President leads moving tributes to Moya Brennan

President Catherine Connolly has led tributes to Moya Brennan after the Clannad star died aged 73.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, President Connolly said Brennan had "glór agus stíl ar leith", and said her gifts as a songwriter and instrumentalist earned her recognition not only in Ireland but around the world.

She said Brennan and her fellow Clannad members had been captivating audiences for more than 50 years since they first began performing in Leo's Tavern in Gaoth Dobhair, adding: "Tá oidhreacht ollmhór fágtha ag Moya" through her work with Clannad and her solo career.

President Connolly also praised Brennan’s support for young musicians through Clubeo, and said her many honours, including her RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, Donegal Person of the Year title, and Grammy and Emmy recognition, were richly deserved.

Tributes have also been pouring in from across the music world following Brennan’s death.

The singer, songwriter and harpist from Gaoth Dobhair in the Donegal Gaeltacht died peacefully, surrounded by her family.

Dónal Lunny, who first worked with Brennan on Clannad’s second album, 1974’s Clannad 2 , said she "left a great legacy behind in her singing and her recording".

"She had, if you like, a sense of the spiritual in her voice, and this always came across in her singing," he told The Oliver Callan Show on RTÉ Radio 1.

"So that one sensed a much greater depth to what she was singing and what it was about.

And it carried her all the way."
Watch: Clannad and Paul Noonan perform In A Lifetime on The Late Late Show
Also on the show, Brennan's childhood friend and trad singer Mairéad Ní Dhomhnaill said she "will be so missed".

"We’ve known each other since the late sixties, early seventies, since Skara Brae, the group I was involved with, and Clannad were starting.

Moya was there, and they were experimenting, like we were, with the old songs, putting them into a much more modern way and introducing harmonies."
Ní Dhomhnaill praised her friend’s beautiful harp playing and said she also had a "magnificent and distinctive tone to her voice".

Daniel O'Donnell told The Oliver Callan Show that it was "a sad day here in Donegal".

"She was a great individual," he said.

"Her success is well-documented, and it speaks for itself, but she was a lovely human being.

"When you were in her presence, there was an earthiness about her.

She had an aura.

There was a peacefulness about her that is kind of hard to put into words what it was like.

And she had a great love for her own area here."
Altan singer and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh praised her as "a beautiful, generous, lovely human being".

Ní Mhaonaigh, who performed with Brennan in the Irish supergroup T with the Maggies, said she will "really miss" her.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland , she hailed Brennan as having "the voice of an angel" and "a beautiful, unique sound".

Ní Mhaonaigh said her friend’s voice will live on forever, adding: "She may be gone but the voice will remain.

She’s one of Ireland’s jewels."
Hothouse Flowers founder Fiachna Ó Braonáin, who co-produced a 2020 television documentary with Brennan about her life in music, said it was "an absolute privilege to be in her world".

"I've known Moya for over 30 years, but she always made you feel like you were part of the family," he said.

"She was just so generous in her spirit."
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Fiachna Ó Braonáin remember their dear friend Moya Brennan
U2 frontman Bono delivered a touching tribute on behalf of the band, praising Moya for her "otherworldly voice".

"She walked through this world like an angel, and now she's back with her own kind," he said.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is "deeply saddened" by the passing of Moya Brennan and said she "brought Irish folk music to the international stage".

Deeply saddened at the passing of Moya Brennan - an iconic Irish voice.

Along with her Clannad bandmates, Moya brought Irish folk music to the international stage.

Deepest sympathies to Moya's family and friends at this difficult time.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

pic.twitter.com/mYLQyhLy1N — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 14, 2026
In a statement, Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said "Moya was a musical icon with a unique voice of extraordinary beauty".

"She went from Gweedore to global renown with Clannad, bringing Irish music to an international audience.

"Her loss will be deeply felt throughout the music and arts communities, and far beyond.

"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis."
Sinn Féin TD for Donegal Pearse Doherty said Brennan was "a powerful ambassador for Ireland".

"Very sad to hear of the passing of Moya Brennan," he wrote on X.

"Moya gave so much to Ireland and its people.

Known as the First Lady of Celtic music, her songs and stories shaped so many lives and will always be cherished.

He added: "Thinking of her husband Tim, her two children Aisling and Paul, the wider family, her friends, and all those who knew and loved her.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam."
💔 Very sad to hear of the passing of Moya Brennan.

Moya gave so much to Ireland and its people.

Known as the First Lady of Celtic music, her songs and stories shaped so many lives and will always be cherished.

Moya was proud of her roots.

A powerful ambassador for Ireland -… pic.twitter.com/8rS15kBZw3 — Pearse Doherty (@PearseDoherty) April 14, 2026
Taking to X, MEP Ciaran Mullooly said the award-winning musician was "an icon of Irish music".

Very sad news from the north west this morning / we are losing some of the great icons of Irish music - RIP Moya Brennan dies aged 73 via @RTENews https://t.co/ZNZgOvHR2b — Ciaran Mullooly MEP (@ciaranmullooly) April 14, 2026
Moya is survived by her husband, Tim Jarvis, and her two children, Aisling and Paul, who both toured and recorded with their mother.

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