Clannad Biography
This family band, from Gweedore in Co. Donegal, Eire enjoyed transatlantic commercial success by skilfully crossing the bridge between folk and rock. Clannad was formed in 1968 by brothers Pól Brennan (Pol Ó Braonáin, Eire; guitar, vocals, percussion, flute) and Ciarán Brennan (b. Ciaran Braonáin, Eire; guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards), and their twin uncles Pádraig Duggan (b. Pádraig Ó Dúgáin, February 1949, Eire; guitar, vocals, mandolin) and Noel Duggan (b. Noel Ó Dúgáin, February 1949, Eire; guitar, vocals). They were originally known as An Clann As Dobhar (Gaelic for a family from the townland of Dore), and although the name was soon abbreviated to Clannad the band continued to sing mainly in their native tongue. They played at local folk festivals and Leo's Tavern, run by Leo Brennan, a former showband musician and father of the Brennan group members of Clannad. Máire Brennan (b. Máire Ní Bhraonáin, 4 August 1952, Gweedore, County Donegal, Eire; harp/vocals) subsequently joined the band, who earned a recording contract with Philips Records by winning first prize at the Letterkenny Folk Festival. Their somewhat derivative 1973 debut was followed by two stronger efforts on the Gael-Linn label. The band's breakthrough success came in Germany, where they toured in 1975. The following year the band decided to commit themselves to music full-time. Máire's sister, Enya (b. Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, 17 May 1961, Dore, Gweedore, Co. Donegal, Eire) joined the line-up in 1980 and appeared on the transitional Fuaim, before leaving in 1982 to pursue a highly successful solo career. Clannad initially caught the attention of the wider public in the UK when they recorded the theme tune for the ITV drama Harry's Game in 1982. The single, which later appeared as the opening track on Magical Ring, reached number 5 in the UK charts, and received an Ivor Novello Award. In 1984, they recorded the soundtrack to UK television's Robin Of Sherwood and reached the Top 50. The following year the band received a British Academy Award for Best Soundtrack. Further chart success followed with the 1986 UK Top 20 hit "In A Lifetime", on which Máire Brennan duetted with Bono from U2.
Pól Brennan left at the end of the decade to concentrate on solo work, but in his absence Clannad continued to release enchanting and distinctive albums that stayed true to their Celtic roots. They were particularly successful in America, where "Theme From Harry's Game" gained belated exposure on the movie soundtrack Patriot Games and a Volkswagen television commercial. Their work on the soundtrack to The Last Of The Mohicans also gained widespread stateside exposure. Following the release of the Grammy Award-winning Landmarks in 1998 the band members put Clannad on hold to pursue solo projects. Máire Brennan aka Moya Brennan established a successful solo career as a contemporary Christian artist.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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