Moya Brennan: Irish Gaelic voice silenced at 73

Moya Brennan, the distinctive voice of Clannad, has passed away at the age of 73. She first gained attention in November 1982 with Clannad's "Theme from Harry's Game," which reached No. 5 on the charts, a landmark achievement for a song performed in Irish Gaelic.

Brennan's career, which began in her parents' County Donegal tavern, expanded the reach of traditional music. Her vocals became a notable presence on prominent film and television soundtracks, including "Robin of Sherwood," "Titanic," and the film adaptation of "King Arthur."

Her innovative approach to folk music, blending it with studio techniques and ambient sounds, paved the way for artists like Enya and influenced a generation of musicians. Brennan also explored contemporary genres, notably featuring on Chicane's 1999 Euro-trance hit "Saltwater."

Throughout her life, Brennan remained connected to her Christian faith and the natural world. She continued to perform and record, even while battling pulmonary fibrosis, with her final public performance on Tommy Tiernan's show in 2020 being a deeply moving rendition of "Gaoth Barra Na dTonn."