Clannad Singer and Harpist Moya Brennan Passes Away at 73 in Donegal
Harpist Moya Brennan Passes Away at 73 in Donegal, her family said. Filmogaz.com has received a statement confirming she died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
Early life and roots
Born Máire Ní Bhraonain, she was the eldest of nine children. Her parents were Leo and Máire (Baba) Brennan.
The family lived in the Gaoth Dobhair Gaeltacht in northwest Donegal. Siblings included Ciarán, Pól, Deirdre, Leon, Enya, Olive, Bartley and Brídín.
Formation of Clannad and rise
In the 1970s Moya and three relatives formed the group Clannad. They began by performing mostly in the family pub, Leo’s Tavern.
The band won the Letterkenny Folk Festival in 1973 and then toured widely. Early success came in Europe, especially Germany.
Their sound mixed Irish traditional songs with contemporary influences like the Beatles and Joni Mitchell. Their hit “Theme from Harry’s Game” featured on Top of the Pops.
Recording, scoring and achievements
Clannad scored the soundtrack for the television series Robin of Sherwood. The group released nineteen albums and toured internationally.
Recognition followed across major awards. Notable honours spanned several decades.
- Ivor Novello Award (1982)
- BAFTA (1984)
- Grammy Award (1999)
- Irish Meteor Awards
- BBC Folk Lifetime Achievement Award
Solo career and later honours
Moya developed a successful solo career alongside her work with the band. She won an Emmy in 2011 for the PBS documentary Music of Ireland.
In 2019 RTÉ Radio 1 presented her with a Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement. President Michael D. Higgins said her name would be forever etched in Irish music history.
Final years and legacy
Clannad performed a farewell Dublin concert at the 3Arena in February 2023. That year marked the fiftieth anniversary of their debut album.
As a Clannad Singer and harpist, Moya influenced generations of musicians. She is survived by her husband, Tim Jarvis, daughter Aisling, and son Paul.
