This eclectic family won a Bafta and a Grammy and their legacy lives on in their original sound.
What started as a young family from the Gaoth Dobhair Gaeltacht performing at the Letterkenny Folk Festival in 1970 grew into Clannad. The most true Irish sound ever created, taking the showband performance talents from their dad Leo and mixed with their Mother’s ‘Baba ‘classical feel and their own sense of harmonies they found a truly original Irish sound.
From Harry’s Game to In A Lifetime they seemed to evolve with the country and its people.
The true honesty of Moya’s voice reflecting that Irish soul with Ciarán and Pól’s rhythm and melodic keys transporting Ireland’s identity as an island. The uncles, the late Pádraig Duggan and Noel Duggan bringing the original storytelling from Tory Island and the wild landscape of Gaoth Dobhair to the group with song and style. For all the music of the time that might have influenced them it was truly their surroundings that made them believe in their own sound. They brought their corner of Donegal to every continent and their sound influenced so so many and it continues…
On this special tribute to 50 years in music Moya, Ciarán, Pól and Noel bring us on a journey home to Donegal where we meet their mother Baba, who along with her late husband Leo exposed Clannad to music and culture from the cradle.
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh spends time in the Brenann’s homeplace of Gaoth Dobhair in Donegal and immerses herself in their music and stories to bring us the true image of Clannad.