![\"Moya](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/43625ab9-f100-456f-8781-cbd265830f07.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA statement from Ms Brennan\u2019s family said she died peacefully surrounded by loved ones in her native Co Donegal.<\/p>\n
Ms Brennan\u2019s brothers and members of Clannad, P\u00f3l and Ciar\u00e1n, said they were heartbroken at the loss of their sister.<\/p>\n
In a tribute posted online, they said: \u201cWe are completely heartbroken at the passing of our dearest sister M\u00e1ire (Moya).<\/p>\n
\u201cShe crossed over last night at home in Donegal surrounded by family and has now joined P\u00e1draig and Noel across the veil.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer voice was the signature sound of Clannad and will live on forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brennan is survived by her husband Tim and her children Aisling and Paul.<\/p>\n
Ms Brennan\u2019s remains will repose at her home at Upper Dore, Gweedore, on Wednesday, April 15 and on Thursday, April 16 from 1pm to 8pm.<\/p>\n
Prayers willl be nightly at 8pm.<\/p>\n
The house will be private after the prayers and on the morning of the funeral.<\/p>\n
Ms Brennan\u2019s Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, April 17 at 2pm in St. Patrick’s Church, Meenaweal, Crolly with interment afterwards in Magheragallon Cemetery Gweedore.<\/p>\n
The Funeral Mass can be viewed live on Kieran Roarty Funeral Director’s Facebook page and on the Church webcam via MCN Media.<\/p>\n
Born M\u00e1ire N\u00ed Bhraon\u00e1in in 1952 to her parents Leo and M\u00e1ire Brennan, she grew up in Gaoth Dobhair, a Gaeltacht area in the northwest of Donegal.<\/p>\n
The eldest of nine siblings, she formed Clannad in the 1970s with her brothers P\u00f3l and Ciar\u00e1n, and their uncles Noel and P\u00e1draig \u00d3 D\u00fag\u00e1in.<\/p>\n
Brennan was the lead singer of the group and was also a songwriter and harpist.<\/p>\n
The group started out performing at the family pub, Leo\u2019s Tavern, before going on to huge success and international renown.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Moya on stage in 1986<\/p>\n
News in 90 seconds – Tuesday, April 14 <\/p>\n
Clannad brought Irish music to a global audience with the success of the iconic theme tune to the TV series Harry\u2019s Game. They went on to perform the song on Top of the Pops, becoming the first act to perform in Irish on the programme.<\/p>\n
The song also bagged Clannad an Ivor Novello Award for Best Television Soundtrack.<\/p>\n
Further work on music for television saw the group win a Bafta for Best Television Music for their work on Robin of Sherwood.<\/p>\n
Clannad\u2019s studio albums brought more awards success, including a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for Landmarks in 1999.<\/p>\n
Brennan\u2019s sister Eithne N\u00ed Bhraon\u00e1in spent a number of years performing as part of Clannad, before going on to pursue a solo career. Performing under the name Enya, she would go on to become one of the world\u2019s best-selling musicians.<\/p>\n
Affectionately known as the First Lady of Celtic music, Brennan also enjoyed a successful solo career in her own right.<\/p>\n
Bono paid tribute to Brennan on behalf of U2 and said she had an \u201cotherworldly voice\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe sang like an angel,\u201d he told the Irish Independent.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe walked through this world like an angel, and now she\u2019s back with her own kind.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love you Moya.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donegal Sinn F\u00e9in TD Pearse Doherty paid tribute to Brennan on Tuesday morning, saying he was \u201cvery sad\u201d to hear the news of her passing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoya gave so much to Ireland and its people. Known as the First Lady of Celtic music, her songs and stories shaped so many lives and will always be cherished,\u201d Mr Doherty wrote in a post on X.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoya was proud of her roots. A powerful ambassador for Ireland \u2013 she took our music, language and culture and shared it with the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThinking of her husband Tim, her two children Aisling and Paul, the wider family, her friends, and all those who knew and loved her.<\/p>\n
\u201cAr dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a hanam.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said he was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Moya Brennan.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoya was a musical icon with a unique voice of extraordinary beauty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe went from Gweedore to global renown with Clannad, bringing Irish music to the international audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer loss will be deeply felt throughout the music and arts communities, and far beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a tribute posted on social media, Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said he is deeply saddened at the passing of Moya Brennan who was \u201can iconic Irish voice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlong with her Clannad bandmates, Moya brought Irish folk music to the international stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeepest sympathies to Moya\u2019s family and friends at this difficult time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAr dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a hanam.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donegal singer Daniel O\u2019Donnell described Ms Brennan as a \u2018beautiful lady.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cMajella and I are deeply saddened at the passing of our dear friend Moya Brennan.<\/p>\n
\u201cA beautiful lady who will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to know her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe send our sincere sympathy to her husband Tim, daughter Aisling, son Paul, her mother Baba and all the extended family at this very sad time.<\/p>\n
\u201cRest in Peace Moya,\u201d said Mr O\u2019Donnell.<\/p>\n
Donegal-based Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival said Ms Brennan who was \u201ca cherished friend and a wonderful supporter\u201d of the festival.<\/p>\n
The committee said her legacy will live on in her music and in the hearts of all who loved her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the great honour of welcoming her to Dungloe in 2023, where she officially opened the festival with such grace, warmth, and kindness.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer generosity knew no bounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoya was always willing to support the festival in any way she could, and as recently as last October, she kindly lent her voice to our promotional video; something we will treasure deeply.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoya\u2019s talent was extraordinary, but it was her gentle spirit, humility, and genuine kindness that left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of knowing her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe extend our heartfelt sympathies to her husband Tim, daughter Aisling, son Paul, her mother Baba, her brothers and sisters, and her wider family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Singer Una Healy described Ms Brennan as \u201cIreland\u2019s first lady of Celtic music\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeeply saddened to hear of the loss of the wonderful Moya Brennan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had the great pleasure of meeting and singing with Moya on a number of occasions, along with her daughter Aisling and with the Irish Women in Harmony.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was such a beautiful person and a legend.<\/p>\n
\u201cRIP Moya. My deepest sympathies to her family and friends,\u201d said Ms Healy.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Frances Black said Ms Brennan was one of the \u201cmost beautiful people\u201d in the music industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoya was not only a wonderful musician and singer, she was a warm, generous and deeply spiritual soul who touched everyone she met.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had the privilege of catching up with Moya this past January after she performed at the Tradfest Women of Note gig , and we had plans to meet again in August when I would be up in Donegal.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoya gave so much to Irish music and to the world, her voice with Clannad was unlike anything else, a sound rooted in the Donegal Gaeltacht that somehow spoke to millions across the globe.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut beyond the music, it was who she was as a human being that will stay with me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy deepest condolences to her husband Tim, her children Aisling and Paul, and all of her family at this incredibly sad time,\u201d said Ms Black.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A statement from Ms Brennan\u2019s family said she died peacefully surrounded by loved ones in her native Co…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":397870,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[15763,93,61,60],"class_list":["post-397869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-darragh-nolan","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=397869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397869\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/397870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=397869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=397869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=397869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}