There was a sacred silence when Moya Brennan slipped into her eternal rest on Monday night, Gweedore Parish Priest Brian Ó Fearraigh recalled.
After a life well lived, of melodies, family and culture, the music stood still.
Not long afterwards, as news of Máire Ní Bhraonáin’s death reached around the world, music echoed across the airwaves in celebration of her life’s work.
Even today, at her Funeral Mass in Teach Pobail Phádraig Naofa, recordings of Moya’s ethereal voice filled the church sanctuary, with accompaniments from Cór Phádraig and Cór Mhuire.
In the corner, her beloved harp stood in silent vigil.
Through a career spanning 25 albums and 20 million record sales with both Clannad and as a soloist, Moya’s harp and voice gave timeless beauty to countless concerts and artistic creations. Clannad earned Ivor Novello and BAFTA awards and a Grammy award from five nominations.
Though unable to be present today, Moya’s mother Baba hailed her daughter’s gift in the hours after her passing at Upper Dore.
“Mheall sí lena glórthaí mé…She enticed me with her voice,” Máire (Baba) Brennan said of her eldest child.
Those words were repeated through the chapel in radiant song.
In the words of Máire’s fellow musician and dear friend Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan, “It was always the song for Máire, and the voice, and her beautiful unique sound. She may be gone, but the voice will remain.”
Moya’s influence set the tone for a celebration of her life in the days after her passing.
“The show must go on, as she said, and the show did go on, under her direction,” Fr Ó Fearraigh recalled.
Moya herself selected the music and poetry that would carry her loved ones through their days of grief, from the yearning of ‘California Dreaming’ to the hidden strength of the poem ‘Scaffolding’ by Seamus Heaney.
“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 Ó Fearraigh said.
Fr Ó Fearraigh told mourners how Moya’s music found a home in every open heart.
She sang to the noble and to the lowly, to Popes and Presidents, he said.
Moya sang before Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, as well as for millions of pilgrims, and in 2004 she sang at the Speakers Luncheon in front of US President George W Bush.
“Her music belonged to all, crossing every boundary, because in a way, it spoke the language of every human heart,” Fr Ó Fearraigh said.
“Moya Brennan was above all, a woman of music and melody, a woman of motherhood, and a woman of mission.”
Moya’s husband Tim Jarvis and children Aisling and Paul arrive at Teach Pobail Phádraig Naofa, Mín Uí Bhaoill, Gaoth Dobhair. NW Newspix
Moya is survived by her husband Tim Jarvis, daughter Aisling (Kayleigh), son Paul (Lara), granddaughter Eden, mother Máire (‘Baba’) Brennan, sisters Deirdre, Enya, Olive and Brídín, brothers Ciarán, Pól and Bartley and her extended family and many friends. She was predeceased by her father Leo Brennan, brother Leon Brennan, uncles Noel and Padraig Duggan and aunt Bríd Duggan.
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“At the centre of Máire’s life was always the love of family,” said Fr Ó Fearraigh.
Among those from the music world who gathered in tribute, and who shared their talents during the service, were Daniel and Majella O’Donnell, Eoin Ferry, Clann Mhic Ruairí, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill and Altan’s Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.
Ciarán and Pól Brennan, the two surviving members of Clannad, performed ‘Eleanor Plunkett’ after communion, while the spirited notes of the harp came from Cormac de Barra, a close musical collaborator whose album with Moya reached the ballot for the 67th Grammy Awards.
Mickey Joe Harte, rising star Muireann Bradley, Brian Kennedy, Andrea Corr and U2 bandmates The Edge, Larry Mullan and Adam Clayton were in attendance along with frontman Bono, who famously collaborated with Moya on Clannad’s 1985 hit ‘In a Lifetime’.
The Edge and Bono arriving at the funeral of Moya Brennan at Teach Pobail Phadraig Naofa. (North West Newspix)
As a mark of respect from the State, Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly was represented by her aide-de-camp Commandant Barry Dolan, while Commandant Joseph Glennon, represented An Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal, Councillor Paul Canning, was in attendance, as were TDs Pearse Doherty and Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher and others from the political world.
Concelebrating the Mass were An tAthair Seán Ó Gallchóir, Parish Priest Emeritus of Gort an Choirce, Father Michael McCullagh CM of the Vincentians, Father John Joe Duffy CC, curate in Creeslough parish, An Sagart Pádraig Ó Baoighill, former Parish Priest of Gaoth Dobhair, and Father Martin Doohan, Parish Priest of Dunfanaghy and Moya’s second cousin.
Shuttle buses brought people from both Ionad Naomh Pádraig and Teach Paidí Óig to the remote church, which was swelling to overflowing by the time the wicker casket was shouldered inside.
Moya’s beloved harp was brought to the altar by Matthew Brennan, and other symbols of her life presented included a family photo, a Club bodhrán from Leo’s Tavern – the family’s famous pub in Meenaleck – a lanyard from her last concert, a prayer book and a Donegal jersey.
Moya was known as the First Lady of Celtic music, and among her proudest moments at home were being honoured as the 2023 Donegal Person of the Year while Clannad was awarded the Freedom of Donegal in 2024.
Moya Brennan and husband Tim Jarvis with daughter Aisling and son Paul, as she was announced as the Donegal Person of the Year 2023. Photo by Eoin Mc Garvey
Readings were given by Bartley Brennan and Anne Jarvis while prayers of the faithful were read by Sinead Campbell, Caitríona Duggan, Owen McDaid, Anna Brennan, Kaya Brennan, Hannah O’Donnell and Alannah Brennan.
A message of condolence from Bishop Niall Coll, Bishop of Raphoe, gave thanks for the gift of Moya’s life and “for the joy and inspiration she brought to so many, and for the lasting legacy she leaves behind.”
A round of applause and standing ovation to Moya followed Fr Brian Ó Fearraigh’s eloquent words: “An Ceol, it is such a powerful medium, that can touch the human heart, it can raise the heart and can open the very soul of the person, and we thank Moya for all of that, for all that she did.”
Moya Brennan was laid to rest in Magheragallon Cemetery.