Click here to listen to Maire say hello to the Celtic Cafe!

Enya's older sister and original lead singer for the Celtic group Clannad, Maire (pronounced Mo-ya) Brennan released her first solo album in 1992, simply entitled Maire. Growing up in a musical family, Maire's mother was a music teacher and her father was a musician, performing popular tunes on the saxophone, clarinet and the accordion.

With Clannad, Maire sang traditional Irish songs in historic Irish Gaelic. They got their first big break in 1970 when Clannad won first prize at the LetterKenny Folk Festival, although they did not release their first album till 1972.

Being one of the first groups to ever sing in Gaelic, Clannad has been in the forefront of the revival of Celtic arts and culture. In 1982, Clannad had their next big break when they performed the soundtrack for Harry's Game, a three part television thriller about Northern Ireland. Clannad went on to perform on the soundtracks for such feature films as Patriot Games and The Last of the Mohicans.

In 1992, Maire was released by RCA/Atlantic and featured the more acoustic side of Maire, including with her playing the harp. It also featured Maire on the cover with her three-month-old daughter, Aisling, for whom she composed the lullaby, Oro.

Maire's band consists of Maire Brennan on Irish harp, vocals; Sinead Madden on fiddle, vocals; Paul Byrne, drums and percusson; Tiarnan O'Duinnchinn on pipes,whistles; Fionan De Barra on guitar, vocals; David MacMullan on keyboards; Feargal Murray on keyboards; Hugh Boyle for sound; Leon Brennan, as tour manager, and; Peter Carson, manager.

Learn more about Maire by clicking on the links on the left.

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The Celtic Cafe wishes to thank Hammacher Schlemmer for allowing us use of the pocket recorder, and the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon.