:originally named an clann as Dobhar, meaning "A family from the townland of Dore".
The story of Clannad began with a musically inclined tavern owner who offered
a platform for a group formed by the children in his own and
another family. The siblings came from the families of
O Braonáin
(Brennan) and O Dugáin (Duggan) from the Gaelic-speaking coastal
town of Parish Gweedore, population 6,000, in the County of
Donegal,
in Ireland's wild and remote mountainous northwest.
The tavern was owned by the O Braonáin's father, Leo,
who was from Sligo County, north of Donegal. He played saxophone,
clarinet and accordion, and had led his own touring showband,
originally modeled on the American swing bands of the 1930's and
40's, before settling in Gweedore. Leo's wife, Ni Braonáin (Baba),
was a music teacher and choir mistress and played organ and harmonium.
Their children grew up listening to a wide variety of music, from
Gaelic songs to jazz and contemporary pop and pantomimes (politically
incorrect children's theatre).
The grandparents, on Baba's side of the family, taught them Gaelic songs
and mythological stories, folklore and legends, and translated
American pop songs for the Gaelic pantomimes.
Ciarán (pronounced /KEERON/) O Braonáin took up the bass
and guitar, his sister Máire (pronounced /MOYA/) the harp, and brother
Pól, tin whistle, flute, and guitar, whilst their twin
uncles (their peers in age) Pádraig (pronounced /PORIC/ or /PARIC/) O Dugáin
played the mandolin, harmanoica and guitar, and brother Neel the guitar.
Maire sang lead vocal and all sang harmony.
In 1970, while still in school, Clannad entered an all-Irish GaeLLin, Slogadh
competition at the Letterkenny Folk Festival "for a bit of fun" and won
first prize, leading to their first recording session in 1973. During the 70's
the group recorded six traditional albulms.
As the 80's arrived, they develped a more layered and electric sound with guest musicians
and Ciarán and Pól also playing keyboard instruments.
Sister Eithne (Enya) joined the band on
keyboards and vocals from 1980-82. The first fruits of songwriting produced
their classic "Theme From Harry's Game" ("Magical Ring") written specifically for
a television adaptation of Gerald Seymour's fictional thriller set in
northern Ireland, winning them international acclaim and the Ivor Novello
Award in 1983 for the "Best T.V. Theme" of the year (Britain's Grammy).
"Harry's Game" incorporated mouth music and an old proverb:
Imtheochaidh sor is soir
A dtainig ariamh An ghealach is an ghrian
Everything that is and was will cease to be.
They were to follow this up with the British Academy of Film & Television Arts
award for the soundtrack to the hit television series "Robin of Sherwood" in 1985
("Legend"), and a hit single with Bono from U2, "In A Lifetime," a
duet with Máire (Macalla). Two more soundtrack projects followed:
"Atlantic Realm" for the BBC natural history series documentary about the Atlantic
Ocean and "The Angel and the Soldier," an animated film.
The albulm "Sirius," recorded in 1987, featured guest artists Bruce Hornsby, Steve
Perry and J.D. Souther, and the retrospective album, PAST PRESENT in 1989
closed out the 80's.
Clannad's innovative, progressive folk style is a beautiful atmospheric blend
of traditional Celtic material with the sensibilities and sound of jazz-influenced
contemporary music. The distinctly lyrical Donegal Irish, the legends and the authentic
songs from their own local experience performed in banks of modern vocal harmonies and
coupled with the acoustic instruments, sythesizers, and a rock rhythm section, have created
a unique vision; A Donegal sound.
[ article written by Ian Kimmet for Sawsong Music;
liner notes for the albulm "rogha: the best of clannad"]
