Moya Brennan dies aged 73 as iconic Clannad voice leaves lasting legacy

Moya Brennan, the celebrated Irish singer and lead voice of Clannad, has died aged 73, her family has confirmed.

She passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement.

The voice that took Celtic music global

Brennan rose to international prominence with Clannad, the family group formed in 1970 that played a key role in bringing Irish-language and Celtic music to a global audience.

The band broke into the mainstream in the 1980s, with music featured in television series such as Harry’s Game and Robin of Sherwood, helping define the genre’s modern sound.

They also made history as the first act to perform in Irish on Top of the Pops.

Solo success and major collaborations

Alongside her work with Clannad, Brennan built a successful solo career, releasing her debut album Máire in 1992 and going on to record dozens of projects.

She collaborated with artists including Bono, Mick Jagger and Paul Young, with Bono once praising her voice as among the finest he had ever heard.

She also won an Emmy Award in 2011 for her work on the documentary Music of Ireland.

Tributes highlight her impact

Fellow Donegal singer Daniel O’Donnell described Brennan as someone deeply rooted in her home community despite her global success.

“She was Donegal through and through,” he said, adding that she remained generous to younger artists and passionate about music throughout her life.

Former Irish president Michael D Higgins said her name would remain “etched” in the story of Irish music.

A career that shaped a genre

Born in Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal, Brennan was the eldest of nine children and a central figure in shaping Clannad’s signature sound.

The band performed a farewell concert in Dublin in 2023, marking more than five decades of influence.

Her final studio album was released in 2024, bringing to a close a career that helped define Celtic music for generations.