Clannad

Clannad biography

Clannad are an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. Their music has been variously described as bordering on folk and folk rock, traditional Irish, Celtic and New Age, often incorporating elements of an even broader spectrum of smooth jazz and Gregorian chant. After twelve years of success in the folk music industry, they shot to international recognition in 1982 with the release of the "Theme from Harry's Game", becoming the most successful band in the Celtic music genre. They have won several notable awards throughout their career, including a Grammy, a BAFTA, an Ivor Novello and a Billboard Music Award.

Clannad are a family band composed of siblings Moya Brennan (), Ciarán Brennan (), Pól Brennan (, who left in 1990 and rejoined in 2011) and their twin uncles Noel Duggan () and Pádraig Duggan (). Their sister/niece 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. They have recorded in six different languages, most notably in Irish, and their record sales have exceeded 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 2012, it was announced that the band were recording a new album to be released in September 2012.

Early years

Musical upbringing

thumb Siblings Ciarán, Pól, and Máire Uí­ Bhraonáin (Brennan) and their two twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Ó Díºgáin (Duggan) grew up in Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore), 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 versions of The 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 blended into Clannad in 1973.

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