Moya Brennan remembered at funeral as ‘First Lady of Celtic music’

Moya Brennan has been remembered as the “First Lady of Celtic music” at her funeral in Ireland.

The musician and songwriter, who played the harp with the Grammy award-winning Celtic fusion pioneers Clannad, died peacefully at the age of 73 earlier this week.

The band – siblings Ciaran, Pol and Moya Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Padraig Duggan – achieved huge international success over their 40-year career.

Their distinctive and haunting sound has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide and Moya Brennan later had a solo career.

Another of the Brennan siblings, Enya, left the group in 1981 to embark on a hugely successful solo career.

Mourners at her funeral included Enya, U2 members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr, Daniel O’Donnell and his wife Majella, and Andrea Corr.

Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheal Martin were represented at the service at St Patrick’s Church in Meenaweal, Crolly, in the Irish-speaking Gweedore area.

A guard of honour was formed outside the church by local primary school pupils, a musical marching band and staff from a community centre.

Peacemakers, a song by Brennan featuring the voice of her son Paul when he was four years old, played as the coffin entered the church.

Some of the symbols of her life brought to the altar included Brennan’s harp, a lanyard from the last gig she played, and a Donegal GAA jersey.

Later during the service there were musical performances, including by O’Donnell and Brennan’s siblings Ciaran and Pol.

A recording of Brennan singing Perfect Time, which she performed in Rome in 2000 in front of Pope John Paul II and more than two million people, was also played.

Parish priest Brian O Fearraig led the service, recalling how on Monday night, it seemed as if a “sacred silence descended for a while” after Brennan passed.

He told those gathered music stood still, and Brennan’s “beautiful harp stood silently in the corner of her room, as though keeping its own quiet vigil of respect and honour”.

But he said in the hours and days that followed, her home “became again a place of friendship and love, of kindness and light, a centre of song and deep spirituality, where tears of sadness and tears of joy mingled with memories so lovingly shared by young and old alike”.

He said: “In these past few days, grace and grief stood side by side, embraced and danced to the beautiful music as memories were shared through tears of sadness and sorrow and tears of joy and gratitude.”

Fr O Fearraig continued his tribute in both the Irish language and English, describing Brennan as “above all, a woman of music and melody, a woman of motherhood, and mission”.

He added: “She knew that her gift was from God, and she used that gift faithfully and well, allowing her voice and harp to harmonise and become instruments of beauty, peace, and blessing for the world.

“It has been said that, through her voice and her gifted playing of the harp, Maire carried the rugged beauty, that quiet strength, the ancient timeless mystery, and rich soul of Donegal to audiences right across the world.”

The priest quoted her fellow musician and friend Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh: “She may be gone, but the voice will remain.”

He added: “Through her singing and harp-playing, she gave expression not only to melody, but to the deep spirit, beauty, and soul of her people and place.”

The funeral finished with loud applause, cheers and a standing ovation.