Clannad
This group, from Gweedore in Co. Donegal, Eire have successfully crossed the bridge between folk and rock. The line-up consists of Maire Brennan (b. Marie Ni Bhroanain, 4 August 1952, Dublin, Eire; harp/vocals), Pol Brennan (guitar/vocals/percussion/flute), Ciaran Brennan (guitar/bass/vocals/keyboards), Padraig Duggan (guitar/vocals/mandolin) and Noel Duggan (guitar/vocals). They formed in 1970, playing at Leo's Tavern, run by Leo Brennan, a former showband musician, and father of the Brennan group members of Clannad. The word Clannad means ‘family’ in Gaelic, and the group formed initially to play folk festivals in Ireland. At the time the line-up consisted of three of the Brennan children, and two of their uncles. The group's first successes came in Germany where they toured in 1975. Clannad initially caught the attention of the wider public in the UK when they recorded the theme tune for television's "Harry's Game" in 1982. The single reached number 5 in the UK charts, and received an Ivor Novello Award. In 1984 they recorded the soundtrack to television's "Robin Of Sherwood" and reached the Top 50 in May the same year. The following year the song received a British Academy Award for best soundtrack. Further chart success followed with the 1986 UK Top 20 hit In A Lifetime, on which Maire duetted with Bono from U2. From their early days when despite establishing themselves into the rock mainstream, Clannad have always retained the Celtic quality in the music. Maire's sister, Enya, left the group in 1982 having joined in 1979 and pursued a successful solo career. Clannad meanwhile have not lost contact with their folk audience and continue to perform at such events as the Cambridge Folk Festival.