Clannad

This article is about the Irish band. For the Japanese visual novel franchise, see Clannad (video game). For the 2007 anime film, see Clannad (film).

Clannad
Most recent line-up: Ciarán Brennan, Moya Brennan, Noel Duggan, Pól Brennan
Most recent line-up: Ciarán Brennan, Moya Brennan, Noel Duggan, Pól Brennan
Background information
OriginGweedore, County Donegal, Ireland
Genres
Years active1970–2024
Labels
MembersCiarán Brennan
Moya Brennan
Pól Brennan
Past membersPádraig Duggan (deceased)
Noel Duggan (deceased)
Enya
WebsiteOfficial website

Clannad (Irish pronunciation: [ˈklˠan̪ˠəd̪ˠ]) were an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal, by siblings Ciarán, Pól and Moya Ui Bhraonáin (in English, Brennan) and their twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin (Duggan).[1][2] They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history. Beginning as an acoustic folk group mainly performing rearranged traditional Irish songs in Irish, they expanded their sound with original songs in English, vocal harmonies, electronic keyboards, and elements of rock, Celtic, new age, smooth jazz, and Gregorian chant.[3]

Initially known as Clann as Dobhar ('Family from Dore'),[4] they shortened their name to Clannad in 1973.[5] By 1979 they had released three albums and toured Europe and the US. From 1980 to 1982 they operated as a six-piece with their sister and niece Eithne (Enya). In 1982 they gained international attention with their single "Theme from Harry's Game".[4][6] They experimented with New Age and pop-influenced sounds in the 1980s and 1990s[7][8] and their music came to be defined as almost purely Celtic, making them innovators of that genre.[9] In 1997, after 15 albums, they took a break and pursued solo projects.[10] The band regrouped in 2007 as a four piece with Moya, Ciarán, Noel and Pádraig and completed a world tour in 2008.[11][12] In 2013, Pól rejoined and they released their first studio album in fifteen years.[13] Pádraig Duggan died in 2016 and the group embarked on their farewell tour in 2020 as a quartet.[14]

Clannad have won numerous awards throughout their career, including a Grammy Award, a BAFTA, an Ivor Novello Award, and a Billboard Music Award.[15] They have recorded in six different languages and scored eight UK top 10 albums. They were often more popular abroad than in their native Ireland, and are considered to have brought Irish music and the Irish language to a wider audience.[16][17]

  1. ^ "Clannad Bursary of E30K Announced to Support Gaeltacht Artists". The Journal of Music.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Clannad Lyrics". Lyricsfreak.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Rolling Stone : Clannad: Macalla : Music Reviews". Archive.today. Archived from the original on 18 May 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  4. ^ a b Simpson, Dave (13 April 2020). "How Clannad made Theme from Harry's Game". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Pádraig Duggan obituary". The Guardian. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  6. ^ "University of Ulster News Release – UU To Honour Peacemaker Tutu". News.ulster.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Clannad - News, Photos, Videos, Bio. Free music downloads at MP3.com". Mp3.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2007.
  8. ^ "Usually, their results were an entrancing, enchanting form of pop that managed to fuse the disparate elements together rather seamlessly". Billboard. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2017.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "How Clannad changed the world's view of Celtic music". Thetonedeaf.thebrag.com. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  10. ^ Heim, Chris (19 February 1993). "CLANNAD GETS HIGHER PROFILE, THANKS IN PART TO VOLKSWAGEN". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  11. ^ "New Clannad album > Clannad & Moya Brennan News". 28 February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Kennedy Street – Clannad". Archived from the original on 7 June 2008.
  13. ^ "Clannad's Nádúr and Other New Celtic Recordings". Huffington Post. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  14. ^ Munro, Scott (9 September 2019). "Clannad announce In A Lifetime farewell UK tour". Loudersound. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  15. ^ "mdm.ie". Mdm.ie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007.
  16. ^ Moser, Margaret (21 June 2002). "Chieftains, Clannad". Austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Clannad Finds Road to U.S. Exposure: Pop music: The use of 'Harry's Game' in TV car commercials has given the Irish folk-pop group another shot at the American market". Los Angeles Times. 2 June 1993. Retrieved 19 August 2021.