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Omaha Steve

(109,679 posts)
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 08:19 AM Apr 20

Moya Brennan, Whose Gaelic Pop Band Won Worldwide Fame, Dies at 73

Source: NYT

Clannad consisted of her uncles, siblings and, briefly, her sister Enya. In a memoir, Ms. Brennan described a stormy youth followed by a Christian reawakening.

By Alex Traub
April 19, 2026

Moya Brennan, the eldest of nine children from a Gaelic-speaking rural Irish family who went on to lead a family band that brought Gaelic to the global pop charts, died on April 13 at her home in Donegal, the county where she grew up. She was 73.

Her band, Clannad, announced the death on social media. In recent years, Ms. Brennan had discussed having pulmonary fibrosis.

The band was where Ms. Brennan’s sister Enya, probably Ireland’s most famous solo act, got her start. It also featured a rotating cast of Ms. Brennan’s other siblings and uncles. Her uncles Noel and Padraig Duggan provided rhythm, playing mainly guitars, and her brothers Pol and Ciaran Brennan composed, in addition to playing guitar, mandolin, flute, bass and piano.

Moya played the harp. But it was her voice — breathy, with a delicate vibrato yet also a deep resonance — that provided Clannad with its signature sound.


Ms. Brennan performing with her uncles Padraig Duggan, left, and Noel Duggan. Credit...Val Wilmer/Redferns/Getty Images

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/obituaries/moya-brennan-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.cVA.gAOR.dNqeCP7O0M8K&smid=url-share



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Moya Brennan, Whose Gaelic Pop Band Won Worldwide Fame, Dies at 73 (Original Post) Omaha Steve Apr 20 OP
Ohhh. I loved Clannad... hlthe2b Apr 20 #1
Godspeed Marvin Jones Apr 20 #2
Moya Chrisdutch Apr 20 #3
R.I.P. Ms Brennan mwmisses4289 Apr 20 #4
Thank you for the beautiful music, Ms. Brennan. ZZenith Apr 20 #5
Clannad also provided the music for the British series "Robin of Sherwood" in the early 80's. ms liberty Apr 20 #6
Voice of an angel EuterpeThelo Apr 20 #7
Thank you for your beautiful voice and haunting music Wild blueberry Apr 20 #8
Singing "Be Thou My Vision" in Gaelic Tanuki Apr 20 #9
Recommended. H2O Man Apr 20 #10
Heartbreaking. I was lucky to see them and have several of their albums and a couple of her solo albums. chowder66 Apr 20 #11

hlthe2b

(114,376 posts)
1. Ohhh. I loved Clannad...
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 08:34 AM
Apr 20
Somewhere there will be bright singing voices and she'll be among them...

Chrisdutch

(73 posts)
3. Moya
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 10:14 AM
Apr 20
?list=RD6D9MyTT4rZM

This one captures the total worldly and unworldly beauty of her voice and her music. R.I.P. Moya.

ms liberty

(11,313 posts)
6. Clannad also provided the music for the British series "Robin of Sherwood" in the early 80's.
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 12:29 PM
Apr 20

That was where I first heard them.
Enya provided music for the BBC documentary series "The Celts."
I've been a Clannad fan for a long time.

I have several Clannad albums. Enya, too.

RiP Maire Brennan.

EuterpeThelo

(421 posts)
7. Voice of an angel
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 12:49 PM
Apr 20

Despite my general bent as a dyed-in-the-wool rock chick, I absolutely love Celtic music. Clannad, Enya, Loreena McKennitt, Golden Bough.

Rest in Power, Moya. Thank you for your beautiful music that has stirred my ancient ancestors' blood for 30+ years.

chowder66

(12,412 posts)
11. Heartbreaking. I was lucky to see them and have several of their albums and a couple of her solo albums.
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 01:18 PM
Apr 20


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