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Celtic Musician and Clannad Founder Moya Brennan Dies at 73

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Moya Brennan, Clannad Founder and Irish Music Icon, Dies at 73

Moya Brennan, the Grammy and Emmy award-winning singer and harpist who was a founding member of the Irish folk group Clannad, has died at the age of 73. Her family announced she died peacefully on April 15, 2026, surrounded by loved ones in County Donegal, Ireland.

Brennan had been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2020.

Career and Musical Legacy

Moya Brennan, whose birth name was Máire Philomena Ní Bhraonáin, co-founded the band Clannad in 1970. The original lineup consisted of Brennan, her brothers Pól and Ciarán, and their twin uncles, Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin.

  • The band released 13 studio albums, with their most recent, Nádúr, issued in 2013. Clannad toured until 2024.
  • Their music was featured in numerous film and television productions, including Harry's Game, Robin of Sherwood, and The Last of the Mohicans.
  • Clannad won a Grammy Award and a BAFTA for their work.
  • Brennan began a solo career in 1992 with the album Máire. Her final project, Voices & Harps IV, a collaboration with harpist Cormac de Barra, was released in 2024.
  • Throughout her career, Brennan collaborated with artists including Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, Shane MacGowan, and Bono.

Her sister, the musician Enya, was briefly a member of Clannad in the 1980s before launching her own solo career.

Statements and Tributes

Following the announcement of her death, several public figures and fellow musicians paid tribute.

  • Her brothers and bandmates, Pól and Ciarán Brennan, stated on social media, "We are completely heartbroken at the passing of our dearest sister Máire (Moya). Her voice was the signature sound of Clannad and will live on forever."
  • Her sister Enya announced the death, describing Brennan as a "beloved sister" and "dear and close friend."
  • U2 frontman Bono told the Irish Independent that Brennan's voice was "otherworldly" and that "she sang like an angel."
  • Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin described Brennan on social media as an "iconic Irish voice."
  • Other musicians, including Una Healy, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, and Chicane (Nicholas Bracegirdle), also shared tributes. Ní Mhaonaigh stated Brennan "helped pave the way for musicians like myself."

Survivors

Moya Brennan is survived by her husband, photographer Tim Jarvis, their two children, and her siblings, including Enya.