Moya Brennan: 'Her music found a home in every heart', funeral Mass hears

As Moya Brennan slipped to her eternal rest on Monday night, her iconic harp stood solemnly in the corner of the room.

In that moment, in a quiet room in the Brennan family home at Upper Dore, the music stood still.

On Friday afternoon, the same harp rested at the altar of the compact, quaint St Patrick’s Church in Meenaweal, Crolly, which filled with unique Gaelic tone for the funeral Mass of ‘The First Lady of Celtic Music’.

St Patrick’s, an old corrugated iron building, first opened 90 years ago sits neatly into the wild and rugged landscape and it was packed beyond its capacity.

Bono - who collaborated with Moya on the 1985 hit ‘In a Lifetime’ - The Edge, Larry Mullan and Adam Clayton from U2 were among the hundreds of mourners in a congregation also included Daniel O’Donnell, Brian Kennedy, Andrea Corr, Mickey Joe Harte and rising star Muireann Bradley.

Daniel and Majella O’Donnell sang ‘Here I am Lord’ during the service while Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan and Maighread Ní Domhnaill sang An Mhaighdéan Mhara at the final blessing. Local band Clann Mhic Ruairí and Cór Phádraig/Mhuire also contributed to the musical theme of the afternoon. 

Bono and The Edge at the funeral of Moya Brennan. Photo: Thomas Gallagher

Chief Celebrant Fr Brian Ó Fearraigh, the parish priest of Gaoth Dobhair, told the large congregation that, through her voice and playing of the harp, Moya carried “the rugged beauty, that quiet strength, the ancient timeless mystery, and rich soul of Donegal to audiences right across the world”.

Since the early 1970s, Moya’s unique, haunting voice went around the globe as the lead singer of Clannad and later as a solo artist. Her career spanned 25 albums and 20 million record sales, winning Grammy and Emmy awards. She was the 2023 Donegal Person of the Year while Clannad was awarded the Freedom of Donegal in 2024.

“I always talk about my wonderful Donegal when I am abroad,” she said at the time.

Her beloved harp was brought to the altar by Matthew Brennan and other symbols of her life presented included a family photo, a Club bodhran from Leo’s Tavern - the family’s famous pub in Meenaleck - a lanyard from her last concert, a prayer book and a Donegal jersey. 

“She shared her songs and voice with people in every corner of the earth,” her daughter, Aisling said, introducing the symbols.

Born as Máire Philomena on August 5, 1952, the eldest of nine children to Leo, who played in a cabaret band, and music teacher ‘Baba’ Máire, she changed her name to Moya in 2002.

Fr Ó Fearraigh recalled how last Monday in the Brennan home in Upper Dore “a sacred silence had descended for a while” as Moya died, aged 73, surrounded by her family.

“It was as if, the silence itself seemed to sing Máire into eternity and home to heaven,” he said. “Moya Brennan was above all, a woman of music and melody, a woman of motherhood, and mission.

“She knew that her gift was from God, and she used that gift faithfully and well, allowing her voice and harp to harmonise and become instruments of beauty, peace, and blessing for the world.  

“Moya sang for uasal agus íseal, Popes and Presidents, and for the poor of this earth and the forgotten, yet her music belonged to all, crossing every boundary, because in a way, it spoke the language of every human heart. It found a home in every heart that cared to throw open its doors and listen, not just with the ears, but the heart.”

Moya is survived by her husband Tim Jarvis, daughter Aisling (Kayleigh), son Paul (Lara), granddaughter Eden, mother Máire (‘Baba’) Brennan, sisters Deirdre, Enya, Olive and Brídín, brothers Ciarán, Pól and Bartley and her extended family and many friends. She was predeceased by her father Leo Brennan, brother Leon Brennan, uncles Noel & Padraig Duggan and aunt Bríd Duggan.

“At the centre of Máire’s life was always the love of family,” Fr Ó Fearraigh said.

The remains of Moya Brennan are welcomed to St Patrick's Church. Photo: Thomas Gallagher

Shuttle busses brought people from both Ionad Naomh Padraig and teach Paidi Oig to the remote church, which was swelled to overflowing by the time the wicker casket was shouldered inside. 

Readings were given by Bartley Brennan and Anne Jarvis while prayers of the faithful were read by Sinead Campbell, Caitríona Duggan, Owen McDaid, Anna Brennan, Kaya Brennan, Hannah O’Donnell and Alannah Brennan. 

The Bishop of Raphoe, Bishop Niall Coll added words of condolence, which were read by Fr Sean Ó Gallchóir.

“Moya Brennan was a gifted woman whose music touched the hearts of people far beyond her own native Gaoth Dobhair,” Bishop Coll said.  “She was, in a very real way, a bridge between faith and culture, and through her voice and music many people caught a glimpse of the transcendent.”

Concelebrants for the Mass were: Fr Seán Ó Gallchóir, Parish Priest Emeritus of Gort an Choirce; Fr Michael McCullagh. a priest of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians); Creeslough curate Fr John Joe Duffy; former Gaoth Dobhair parish priest Fr Pádraig Ó Baoighill; and Fr Martin Doohan, parish priest of Dunfanaghy and Moya’s second cousin.

President Catherine Connolly was represented by Commandant Barry Dolan and Taoiseach Micheal Martin by Commandant Joseph Glennon.  The Mayor of Donegal, Councillor Paul Canning, was in attendance as were TDs Pearse Doherty and Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher and others from the political world. 

Clannad - Clan as Dobhar (Family from Dore) - were formed in 1970 alongside her siblings Ciarán and Pól Brennan and their maternal uncles, twins Pádraig and Noel Duggan and rose to worldwide acclaim. Their 1980s hit Theme From Harry’s Game took the band to new heights, including an appearance on Top of The Pops, with the song winning an Ivor Novello Award.

At World Youth Day in 1999, Moya performed Perfect Time to the largest crowd ever assembled in the northern hemisphere, playing to some 2.7 million in the Tor Vargetta near Rome. She sang in front of US President George W Bush in 2004 and in front of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.

Ciarán and Pól Brennan, the two surviving members of Clannad, performed ‘Eleanor Plunkett’ alongside Cormac De Barra after communion.

In the days following her death, music and party filled the air, most of which Fr Ó Fearraigh said, were selected by Moya herself. 

“Pieces that seemed to gather up her whole life,” Fr Ó Fearraigh said. “The yearning of ‘California Dreaming’, the brightness and joy of ‘Top of the World’, the steadfast love and hidden strength of the poem ‘Scaffolding’ by Seamus Heaney, to the haunting tenderness of Joan Baez’s song ‘500 Miles’, and then the raw, and that aching beauty of ‘We Didn’t Know We Were Ready’ by Talos and Ólafur Arnalds, to mention but a few.”

Fr Ó Fearraigh told mourners how “grace and grief stood side by side” in the days since her passing and: “Embraced and danced to the beautiful music, as memories were shared through tears of sadness and sorrow and tears of joy and gratitude.” 

Moya Brennan was laid to rest in Magheragallon cemetery.