DREAMS & LEGENDS
“IF YOU DON’T TRY SOMETHING YOU’LL NEVER KNOW. SIRIUS BROUGHT US TO A DIFFERENT PATH, ANOTHER WORLD, AND THAT’S WHAT MUSIC IS ABOUT.”
Moya Brennan
When Prog first spoke to Clannad in 2013, the award-winning Irish band were uncertain they’d describe themselves as progressive artistes.
But as they prepare to draw a line under their 50-year career, their anthology In A Lifetime – featuring two news songs produced by Trevor Horn – finds both Moya and Pól Brennan far more comfortable embracing the idea.
Sadly, this is one farewell that won’t be followed by a comeback. “I have a lung condition called pulmonary fibrosis,” Moya reveals. “I’m going to lose my breath, basically. There’s no cure for it. The only alternative is a double lung transplant, and you know how easy that is to get. I’ve had to rephrase some songs, but singing is good for my lungs. It is something that is going to progress, so that’s a very good reason to stop!”
She adds: “Would you believe I’m fine about it? I’ve dealt with it. I’m a spiritual person and that helps big time. The lungs are the last thing they know least about, so they’re still experimenting with loads of things.” Confirming that she and younger brothers Pól and Ciarán, plus uncle Noel Duggan, decided to say goodbye while they still can, Moya adds: “People are going, ‘It’s the farewell tour but I’m sure they’ll be doing more.’ I’m going, ‘Hmm, no, not really…’”
Clannad grew up in a Gaelic-speaking part of Donegal and learned English at school. Surrounded by Ireland’s musical heritage, they heard their
