DONEGAL

DATES

OVERVIEW Brídín Brennan is the youngest member of Ireland's renowned musical family that has given us Clannad and Enya. The Brennan family, consisting of four brothers and five sisters, grew up in the wild and remote North West town land of Dobhar in Donegal. Their talents have made a unique and immeasurable impact on the landscape of Irish music for the past three decades. Brídín grew up in a household absorbed in music and performing. Her parents Leo and Baba nurtured a culture of music and song within the home. Baba was the local school's music teacher and Leo lead the celebrated Slieve Foy Dance Band. The catalyst that would propel the entire family onto the stage though, was the opening of Leo's Tavern in Meenaleck. Brídín made her debut performance on the stage of the family pub as Clannad and Enya had done before her. From a young age she was regularly called upon to treat the delighted tourists and visitors with a medley of songs. Growing up, Brídín heard Clannad's stories returning from sold-out concerts and television appearances throughout the World. As a teenager she watched as her sister Enya began a phenomenally successful International career. Surrounded by these influences there was an almost predetermined expectation for her to follow the family career path. However like any other rebellious teenager Brídín decided to forge her own road and set out into what she thought would be the much more exciting world of hairdressing! It wasn't too long though before destiny came knocking. In the early '90's she was invited by her siblings, Moya and Ciaran, to join Clannad as a backing vocalist. Over the next seven years she gained a wealth of musical experience as she accompanied Clannad on tours throughout the world, took part in recording on some of their most successful albums and appeared on the top rated television shows such as Later with Jools Holland (UK) and Tonight with Jay Leno (USA). The experience completely affirmed Brídín's love of music and performing. She went on to work along with her other sisters, Olive and Deirdre on Moya Brennan's solo projects. The four part family harmony became an integral part of Moya's first and second solo albums ("Maire" and "Misty Eyed Adventures"). This was a thrilling experience for the sisters who had not sung together in such a formal setting before. The girls undoubtedly had a spectacular energy together and were invited along with Irish Singer Brian Kennedy, to feature as the coveted interval act in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1995. Other collaborations at this time included backing vocals for Scottish band Runrig and on Donal Lunny's album "Common Ground". Not sure of which direction she wanted to go next, Brídín took two years away from music and went back to the world of hairdressing, although this time as receptionist with celebrity hairdresser Charles Worthington. A request from a friend to sing lead vocal on two tracks brought her back into the recording studio and she realised then how much she missed the world of music, the world that she grew up in. Brídín has now inevitably branched out on her own. She has just finished her eagerly awaited debut album, 'Eyes Of Innocence'. Although the haunting ethereal voice is unmistakable in it's lineage, her music is somewhat different from the traditional or classical style of her siblings. She has infused some of her own tastes and experiences into a style probably best termed "chilled adult pop". So the predestined path of following the family career finally came to be. Of course, with 75 million album sales in the family already, she has some catching up to do! 2005 - Release of 'Eyes Of Innocence' album [12 August]