Fellow musician Daniel O'Donnell told Newstalk Breakfast Clannad's Moya Brennan would be missed by those who admired her in the music world.
Clannad's Moya Brennan has passed away at the age of 73 in her home in Co Donegal.
Best known for her career as the lead singer of the Irish band Clannad, Brennan had received several accolades, including a Grammy and a BAFTA.
A Celtic folk singer, songwriter and harpist from Gaoth Dobhair in the Donegal Gaeltacht, she recorded more than 30 albums and sold millions of records worldwide with the band.
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Formed in 1970, Clannad became one of the world's most known traditional Irish acts, especially after the release of the TV Miniseries Harry’s Game, for which they wrote the script.
Fellow musician Daniel O’Donnell told Anton Savage on Newstalk Breakfast that his friend was a ‘powerhouse’.
“Her success and the success she had with Clannad was unparalleled”, he told Newstalk.
“She had a huge successful career all over the world and it’s a sad day for everyone.
“Many people here have lost someone they greatly admired in the music world. Even if you take away all of her success, she was a beautiful person to be around.
“We were blessed to be around her.”
Anton Savage and Mr O’Donnell discussed how much more challenging it was to export Irish-language music several years ago.
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Mr Savage said the exportability of Irish music has in recent years increased, but Clannad may have paved the way for such success at an international scale.
“With Clannad, she managed to create soundtracks for films, Irish music but especially Irish-language music”, Mr O’Donnell explained.
“In those days, it was a different avenue than social media. To make that leap, to export Irish music like that was huge at the time and they managed to do it with great success all the way to Japan.”
She routinely held nights for young Irish artists to introduce themselves to the music scene in her home county of Donegal.
“Although she had become hugely popular and successful, she still offered this great platform for young people to perform in front of an audience.
“She had a great sense of pride in Donegal. She loved being at home.”
Mr O’Donnell emphasized Moya Brennan’s multifaceted artistry and kindness despite her immense notoriety.
“She was a brilliant harpist, undeniably.
“I can’t stress how nice of a person she was. She was rooted in the earth and was so peaceful.
“She had a beautiful aura.”
Moya is survived by her husband, Tim Jarvis, and their two children, Aisling and Paul, who have both toured and recorded with their mother.
Main Image: Clannad's Moya Brennan with Fr John Joe Duffy and Joe Gallagher. Picture by: NW Newspix.
