![\"Moya](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/moya-brennan-remembered-at-funeral-as-first-lady-of-celtic-music.jpg\")
Moya Brennan and Clannad won many awards in their career (Liam McBurney\/PA)<\/p>\nMoya Brennan has been remembered as the \u201cFirst Lady of Celtic music\u201d at her funeral.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mourners at her funeral also included U2 members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr, Daniel O\u2019Donnell and his wife Majella, as well as Andrea Corr.<\/p>\n
Moya Brennan and Clannad won many awards in their career (Liam McBurney\/PA)<\/p>\n
President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin were represented at the service at St Patrick\u2019s Church in Meenaweal, Crolly, in the Irish speaking Gweedore area.<\/p>\n
A guard of honour was formed outside the church by local primary school pupils, a musical marching band and staff from a community centre.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Deeply saddened at the passing of Moya Brennan – an iconic Irish voice.<\/p>\n
Along with her Clannad bandmates, Moya brought Irish folk music to the international stage. <\/p>\n
Deepest sympathies to Moya\u2019s family and friends at this difficult time. <\/p>\n
Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a hanam. pic.twitter.com\/mYLQyhLy1N<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Miche\u00e1l Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Some of the symbols of her life brought to the altar included Brennan\u2019s harp, a lanyard from the last gig she played, and a Donegal GAA jersey.<\/p>\n Parish priest Brian O Fearraig led the service recalling how on Monday night, it seemed as if a \u201csacred silence descended for a while\u201d after Brennan passed.<\/p>\n He told those gathered music stood still, and Brennan\u2019s \u201cbeautiful harp stood silently in the corner of her room, as though keeping its own quiet vigil of respect and honour\u201d.<\/p>\n She may be gone, but the voice will remain<\/p>\n Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh<\/p>\n But he said in the hours and days that followed her home \u201cbecame 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\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Fr\u00a0O Fearraig continued his tribute in both the Irish language and English, describing Brennan as \u201cabove all, a woman of music and melody, a woman of motherhood, and mission\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cShe 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.<\/p>\n Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Moya Brennan. She was a musical icon with a unique voice of extraordinary beauty. She went from Gweedore to global renown with Clannad, bringing Irish music to the international audience. Ar dheis D\u00e9 go raibh a anam d\u00edlis. pic.twitter.com\/jZhXvdNKm0<\/a><\/p>\n