The funeral of Moya Brennan takes place in Co. Donegal this afternoon. The funeral Mass will be broadcast on the RTE News Channel and RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta from 2pm today. https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2026/0417/1568783-moya-brennan-funeral/
Thanks Dave. I never heard of her... in my bubble over here . But from a quick Google it seems like she struggled but came back to faith. Her book us now on my list...
Miker, you probably read that Moya was the main singer with the Irish music group Clannad. She had a beautiful voice. Towards the end of the funeral Mass the priest mentioned that she had sung for Pope John Paul II at World Youth Day in Rome in 2000. A song which she and her husband wrote called Perfect Time. I found a version on YouTube of Moya singing it in Armagh Cathedral.
Loved her music. She is Enya’s sister. I have her cd from years ago, such talent. She will be missed.
I love Moya's solo work as well, wonderfully spiritual English translation of this song (In the Presence of God): Verse 1: Show me the way Take care of me, Lord Every day and night Listen to my plea Verse 2: You gave me hope when I was feeling down You are true and full of compassion Forever fill me with Your Spirit I will sing of Your glory And the angels in God's presence Verse 3: In this world guide me Fill my heart with great love You are the King You made heaven and earth Verse 4: You put peace in my heart You brought happiness to my life I will play the harp To praise You as long as I live
Robert Nugent shared a video about a painful decision Moya Brennan made when she was much younger and relates it to her song Perfect Time, which was posted above.
Moya was a lady. Her parents Leo (R.I.P) and Baba raised nine children in a very musical house. Poor Moya had an abortion and talked openly about her regret what a burden the poor girl! Please God her honesty may have deterred others from having one. Rest in peace beautiful lady. Her father Leo agreed to play the keyboard at my father's funeral. Later that same day I was driving past the Brennans house and spotted Leo out cutting the grass so I pulled in to pay him for playing at the funeral. He took a break from grass cutting to talk about my father and what lovely words he spoke. Lovely family. For me there have always been two Donegals. The people in one Donegal are happy when bad things happen to you They are jealous and sneering. The other Donegal is gentle and kind and would do you a good turn if they can at all. They rejoice when good things happen to you and are slow to judge people. The Brennans are definitely the latter.
A lovely documentary from 1999 with Moya speaking about her Faith and Music. Strangely, the narrator Andy Kershaw also died last week. R.I.P. Andy and Moya.
I admire people who put their sins and failings out there without excuse or blame to others. Its a sign of faith and hope to me. I pray for her eternal rest.
Must be that my great-grandparents were of the same ilk. Immigrating to the States in the 1860's, they settled in Philadelphia. I have a treasured handwritten letter of Edward, responding as to why his chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians had refused to march in the 1887 St. Patrick's Day Parade. A true O'Loughlin, he initially writes a 2-page response; near the end he apologizes for taking so long to come to the point, but then carries on for another half-page.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17phNpaLXb/ From RTE One page: What started as a young family from the Gaoth Dobhair Gaeltacht performing at the Letterkenny Folk Festival in 1970 grew into Clannad - the most true Irish sound ever created Clannad: A Celtic Dream | Thursday at 10.50pm | Stream now on RTÉ Player
