famous version of "Down by the Sally Gardens" and a 10-minute version of "Níl Sé Ina Lá". It served as a base for various solos by the individual members. The year 1979 also saw a 36-concert North American tour — the most extensive ever undertaken by an Irish group to date. In 1981 with the album Fuaim
, recorded in Dublin's famed Windmill Studios, Clannad began to experiment with a more lush and electric sound. Enya became, for a short time, a full member of the band, adding keyboard
s and harmony vocals as well as lead vocals on two songs, "An tÚll" and "Buaireadh an Phósta". This album marked Clannad's first experiments with synthesiser. It also had guest Neil Buckley
on clarinet
and saxophone
s plus a percussionist and electric piano
. The following year Enya left to pursue her solo career and the band was about to record the album which would forever change their career as well as their sound, Magical Ring
which appeared in 1982.
Records when they were approached and asked if they would be interested in doing a song for Harry's Game
, a fictional drama on British television depicting The Troubles
in Northern Ireland
. Ciarán, Pól and Máire got together and wrote the now-legendary song "Theme from Harry's Game
". Entering the British charts at number 5, it remains the only hit single in the UK ever to be sung entirely in Irish Gaelic, and was also broadcast by rock group U2
at the end of every concert during their 1983 War Tour
through the first round of the Joshua Tree Tour
in 1987. The album Magical Ring
, featuring this song, marked a major turning point as the start of their international career. The album contains half traditional material and half original recordings, was on the UK album charts for over six months earning the group their first gold record award, and features some of Clannad's most enduring original compositions from the time like "Tower Hill", "Passing Time" and "Newgrange
". In its impact of achieving a fusion of traditional folk, modern rock and world music
, for its utopian vision of man in harmony with nature
, Magical Ring
is often compared with Alan Stivell
's Renaissance of the Celtic Harp
.
Shortly after Magical Ring
, Clannad were commissioned to provide music for the 26-episode TV drama series Robin of Sherwood
. They once again began to stretch themselves, creating music for a range of characters and events. For the first time ever, they produced an album without any of their native Irish, as the story was set deep in English folklore
.
The original soundtrack, Legend was released in 1984 and won the band a BAFTA award for Best Original Television Music., the first time an Irish act had been honoured thus. The musical style of the album was dominated by guitar riffs and trumpet
reverberations. It was primarily this album that firmly elevated the group to 'household name' status, with their music being broadcast into millions of homes every Saturday night for 26 weeks.
While not all of the show's music is found on the Legend album, some additional pieces can be found on Clannad's albums Macalla
(released 1986) and Clannad: Live in Concert, 1996
(released 2005). In November 2003, Clannad revealed on their official web site that "there were several other pieces of music recorded for the 3rd series of Robin of Sherwood that were not included on the Legend album. Unfortunately no-one has been able to locate the master tapes of this music. The search is continuing and hopefully one day these recordings will be able to be released."
Macalla
(echo in Irish) was released in 1985, Clannad's next proper album. It contained all original material except one traditional song and yielded the group a hit single "In a Lifetime
", a duet with U2's Bono
(which begins with Máire being heard teaching Gaelic to Bono during the instrumental intro). The album featured the core quintet plus a large number of backing musicians who have continued to tour with them, including ex-King Crimson
saxophonist Mel Collins
, Moving Hearts
' guitarist Anton Drennan and drummer Paul Moran. Also on board was producer
Steve Nye
, whose previous charges included the Penguin Café Orchestra
and David Sylvian
. The album opens with the song "Caisleán Óir". In "Buachaill Ón Éirne" they covered a traditional Irish song from their native Donegal. It was the first time ever such a song featured on a chart-topping commercial
album, something Clannad went on to pioneer in. When Macalla was released, the listening public began to be more accepting of the mainstream material that appeared heavily on the record. Songs such as the pop
-flavoured "Closer to Your Heart
" and the powerful ballad "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)
" were successful singles for the quintet
. The latter even served as the official Children in Need
single for 1985.
The following album, Sirius, was released by RCA
in 1988 and was recorded in Los Angeles with rock producers Greg Ladanyi
and Russ Kunkel
(James Taylor
's drummer). The album included a duet with Bruce Hornsby
and guest appearances by Steve Perry
and J.D. Souther. The title track was Pól Brennan's encouraging call to the environmental movement
, and to the Greenpeace
ship of the same name. "Something to Believe In
" featured the voice and keyboards of Bruce Hornsby. Completed with the help of some of the biggest names on the Californian rock scene, Sirius was another different creation, just like their previous 3 albums. Received with critical apprehension, Sirius was initially, stoutly defended by the band as a change, but since then members have expressed their disappointment with the album and even Pól Brennan
apologised on its behalf. The following year they embarked on their first world tour.
Between 1988 and 1991 there were some side projects for the band, 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 and the music told 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:
" (a reworking of the song "Herne", which appears on their 1984 album Legend) and "World of Difference". This album also included tracks from Magical Ring, Macalla, and Sirius. The Collection k-Tel, re-released in 1996 under the label's Celtic Collections series. Unlike Past Present however, it also included five earlier tracks from their more traditional Irish period.
Pól Brennan initially left the group to pursue a solo career and work with the WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) organization in Britain
. He released a trio album in 1993 with Guo Yue
and Joji Hirota under the new name Trísan. The true reason for Pól's departure is unknown; being a family band, very little information is released about personal and professional relations about and between the members. Pól rejoined the band in January 2011, when Clannad performed at Temple Bar TradFest
. Initially a single concert, it was extended with an extra two nights.
. It marked a return to the Clannad sound of such albums as Magical Ring and Fuaim and was recorded in two and a half months at the band's home studio in the hills of Dublin. On Pól's leaving the rest of the group began sharpening their song-writing skills with Ciarán, already the main source of their original music. The title Anam means "Soul" in Irish and the album had 10 songs. The album was finally released in the USA in 1992 with a different cover and the addition of the previously released Bono duet "In a Lifetime" and "Theme from Harry's Game
", which had been included in the motion picture Patriot Games
. It was also used in a Volkswagen
television advertisement, which helped establish the band's career in the USA and the song went on to win the Billboard Music Award
for "World Music Song of the Year". They dedicated the opening song "Rí na Cruinne" to the One World One Voice charity project.
In 1991, a duet between the band and Paul Young
, "Both Sides Now
" was released. The track had been put together for the Blake Edwards
film Switch, featuring Ellen Barkin
. In the storyline, a nasty male chauvinist, is reincarnated as an attractive female. The use of the Joni Mitchell
song was therefore quite suitable and proved a hit for the group. Released in 1994, Banba
became Clannad's 13th studio album and was greeted with rave reviews and the band's first Grammy 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 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", 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
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
. Clannad toured Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand in 1996 to promote the Lore album, but due to apparent disagreements with Atlantic Records
, plans to tour the USA were scrapped. In 1996, they received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish recording industry (the IRMA
).
After 25 years of recording groundbreaking music, 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
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
.
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
, Rotterdam
, was dedicated to Leo and Baba Brennan. The whole of Clannad, including former member Pól
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 USA 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
. The tour culminated in a dozen dates, including concerts in Ireland and Thailand
.
In May 2008, the Clannad song "Down by the Sally Gardens
" was featured in the listening paper for Music GCSE 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 Planxty
, Moving Hearts
, Arcady
and Stockton's Wing
.
Clannad's Pádraig Duggan
announced that Clannad would be recording a new album in February 2009. In an interview he stated that the album would be unplugged
and could consist of their old songs, although this is not certain. The band, as of January 2010 have also written at least five tracks for the album, which was announced for release before the 2010 UK and Irish Summer festival
season.
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
's The Late Late Show
on 21 January 2011 performing the "Theme from Harry's Game
" with Anúna
. It was their first appearance on the show in 14 years.
", "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
and Celtic music
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 Celtic music
, and to this day they are regarded as the pioneers of that genre. They are also noted for their melodious harmonies, 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
and even pop
. 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
-infused Sirius and the pop-inclined Macalla have become huge successes for Clannad, it was their breakthrough style that they created themselves that has left the greatest legacy. One of the places where Clannad's influence can be seen is 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. Also, when asked to describe the group's style, Ciarán said, "There's a feeling in all our music an ambience that stems directly from where we were brought up and to have to define our sound I always say that if they were to visit Gweedore they wouldn't need to ask." Traces of Clannad's legacy can be heard in the music of many artists, including Enya, Altan, Capercaillie
, The Corrs
, Loreena McKennitt
, Anúna
, Riverdance
, Órla Fallon
and U2.
The Brennans are officially 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, Pól, 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
in 1968 in Meenaleck, Co. Donegal. This pub has become a musical Mecca over the years, and Bono and Paul Brady
have even been known to join in the regular jamming sessions.
The first members of the family to publish their music were Ciarán, Pól and Máire (now known as Moya), who in 1972 released Clannad's first album. Their Irish folk sound captivated audiences, and it was to be the beginning of a long prosperous career, one that continues to grow. Over the years they have sold millions of records, they sang for the Pope, and their first famous song "Theme from Harry's Game", was the first, and so far only, Irish Gaelic song ever heard on Top of the Pops
.
The other six children can all sing and play one or more instruments - Olive and Deirdre have sung on Moya's solo albums and Brídín
, who for years toured with Clannad as a backing vocalist, has released a solo record, Eyes of Innocence.
Máire 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
. The choir is frequently joined by Leo Brennan and the Brennan siblings.
Leo helps his son Bartley to run the family pub, Leo's Tavern, and still takes to the stage equipped with his accordion and mic.
Videography:
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
musical group, from Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Their music has been variously described as bordering on folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
, Irish
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
, Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
and New Age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
, often incorporating elements of an even broader spectrum of smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
and Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
. They are known for performing in various languages, including English, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, Scottish Gaelic, Mohican
Mahican language
Mahican is an extinct language of the Eastern Algonquian subgroup of the Algonquian language family, itself a member of the Algic language family....
and most of all in their native tongue, Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. They have won several notable awards throughout their career, including a Grammy, a BAFTA, an Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello
David Ivor Davies , better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter...
and a Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
.
Clannad comprises siblings Moya Brennan
Moya Brennan
Moya Brennan, born Máire Ní Bhraonáin , also known as Máire Brennan , is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist who began performing professionally in 1970, when her family formed the band Clannad, and is now widely considered as the "First Lady of Celtic Music"...
, Ciarán Brennan
Ciarán Brennan
Ciarán Brennan is an Irish singer, songwriter, producer and instrumentalist from Gweedore, Co Donegal...
, Pól Brennan
Pól Brennan
Pól Brennan is an Irish singer, songwriter and producer. He is the brother of Enya and Moya Brennan. He is a member of the family band Clannad, and co-wrote the hit song "Theme from Harry's Game". He left the group in 1990, but rejoined in 2011...
and their twin uncles Noel Duggan
Noel Duggan
See also Pádraig Duggan and The DuggansNoel Duggan is an Irish musician best known for being a member of the folk group Clannad, along with his twin brother Pádraig....
and Pádraig Duggan
Pádraig Duggan
Pádraig Duggan is an Irish musician best known for being a member of the folk group Clannad, along with his twin brother Noel....
. Sibling Enya
Enya
Enya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to...
left the group in 1981 to pursue a solo career.
Clannad first made their mark in the folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and traditional scene in the 1970s in Ireland and mainland Europe. They subsequently went on to bridge the gap between traditional Celtic music
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
and pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
in the 1980s and 1990s with albums such as Macalla
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 enchanting duet In a Lifetime...
and Anam
Anam (album)
Anam is an album by Clannad which was originally released in 1990.-Track listing:# "Rí Na Cruinne" – 4:03# "Anam" – 4:03# "In Fortune's Hand" – 3:55...
. During their career they toured the world extensively and gained fans in every major territory. Lead singer Moya Brennan and her sister Enya
Enya
Enya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to...
have also enjoyed significant success as solo artists. The band won a Grammy Award in 1999
Grammy Awards of 1999
The 41st Grammy Awards were held on February 24, 1999. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1998. Lauryn Hill was the nights big winner winning a total of 5 awards including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Madonna won three awards while country musicians the Dixie...
for Best New Age Album
Grammy Award for 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...
, and their record sales exceed the 15 million mark. They are also widely regarded as the band which, for the first time, put Irish traditional music and the Irish language on the world stage and paved the way for many other Irish artists.
Ten years after "taking a break", the five original members of Clannad reunited on stage at the Celtic Connections
Celtic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of traditional Scottish music and also features international...
Festival in February 2007 in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland. Moya, Ciarán, Noel and Pádraig embarked on their first UK tour in over 10 years in March 2008, starting in Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
. In 2009, the band's Pádraig Duggan
Pádraig Duggan
Pádraig Duggan is an Irish musician best known for being a member of the folk group Clannad, along with his twin brother Noel....
announced that the band were recording a new album.
Musical upbringing
Siblings Ciarán, Pól, and MáireMáire
Máire is the Irish language form of the English language name Mary. It was and still is a popular name in Ireland, and is sometimes spelt in its Anglicised form Maura...
Uí Bhraonáin (Brennan) and their two twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin (Duggan) grew up in Gaoth Dobhair, a rural village in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, in the northwest corner of Ireland. The village is in the Gaeltacht
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
and they were an Irish-speaking and Roman Catholic family. The Brennans' mother, Baba, was a music teacher, and their father, Leo, was a former member of a cabaret band. Leo was travelling extensively in the early family years. Later, they bought a pub with a stage called Leo's Tavern
Leo's Tavern
Leo's Tavern is a restaurant and pub in the Donegal Gaeltacht, best known as the home of music artists Clannad, Enya and Moya Brennan. The pub opened in 1968 and held Irish traditional music sessions nightly, becoming the musical starting block for the children of Leo Brennan, the pubs' founder...
(Tábhairne Leo). The children would occasionally do cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of Beatles, Beach Boys and Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
songs at home and in their family pub.
The children were performing late at night in the pub (the story was recounted by Máire, TG4, 17 March 2007, Clann as Dobhar & Clannad Beo) when the local police sergeant walked in. They feared a summons, but instead the policemen had a form to enter a local music competition. They didn't have a name at the time, but had to find one for the competition. Someone suggested Clann As Dobhar (Irish for "the family from Dore"), which was provisionally blend
Blend
In linguistics, a blend is a word formed from parts of two or more other words. These parts are sometimes, but not always, morphemes.-Linguistics:...
ed into Clannad in 1973.
The young Brennans' and Duggans' passion for the traditional music of Ireland soon expanded beyond their native Gweedore. They would later visit such outlying communities as Tory Island
Tory Island
Toraigh is an inhabited island 14.5 km off the northwest coast of County Donegal, Ireland. It is also known in Irish as Oileán Thoraigh, Oileán Thoraí or Oileán Thúr Rí.-Language:The main spoken language on the island is Irish, but English is also understood...
off Donegal's coast. Armed with some 500 Gaelic
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
songs, they would later begin to arrange these songs for a full band.
Traditional years
Clannad entered a local folk festival in LetterkennyLetterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and won first prize, a record contract with the Irish arm of Phillips, when they were still in college and school. They did not make the record until 1973 because the record company did not like the idea of them doing half the album in Irish, as it was not heard of to sing Irish in mainstream music.
The first album was recorded in 1973, simply called Clannad
Clannad (album)
Clannad is the debut album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1973 by Philips Ireland. It was reissued in 1982 under the name The Pretty Maid. In 1997, it was released on CD for the first time by Royal Records International again under the name Clannad, with a bonus track from 1975...
, and it showed a band aware of contemporary Irish music of the day. There were hints of modern influences, most notably Pentangle
Pentangle (band)
Pentangle are a British folk rock band with some folk jazz influences. The original band were active in the late 1960s and early 1970s and a later version has been active since the early 1980s...
's, in songs such as "The Pretty Maid" and "Morning Dew", but it was the Irish songs, particular an early arrangement of "Níl Sé Ina Lá", a drinking song
Drinking song
A drinking song is a song sung while drinking alcohol. Most drinking songs are folk songs, and may be varied from person to person and region to region, in both the lyrics and in the music...
they found on one of their Tory Island
Tory Island
Toraigh is an inhabited island 14.5 km off the northwest coast of County Donegal, Ireland. It is also known in Irish as Oileán Thoraigh, Oileán Thoraí or Oileán Thúr Rí.-Language:The main spoken language on the island is Irish, but English is also understood...
expeditions, that really showed the band's ability to form contemporary, jazz-influenced versions of traditional material. This album was also released under the name The Pretty Maid. One of the tracks, "An Pháirc", was performed by Clannad in the 1973 Irish heat of the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. The second album followed in 1975 on Gael-Linn records and was titled Clannad 2
Clannad 2
Clannad 2 is the second studio album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1975.-Track listing:# "An Gabhar Bán " – 3:15# "Eleanor Plunkett" – 2:49# "Coinleach Glas An Fhómhair" – 5:46# "Rince Philib A'Cheoil" – 1:51...
. Produced by Planxty
Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting initially of Christy Moore , Dónal Lunny , Andy Irvine , and Liam O'Flynn...
and Bothy Band
Bothy band
A bothy band is a musical group which comes from the farming culture of nineteenth century Scotland. At that time agriculture was relatively labour-intensive. As a result large farms often had a small community associated with them, the farm toun. This was made up of married couples who lived in...
founder Dónal Lunny
Dónal Lunny
Dónal Lunny is an Irish folk musician. Lunny has been at the forefront of the evolution of traditional Irish music for more than thirty-five years and has participated within the renaissance of traditional Irish music in that time period...
, it showed a tremendously more mature band that was quite committed to singing mainly in Irish. Their arrangements were still experimental for the times, but their increasing skill in the use of traditional acoustic instruments kept the music well within the boundaries of folk music. Clannad 2 featured some ground-breaking traditional music, including Máire's harp playing on the O'Carolan song "Eleanor Plunkett" and ensemble work on songs like "Rince Briotánach" and "Teidhir Abhaile Riú", an Irish matchmaking
Matchmaking
Matchmaking is any process of matching two people for the purpose of marriage or a sporting contest.-Practice:In some cultures, the role of the matchmaker was and is quite professionalized...
song.
The following year they produced Dúlamán. The title track was a song about two dúlamán, or seaweed merchants, one of whom is trying to win the hand of the other's beautiful daughter. It has been a favourite of Clannad's live shows for a very long time and is still performed in a rock version which captures the flavour of the original recorded acoustic version.
The band in 1976 still consisted of Máire on lead vocals and harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
, Ciarán on double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, electric piano and vocals, Pól on flutes, guitars and bongos, Noel on guitar, vocals and Pádraig on mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, guitar and vocals. They still kept the Gaelic spelling of their surnames of Ó Braonáin for the brothers, Ní Bhraonáin for Máire and Ó Dúgáin for Pádraig and Noel. During their first tour of Europe in 1976 a standing ovation
Standing ovation
A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim...
after an eight-minute version of "Níl Sé Ina Lá" convinced them to become full time professionals. The band's next album was Crann Úll
Crann Úll
Crann Úll is the fifth album by Irish folk group Clannad released in 1980. It is also the first Clannad album to feature Eithne Ní Bhraonáin...
(Irish for apple tree) released in 1978 on Tara Records. It featured a stronger emphasis on Máire's harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
-playing. "Ar a Ghabháil 'n a 'Chuain Domh
Ar a Ghabháil 'n a 'Chuain Domh
"Ar a Ghabháil 'n a 'Chuain Domh" is a song by Irish folk group Clannad released in 1980 on their album Crann Úll.The song is the opening track of the album "Crann Úll". It is written in the key of A major and it doesn't follow any standard rhythm. It starts with a chord progression, which is then...
" featured a particularly full band arrangement reflective of their live jams at the time. "Lá Cuimhthíoch Fán dTuath" ("A Strange Day in the Countryside") showed the first hints of the more atmospheric side of the band's arrangements. On "Gathering Mushrooms" they included their sister Eithne Ní Bhraonáin (now known as Enya) on supporting vocals.
Clannad in Concert
Clannad in Concert
Clannad in Concert is the fourth album by Irish folk group Clannad. It is their first live album, taken from a 1978 concert while on tour in Switzerland and was released in 1979. It was during this tour that the group decided to go professional...
was released in 1979, featuring excerpts from their 1978 Swiss tour and a now world-famous version of "Down by the Sally Gardens" and a 10-minute version of "Níl Sé Ina Lá". It served as a base for various solos by the individual members. The year 1979 also saw a 36-concert North American tour — the most extensive ever undertaken by an Irish group to date. In 1981 with the album Fuaim
Fuaim
Fuaim is the sixth album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1982. It was produced by Nicky Ryan and was the last Clannad album to feature younger sister Eithne Ní Bhraonáin . It is also the only Clannad album to credit her; while she performed keyboard and backing vocals on "Crann...
, recorded in Dublin's famed Windmill Studios, Clannad began to experiment with a more lush and electric sound. Enya became, for a short time, a full member of the band, adding keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
s and harmony vocals as well as lead vocals on two songs, "An tÚll" and "Buaireadh an Phósta". This album marked Clannad's first experiments with synthesiser. It also had guest Neil Buckley
Neil Buckley
Neil Buckley is an English former professional association football player who played as a defender.-External links:* at playerhistory.com...
on clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s plus a percussionist and electric piano
Electric piano
An electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented...
. The following year Enya left to pursue her solo career and the band was about to record the album which would forever change their career as well as their sound, Magical Ring
Magical Ring
Magical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1983.-Track listing:# "Theme from Harry's Game" – 2:30# "Tower Hill" – 3:51# "Seachrán Chairn tSiail" – 2:20# "Passing Time" Magical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in...
which appeared in 1982.
1980s: Harry's Game, Robin of Sherwood, Bono and film
Clannad were signed up to RCARCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
Records when they were approached and asked if they would be interested in doing a song for Harry's Game
Harry's Game
Harry's Game is a British television miniseries made by Yorkshire Television for ITV in 1982. It is based on the novel of the same name by Gerald Seymour, which was published in 1975.The three-part serial starred Ray Lonnen as Capt...
, a fictional drama on British television depicting The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Ciarán, Pól and Máire got together and wrote the now-legendary song "Theme from Harry's Game
Theme from Harry's Game
"Theme from Harry's Game" or just "Harry's Game" is a BAFTA-nominated hit song by Irish group Clannad, written by Pól Brennan. It was released in 1982 and served as the main track from their album Magical Ring...
". Entering the British charts at number 5, it remains the only hit single in the UK ever to be sung entirely in Irish Gaelic, and was also broadcast by rock group U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
at the end of every concert during their 1983 War Tour
War Tour
The War Tour was a concert tour by the Irish rock band U2, which took place in 1982 and 1983 in support of the group's third album War. It was their first tour as full-time headlining acts....
through the first round of the Joshua Tree Tour
Joshua Tree Tour
The Joshua Tree Tour was a concert tour by the Irish rock band U2, which took place during 1987, in support of their album The Joshua Tree. The tour was depicted by the video and live album Live from Paris.-Itinerary:...
in 1987. The album Magical Ring
Magical Ring
Magical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1983.-Track listing:# "Theme from Harry's Game" – 2:30# "Tower Hill" – 3:51# "Seachrán Chairn tSiail" – 2:20# "Passing Time" Magical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in...
, featuring this song, marked a major turning point as the start of their international career. The album contains half traditional material and half original recordings, was on the UK album charts for over six months earning the group their first gold record award, and features some of Clannad's most enduring original compositions from the time like "Tower Hill", "Passing Time" and "Newgrange
Newgrange (song)
"Newgrange" is a song by Irish group Clannad, released in 1982 on the album Magical Ring, and in 1983 as a single. This song was featured in the film Intermission, and was covered by Órla Fallon from Celtic Woman on the album Celtic Woman: A New Journey....
". In its impact of achieving a fusion of traditional folk, modern rock and world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
, for its utopian vision of man in harmony with nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
, Magical Ring
Magical Ring
Magical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1983.-Track listing:# "Theme from Harry's Game" – 2:30# "Tower Hill" – 3:51# "Seachrán Chairn tSiail" – 2:20# "Passing Time" Magical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in...
is often compared with Alan Stivell
Alan Stivell
Alan Stivell is a Breton musician and singer, recording artist and master of the celtic harp who from the early 1970s revived global interest in the Celtic harp and Celtic music as part of world music.- Background: learning Breton music and culture :Alan was born in the Auvergnat town of Riom...
's Renaissance of the Celtic Harp
Renaissance of the Celtic Harp
Renaissance de la Harpe Celtique or Renaissance of the Celtic Harp is a 1971 record album by the Breton master of the celtic harp Alan Stivell that revolutionised the connection between traditional folk music, modern rock music and world music....
.
Shortly after Magical Ring
Magical Ring
Magical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1983.-Track listing:# "Theme from Harry's Game" – 2:30# "Tower Hill" – 3:51# "Seachrán Chairn tSiail" – 2:20# "Passing Time" Magical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in...
, Clannad were commissioned to provide music for the 26-episode TV drama series Robin of Sherwood
Robin of Sherwood
Robin of Sherwood , was 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 1984 to 1986 on the ITV network. In America it was retitled Robin Hood and shown on the premium cable TV channel...
. They once again began to stretch themselves, creating music for a range of characters and events. For the first time ever, they produced an album without any of their native Irish, as the story was set deep in English folklore
English folklore
English folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in England over a number of centuries. Some stories can be traced back to their roots, while the origin of others is uncertain or disputed...
.
The original soundtrack, Legend was released in 1984 and won the band a BAFTA award for Best Original Television Music., the first time an Irish act had been honoured thus. The musical style of the album was dominated by guitar riffs and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
reverberations. It was primarily this album that firmly elevated the group to 'household name' status, with their music being broadcast into millions of homes every Saturday night for 26 weeks.
While not all of the show's music is found on the Legend album, some additional pieces can be found on Clannad's albums Macalla
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 enchanting duet In a Lifetime...
(released 1986) and Clannad: Live in Concert, 1996
Clannad: Live in Concert, 1996
Live in Concert provides a true retrospective of Clannad's career. It features new versions of material from across the catalogue as far back as their 1973 debut album. Songs originally released in their simplest acoustic form are now performed here with brand new full band arrangements. In A...
(released 2005). In November 2003, Clannad revealed on their official web site that "there were several other pieces of music recorded for the 3rd series of Robin of Sherwood that were not included on the Legend album. Unfortunately no-one has been able to locate the master tapes of this music. The search is continuing and hopefully one day these recordings will be able to be released."
Macalla
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 enchanting duet In a Lifetime...
(echo in Irish) was released in 1985, Clannad's next proper album. It contained all original material except one traditional song and yielded the group a hit single "In a Lifetime
In a Lifetime
In 1989, to promote Clannad's 'best-of' compilation, "Pastpresent", "In A lifetime" was re-released. The song was the first single from the compilation...
", a duet with U2's Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
(which begins with Máire being heard teaching Gaelic to Bono during the instrumental intro). The album featured the core quintet plus a large number of backing musicians who have continued to tour with them, including ex-King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
saxophonist Mel Collins
Mel Collins
Mel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
, Moving Hearts
Moving Hearts
Moving Hearts is an Irish folk-rock band formed in 1981. They followed in the footsteps of Horslips in combining Irish traditional music with rock and roll, and also added elements of jazz to their sound.-Career:...
' guitarist Anton Drennan and drummer Paul Moran. Also on board was producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Steve Nye
Steve Nye
Steve Nye is a music producer for several artists. Some of his better known artists include Bryan Ferry , Penguin Cafe Orchestra, XTC , Japan , David Sylvian , Clannad, TM Network, Scary Thieves , as...
, whose previous charges included the Penguin Café Orchestra
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
The Penguin Cafe Orchestra was a collective of performing musicians created by classically trained British guitarist, composer and arranger Simon Jeffes...
and David Sylvian
David Sylvian
David Sylvian is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist and main songwriter in the group Japan...
. The album opens with the song "Caisleán Óir". In "Buachaill Ón Éirne" they covered a traditional Irish song from their native Donegal. It was the first time ever such a song featured on a chart-topping commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
album, something Clannad went on to pioneer in. When Macalla was released, the listening public began to be more accepting of the mainstream material that appeared heavily on the record. Songs such as the pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-flavoured "Closer to Your Heart
Closer to Your Heart
"Closer to Your Heart" is a song by Irish folk rock group Clannad. It was Clannad's first single that was solely considered as pop music.The video for the single was shot at the Ponderosa venue on Glenshane Pass near Derry....
" and the powerful ballad "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)
Almost Seems (Too Late To Turn)
"Almost Seems " 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. On its release it was tipped by bookmakers as one of the favourites for the Christmas Number One...
" were successful singles for the quintet
Quintet
A quintet is a group containing five members.It is commonly associated with musical groups, such as a string quintet, or a group of five singers, but can be applied to any situation where five similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
. The latter even served as the official Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
single for 1985.
The following album, Sirius, was released by RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
in 1988 and was recorded in Los Angeles with rock producers Greg Ladanyi
Greg Ladanyi
Greg Ladanyi was an American record producer and recording engineer, known for his work with many musicians, including Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Type O Negative, The Church, Anna Vissi, Toto, Fleetwood Mac, Hollywood Undead, Don Henley and Jeff Healey.-Biography:Ladanyi co-produced the Behind...
and Russ Kunkel
Russ Kunkel
Russell Kunkel , also known as Russ Kunkel, is an American drummer and producer who has worked as a session musician with a number of well-known artists.Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, PA...
(James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
's drummer). The album included a duet with Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
and guest appearances by Steve Perry
Steve Perry (musician)
Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey from 1977–1987 and 1995–1998. Perry had a successful solo career throughout the late 1980s and early '90s.Perry's voice has garnered acclaim from musical peers and music...
and J.D. Souther. The title track was Pól Brennan's encouraging call to the environmental movement
Environmental movement
The environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
, and to the Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
ship of the same name. "Something to Believe In
Something to Believe In (Clannad song)
"Something to Believe In" is a 1987 rock song by Irish group Clannad and American musician Bruce Hornsby. It was the first single released by Clannad from their album Sirius...
" featured the voice and keyboards of Bruce Hornsby. Completed with the help of some of the biggest names on the Californian rock scene, Sirius was another different creation, just like their previous 3 albums. Received with critical apprehension, Sirius was initially, stoutly defended by the band as a change, but since then members have expressed their disappointment with the album and even Pól Brennan
Pól Brennan
Pól Brennan is an Irish singer, songwriter and producer. He is the brother of Enya and Moya Brennan. He is a member of the family band Clannad, and co-wrote the hit song "Theme from Harry's Game". He left the group in 1990, but rejoined in 2011...
apologised on its behalf. The following year they embarked on their first world tour.
Between 1988 and 1991 there were some side projects for the band, including Atlantic Realm (1989) and The Angel and the Soldier Boy (1990). Atlantic Realm was a small album made for a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
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 and the music told 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:
The Hunter (Clannad song)
"The Hunter" is a hit song by Irish group Clannad from 1989.It appears on their compilation album Past Present. A promotional video for the single was directed by Nigel Grierson, using the radio edit of the song.-Track listing:7" vinyl ...
" (a reworking of the song "Herne", which appears on their 1984 album Legend) and "World of Difference". This album also included tracks from Magical Ring, Macalla, and Sirius.
Pól Brennan initially left the group to pursue a solo career and work with the WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) organization in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He released a trio album in 1993 with Guo Yue
Guo Yue (musician)
Guo Yue is a renowned virtuoso of the dizi and bawu . He was born in Beijing, China and as a young boy experienced the Cultural Revolution. In 1982 Yue left China and, with the help of his third sister Yan who was living in England, he studied the silver flute at the Guildhall School of Music...
and Joji Hirota under the new name Trísan. The true reason for Pól's departure is unknown; being a family band, very little information is released about personal and professional relations about and between the members. Pól rejoined the band in January 2011, when Clannad performed at Temple Bar TradFest
Temple Bar TradFest
The Temple Bar TradFest is an annual traditional Irish Music and Cultural Festival. The purpose of the festival is to promote Irish musical traditions. The festival takes place the last week of January every year in Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
. Initially a single concert, it was extended with an extra two nights.
1990s: Return to roots
The band continued on as a quartet and recorded 1991's AnamAnam (album)
Anam is an album by Clannad which was originally released in 1990.-Track listing:# "Rí Na Cruinne" – 4:03# "Anam" – 4:03# "In Fortune's Hand" – 3:55...
. It marked a return to the Clannad sound of such albums as Magical Ring and Fuaim and was recorded in two and a half months at the band's home studio in the hills of Dublin. On Pól's leaving the rest of the group began sharpening their song-writing skills with Ciarán, already the main source of their original music. The title Anam means "Soul" in Irish and the album had 10 songs. The album was finally released in the USA in 1992 with a different cover and the addition of the previously released Bono duet "In a Lifetime" and "Theme from Harry's Game
Theme from Harry's Game
"Theme from Harry's Game" or just "Harry's Game" is a BAFTA-nominated hit song by Irish group Clannad, written by Pól Brennan. It was released in 1982 and served as the main track from their album Magical Ring...
", which had been included in the motion picture Patriot Games
Patriot Games (film)
Patriot Games is a 1992 film directed by Phillip Noyce and based on Tom Clancy's the novel of the same name. It is a sequel to the 1990 film The Hunt for Red October. In the movie, Jack Ryan is played by Harrison Ford, Jack's surgeon-wife, Dr...
. It was also used in a Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
television advertisement, which helped establish the band's career in the USA and the song went on to win the Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
for "World Music Song of the Year". They dedicated the opening song "Rí na Cruinne" to the One World One Voice charity project.
In 1991, a duet between the band and Paul Young
Paul Young (singer and guitarist)
Paul Antony Young is an English pop musician. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & The Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, his following solo success as a solo recording artist turned him into a 1980s teenage pop idol...
, "Both Sides Now
Both Sides Now (song)
"Both Sides, Now" is a single by Joni Mitchell. Her recording first appeared on the album Clouds, released in 1969. She re-recorded the song in a jazz style for the album of the same name, released in 2000....
" was released. The track had been put together for the Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards was an American film director, screenwriter and producer.Edwards' career began in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon turned to writing radio scripts at Columbia Pictures...
film Switch, featuring Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman...
. In the storyline, a nasty male chauvinist, is reincarnated as an attractive female. The use of the Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
song was therefore quite suitable and proved a hit for the group. Released in 1994, Banba
Banba (album)
Banba is an album released by Irish group Clannad in 1994 on BMG records. It was re-issued in 2005 with the Afterlife mix bonus track of "I Will Find You"...
became Clannad's 13th studio album and was greeted with rave reviews and the band's first Grammy 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
The Last of the Mohicans (1992 film)
The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 historical epic film set in 1757 during the French and Indian War and produced by Morgan Creek Pictures. It was directed by Michael Mann and based on James Fenimore Cooper's novel of the same name, although it owes more to George B. Seitz's 1936 film adaptation...
, Máire sings in Mohican
Mahican language
Mahican is an extinct language of the Eastern Algonquian subgroup of the Algonquian language family, itself a member of the Algic language family....
and Cherokee
Cherokee language
Cherokee is an Iroquoian language spoken by the Cherokee people which uses a unique syllabary writing system. It is the only Southern Iroquoian language that remains spoken. Cherokee is a polysynthetic language.-North American etymology:...
. 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
Lore (album)
Lore is a studio album by the Irish group Clannad. It was re-issued in 2005 with the Cantoma mix bonus track of "Croí Cróga". Lore was greeted with great acclaim by music critics worldwide, often stating that this was one of Clannad's greatest recordings...
(1996) gave some thought to the Native American Indians. On "Trail of Tears", 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
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
film Braveheart
Braveheart
Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical drama war film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace...
which, for unknown reasons, never made it onto the soundtrack. Lore features American drummer Vinnie Colaiuta
Vinnie Colaiuta
Vincent Colaiuta is an American drummer based in Los Angeles. Originally from Republic, Pennsylvania, he began playing drums as a child and received his first full drum kit from his parents at the age of 14...
and Mel Collins
Mel Collins
Mel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
. It contained a strong jazz element, with songs such as "Seanchas" blending contemporary sounds with traditional Irish music and the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. Clannad toured Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand in 1996 to promote the Lore album, but due to apparent disagreements with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, plans to tour the USA were scrapped. In 1996, they received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish recording industry (the IRMA
Irish Recorded Music Association
Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:...
).
After 25 years of recording groundbreaking music, 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
Celt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
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
Grammy Award for 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...
.
In 1999, the group composed the song "What Will I Do" for the Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
film, Message in a Bottle
Message in a Bottle (film)
Message in a Bottle is a 1999 American romantic drama film directed by Luis Mandoki. Based on a novel with the same name by Nicholas Sparks, the film stars Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn, and Paul Newman...
.
2000–present: Return to stage
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.The Duggans
This is about the duo. For information on the members see Noel Duggan and Pádraig DugganThe Duggans are an Irish musical duo from Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland...
, got together for the first time outside of Clannad and recorded the album Rubicon.
During the 2006 solo tour of Moya Brennan
Moya Brennan
Moya Brennan, born Máire Ní Bhraonáin , also known as Máire Brennan , is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist who began performing professionally in 1970, when her family formed the band Clannad, and is now widely considered as the "First Lady of Celtic Music"...
in The Netherlands, the concert in De Doelen
De Doelen
270px|thumb|De DoelenDe 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...
, Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, was dedicated to Leo and Baba Brennan. The whole of Clannad, including former member Pól
Pól Brennan
Pól Brennan is an Irish singer, songwriter and producer. He is the brother of Enya and Moya Brennan. He is a member of the family band Clannad, and co-wrote the hit song "Theme from Harry's Game". He left the group in 1990, but rejoined in 2011...
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
Celtic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of traditional Scottish music and also features international...
Festival in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on 19 January 2007. The concert was greeted by 2,000 fans who travelled from places such as the USA and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
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
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
. The tour culminated in a dozen dates, including concerts in Ireland and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
In May 2008, the Clannad song "Down by the Sally Gardens
Down By The Salley Gardens
Down by the Salley Gardens is a poem by William Butler Yeats published in The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems in 1889...
" was featured in the listening paper for Music GCSE from the Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations exam board
Examination board
An examination board is an organisation that sets examinations and is responsible for marking them and distributing results. Examination boards have the power to award qualifications, such as SAT scores, to students...
. 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
Beginnings: The Best of the Early Years
Beginnings: The Best of the Early Years is a greatest hits compilation album by Irish group Clannad. The albums contains tracks from most of the group's 1970s albums, and was released in August 2008.-Track listing - CD1:#"Na Buachaillí Álainn"...
.
In June 2009, Clannad was nominated for an IMA Award in the category Best Revival Act, along with other revived bands Planxty
Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting initially of Christy Moore , Dónal Lunny , Andy Irvine , and Liam O'Flynn...
, Moving Hearts
Moving Hearts
Moving Hearts is an Irish folk-rock band formed in 1981. They followed in the footsteps of Horslips in combining Irish traditional music with rock and roll, and also added elements of jazz to their sound.-Career:...
, Arcady
Arcady
ARCADY is the acronym for . This software, produced by the Transport Research Laboratory , provides information on traffic flow including modelling capacity queues and delays at roundabouts...
and Stockton's Wing
Stockton's Wing
Stockton's Wing is an Irish band formed in 1977 by four All-Ireland champion musicians - Paul Roche flute/whistle, Maurice Lennon fiddle, Tommy Hayes bodhran, and Kieran Hanrahan banjo/mandolin, along with Tony Callinan on guitar and vocals.-Name:...
.
Clannad's Pádraig Duggan
Pádraig Duggan
Pádraig Duggan is an Irish musician best known for being a member of the folk group Clannad, along with his twin brother Noel....
announced that Clannad would be recording a new album in February 2009. In an interview he stated that the album would be unplugged
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
and could consist of their old songs, although this is not certain. The band, as of January 2010 have also written at least five tracks for the album, which was announced for release before the 2010 UK and Irish Summer festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
season.
In January 2011, Clannad's concert at Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
TempleBar TradFest in Dublin was extended by two nights due to fast ticket sales. The group appeared on RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
's The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
on 21 January 2011 performing the "Theme from Harry's Game
Theme from Harry's Game
"Theme from Harry's Game" or just "Harry's Game" is a BAFTA-nominated hit song by Irish group Clannad, written by Pól Brennan. It was released in 1982 and served as the main track from their album Magical Ring...
" with Anúna
Anúna
Anúna is an Irish choral group. In 1987 Dublin composer Michael McGlynn founded An Uaithne, a name which describes the three ancient types of Celtic music, Suantraí , Geantraí and Goltraí . One of the group's stated aims is to explore and redefine this music...
. It was their first appearance on the show in 14 years.
Musical style
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 "DúlamánDúlamán
Dúlamán is the third studio album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1976. It is named for its first track, a rendition of the Irish folk song, Dúlamán.-Track listing:# "Dúlamán" – 4:34# "Cumha Eoghain Rua Uí Néill" – 4:09...
", "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 music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
and Celtic music
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
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 Celtic music
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
, and to this day they are regarded as the pioneers of that genre. They are also noted for their melodious harmonies, which have been at the heart of their music since their first album. Legend (1984) was based on English folklore
English folklore
English folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in England over a number of centuries. Some stories can be traced back to their roots, while the origin of others is uncertain or disputed...
. With later albums, Clannad delved further into the realms of electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and even pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. 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 music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
-infused Sirius and the pop-inclined Macalla have become huge successes for Clannad, it was their breakthrough style that they created themselves that has left the greatest legacy. One of the places where Clannad's influence can be seen is in the film Titanic
Titanic (1997 film)
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
, where James Horner
James Horner
James Roy Horner is an American composer, orchestrator and conductor of orchestral and film music. He is noted for the integration of choral and electronic elements in many of his film scores, and for frequent use of Celtic musical elements...
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
Intermission (film)
Intermission is a 2003 Irish comedy crime film directed by John Crowley which tells a story of a young couple and people surrounding them. The film is set in Dublin, Ireland and is filmed in a TV drama style with several storylines crossing over one another during the course of the film.Mark O'Rowe...
. The "otherworldly" and "ethereal" Clannad sound comes from the ancient hills and glens that surround Gweedore, according to lead singer Moya Brennan. Also, when asked to describe the group's style, Ciarán said, "There's a feeling in all our music an ambience that stems directly from where we were brought up and to have to define our sound I always say that if they were to visit Gweedore they wouldn't need to ask." Traces of Clannad's legacy can be heard in the music of many artists, including Enya, Altan, Capercaillie
Capercaillie (band)
Capercaillie is a Scottish folk band, founded in the 1980s by Donald Shaw and fronted by Karen Matheson. They have seen four of their albums placed in the UK Albums Chart, and continue to perform and record to the present day.-History:...
, The Corrs
The Corrs
The Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea ; Sharon ; Caroline ; and Jim .The Corrs came to international prominence with their performance at the...
, Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt
Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt, CM, OM, is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. McKennitt is known for her refined, clear soprano vocals...
, Anúna
Anúna
Anúna is an Irish choral group. In 1987 Dublin composer Michael McGlynn founded An Uaithne, a name which describes the three ancient types of Celtic music, Suantraí , Geantraí and Goltraí . One of the group's stated aims is to explore and redefine this music...
, Riverdance
Riverdance
Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...
, Órla Fallon
Órla Fallon
Órlagh Fallon , professionally known as Órla Fallon, is an Irish soloist, songwriter and former member of the group Celtic Woman and the chamber choir Anúna.- Life and career :...
and U2.
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 reevaluate 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
Moya Brennan
Moya Brennan, born Máire Ní Bhraonáin , also known as Máire Brennan , is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist who began performing professionally in 1970, when her family formed the band Clannad, and is now widely considered as the "First Lady of Celtic Music"...
(or Moya), Leon, Ciarán
Ciarán Brennan
Ciarán Brennan is an Irish singer, songwriter, producer and instrumentalist from Gweedore, Co Donegal...
, Deirdre, Pól, Olive, Eithne
Enya
Enya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to...
(or Enya), Bartley, and Brídín
Brídín Brennan
Brídín Ní Bhraonáin , professionally known as Brídín Brennan, is an Irish pop singer from Dobhar , Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. She is the sister of Moya Brennan and Enya and has also toured with family-band Clannad.-Upbringing:...
. Baba was the local school's music teacher and Leo led the celebrated Slieve Foy
Slieve Foy
Slieve Foy or Slieve Foye is the highest peak of a ridge of mountains collectively referred to as Carlingford Mountain, which rises near the town of Carlingford, County Louth, Ireland. Slieve Foy rises to an altitude of 588 metres, and at this is the highest peak in County Louth...
show band. The catalyst that would propel the entire family onto the stage was the opening of Leo's Tavern
Leo's Tavern
Leo's Tavern is a restaurant and pub in the Donegal Gaeltacht, best known as the home of music artists Clannad, Enya and Moya Brennan. The pub opened in 1968 and held Irish traditional music sessions nightly, becoming the musical starting block for the children of Leo Brennan, the pubs' founder...
in 1968 in Meenaleck, Co. Donegal. This pub has become a musical Mecca over the years, and Bono and Paul Brady
Paul Brady
Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter, whose work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age...
have even been known to join in the regular jamming sessions.
The first members of the family to publish their music were Ciarán, Pól and Máire (now known as Moya), who in 1972 released Clannad's first album. Their Irish folk sound captivated audiences, and it was to be the beginning of a long prosperous career, one that continues to grow. Over the years they have sold millions of records, they sang for the Pope, and their first famous song "Theme from Harry's Game", was the first, and so far only, Irish Gaelic song ever heard on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
.
The other six children can all sing and play one or more instruments - Olive and Deirdre have sung on Moya's solo albums and Brídín
Brídín Brennan
Brídín Ní Bhraonáin , professionally known as Brídín Brennan, is an Irish pop singer from Dobhar , Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. She is the sister of Moya Brennan and Enya and has also toured with family-band Clannad.-Upbringing:...
, who for years toured with Clannad as a backing vocalist, has released a solo record, Eyes of Innocence.
Máire 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
Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair is an all Irish-speaking secondary school in Gweedore, Co Donegal. It has a pupil attendance of over 300 and is regarded as one of the most prominent Gaelic schools in Ireland....
. The choir is frequently joined by Leo Brennan and the Brennan siblings.
Leo helps his son Bartley to run the family pub, Leo's Tavern, and still takes to the stage equipped with his accordion and mic.
Discography
Studio albums:- 1973: ClannadClannad (album)Clannad is the debut album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1973 by Philips Ireland. It was reissued in 1982 under the name The Pretty Maid. In 1997, it was released on CD for the first time by Royal Records International again under the name Clannad, with a bonus track from 1975...
- 1975: Clannad 2Clannad 2Clannad 2 is the second studio album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1975.-Track listing:# "An Gabhar Bán " – 3:15# "Eleanor Plunkett" – 2:49# "Coinleach Glas An Fhómhair" – 5:46# "Rince Philib A'Cheoil" – 1:51...
- 1976: Dúlamán
- 1980: Crann UllCrann ÚllCrann Úll is the fifth album by Irish folk group Clannad released in 1980. It is also the first Clannad album to feature Eithne Ní Bhraonáin...
- 1982: FuaimFuaimFuaim is the sixth album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1982. It was produced by Nicky Ryan and was the last Clannad album to feature younger sister Eithne Ní Bhraonáin . It is also the only Clannad album to credit her; while she performed keyboard and backing vocals on "Crann...
- 1983: Magical RingMagical RingMagical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in 1983.-Track listing:# "Theme from Harry's Game" – 2:30# "Tower Hill" – 3:51# "Seachrán Chairn tSiail" – 2:20# "Passing Time" Magical Ring is the seventh album by Irish folk group Clannad. It was released in...
- 1984: Legend
- 1985: MacallaMacallaMacalla 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 enchanting duet In a Lifetime...
- 1987: SiriusSirius (album)Sirius is the tenth album by Irish folk group Clannad, released in 1987. It features several guest artists such as Bruce Hornsby, Steve Perry and J. D...
- 1988: Atlantic RealmAtlantic RealmAtlantic Realm is the eleventh album by Irish folk group Clannad, released in 1988. It is the soundtrack to the BBC television series The Natural World: Atlantic Realm, a documentary about the Atlantic Ocean.-Track listing:# "Atlantic Realm" – 3:49...
- 1989: The Angel and the Soldier BoyThe Angel and the Soldier BoyThe Angel and the Soldier Boy is the 13th album by Irish folk group Clannad, released in 1989. It is the soundtrack to the animated movie of the same name and contains both the music to the movie and the narration of the story by Tom Conti...
- 1990: AnamAnam (album)Anam is an album by Clannad which was originally released in 1990.-Track listing:# "Rí Na Cruinne" – 4:03# "Anam" – 4:03# "In Fortune's Hand" – 3:55...
- 1993: BanbaBanba (album)Banba is an album released by Irish group Clannad in 1994 on BMG records. It was re-issued in 2005 with the Afterlife mix bonus track of "I Will Find You"...
- 1996: LoreLore (album)Lore is a studio album by the Irish group Clannad. It was re-issued in 2005 with the Cantoma mix bonus track of "Croí Cróga". Lore was greeted with great acclaim by music critics worldwide, often stating that this was one of Clannad's greatest recordings...
- 1998: Landmarks
Videography:
- 1989 – Past Present
Won
- 1982 – 1982 Ivor Novello AwardsIvor Novello AwardsThe Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
, Best Soundtrack for "Theme From Harry's GameTheme from Harry's Game"Theme from Harry's Game" or just "Harry's Game" is a BAFTA-nominated hit song by Irish group Clannad, written by Pól Brennan. It was released in 1982 and served as the main track from their album Magical Ring...
" - 1984 – 1984 BAFTA Awards38th British Academy Film AwardsThe 38th British Film Awards, given by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 1985, honoured the best films of 1984.-Best Film: The Killing Fields *Paris, Texas*A Private Function*The Dresser-Best Actor: Haing S...
, Best Television Music for "Robin of SherwoodRobin of SherwoodRobin of Sherwood , was 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 1984 to 1986 on the ITV network. In America it was retitled Robin Hood and shown on the premium cable TV channel...
" - 1992 – Billboard Music AwardBillboard Music AwardThe Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
, World Music Song of the Year for "Rí na CruinneAnam (album)Anam is an album by Clannad which was originally released in 1990.-Track listing:# "Rí Na Cruinne" – 4:03# "Anam" – 4:03# "In Fortune's Hand" – 3:55...
" - 1999 – Grammy Awards of 1999Grammy Awards of 1999The 41st Grammy Awards were held on February 24, 1999. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1998. Lauryn Hill was the nights big winner winning a total of 5 awards including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Madonna won three awards while country musicians the Dixie...
, Best New Age AlbumGrammy Award for Best New Age AlbumThe 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...
for "Landmarks" - 2007 – Meteor Music Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominated
- 1982 – 1982 BAFTA Awards36th British Academy Film AwardsThe 36th British Film Awards, given by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 1983, honoured the best films of 1982.-Best Film: Gandhi *E.T...
, Best Television Music for "Harry's GameTheme from Harry's Game"Theme from Harry's Game" or just "Harry's Game" is a BAFTA-nominated hit song by Irish group Clannad, written by Pól Brennan. It was released in 1982 and served as the main track from their album Magical Ring...
" - 1994 – Grammy Awards of 1994Grammy Awards of 1994The 36th Grammy Awards were held in 1994. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Whitney Houston is the Big Winner winning 3 awards including Record of the Year and Album of the Year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
, Best New Age AlbumGrammy Award for Best New Age AlbumThe 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...
for "BanbaBanba (album)Banba is an album released by Irish group Clannad in 1994 on BMG records. It was re-issued in 2005 with the Afterlife mix bonus track of "I Will Find You"...
" - 1996 – Grammy Awards of 1996Grammy Awards of 1996The 38th Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1996. The awards recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Alanis Morissette was the night's big winner, scoring four trophies, including Album of the Year.-Award winners:...
, Best New Age AlbumGrammy Award for Best New Age AlbumThe 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...
for "LoreLore (album)Lore is a studio album by the Irish group Clannad. It was re-issued in 2005 with the Cantoma mix bonus track of "Croí Cróga". Lore was greeted with great acclaim by music critics worldwide, often stating that this was one of Clannad's greatest recordings...
" - 2009 – Ireland's Music Awards, Best Revival Act