Clannad, whose name is taken from an Clann as Dobhar meaning the family from Dore, was formed by the Brennan family in 1970. Máire, Ciarán and Pól Brennan joined uncles Noel and Pádraig Duggan and began performing in their father Leo's tavern. Máire's sister, Enya, joined the band in 1979 and left three years later to pursue a successful solo career. Máire has also enjoyed a simultaneous career as a solo singer, starting with her 1992 album entitled Máire, and recently altered the spelling of her name to Moya Brennan.
Harry's Game, the group's theme song for a television thriller, prominently featured in the film Patriot Games, was also used in a commercial for Volkswagen in 1992, and won Clannad newfound popularity in the United States. Another hit was the 1985 song In a Lifetime with Bono of U2. Their song, I Will Find You, is part of the soundtrack for the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans.
The mega-selling album Lore (1996) also gave some thought to the Native American Indians. On Trail Of Tears Noel Duggan imagined how it felt to be exiled from your ancestral land. He was also thinking about these people and their connection with the Irish. How for instance, these distant American cousins had sent money to Ireland during the potato famine of the Nineteenth Century.
Their Grammy in 1999, (their third nomination) was in recognition for the Landmarks (1998) record, which was once again sited in the heartland of Donegal, shaped by the mountains, the glens and the sea-lashed shores of Gweedore. In Of This Land Moya sings about Ireland, of its past and of its future. The track Fadó translates as "Long Ago", which once again demonstrates the influence of old Celtic history on Clannad's music.
In 2003, Clannad released the best of album, In A Lifetime, which is one of their biggest selling albums to date.
Clannad have gone from strength to strength, and from their early days have created a massive fan base. The youngest of the siblings, Moya's (Máire's) sister and goddaughter is the musician Brídín Brennan.
In 2008, Clannad again began touring, beginning with a UK tour in March. Clannad's Noel Duggan in March 2008 released the band's official biography, 'Moments in a Lifetime', which includes many unseen photographs, and the band's latest (15th) compilation 'Celtic Themes' was released a few days later.
In June 2009, Clannad was nominated for an IMA Award in the category Best Revival Act.
Their album Nádúr (their first new album since the release of Landmarks in 1997) was released worldwide in September 2013.
In 2019, Clannad embarked on their In a Lifetime farewell tour, but it was postponed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new compilation album entitled, In a Lifetime (which included two new tracks), was released.
Discography
* 1972 — The Pretty Maid (Clannad)
* 1974 — Clannad 2
* 1976 — Dúlamán
* 1978 — Clannad in Concert [live]
* 1979 — Ring Of Gold [live, unofficial bootleg]
* 1980 — Crann Úll
* 1982 — Fuaim
* 1983 — Magical Ring
* 1984 — Legend [soundtrack]
* 1985 — Macalla
* 1987 — Sirius
* 1987 — The Collection [collection]
* 1988 — Atlantic Realm [soundtrack]
* 1989 — Pastpresent [collection]
* 1989 — The Angel and the Soldier Boy [soundtrack]
* 1992 — Anam
* 1993 — Banba
* 1995 — Lore
* 1995 — Themes [collection]
* 1997 — Landmarks
* 1997 — Rogha: The Best of Clannad [collection]
* 1998 — An Diolaim [collection]
* 2003 — The Best of Clannad: In A Lifetime [collection]
* 2005 — Clannad - Live In Concert, 1996 [live]
* Nádúr (2013)
Official website: www.clannad.ie
Northern Skyline: www.clannad.org.uk
Eirigh Suas a Stoirin
Clannad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Foscail a' doras agus lig mise 'un ti
Ta buidéal im aice bhéarfas deoch
Do mhnaoi an tí
A's tá súil 'gam nach ndiúltuigheann
Tú mé fa do iníon
Nuair a éirighim amach ar maidin
Is dearcaim ar a'bhaile ud a bhfuil
Agam le ghabhail ann
Tuiteann na deóra na sróite liom sios
Agus gniomh se míle osna a
Tá cosúil le cumhaidh
I ngleanntain na coilleadh uagní
Is lag brónach a bim
Ó Dhomnach go Domhnach 's
Mé ag cathamh mo shaol
's 'mé feitheamh gach trathnóna ce
shiúlúil 'na ród no cé thiocfadh 'n ti
'S gan duine ar an domhan mhór a thiocfadh
's thógfadh mo chroi
A Mháilí a chéadsearc na
Tréig thusa mé go brách
Nach bhfuil mé do dhiadh gach aon lá
Fa mhalaidh na n-ard
is tú cruithneach ar mhná Éireann
is tú an péarla 'tá doiligh 'fháil
is dar mhionna mo bhéil ni bréag é
go bhfuil mé leatsa I ngrá
Éirigh suas a Stóirín mura bfhuil tú do shui
Foscail a' doras agus lig mise 'un ti
Ta buidéal im aice bhéarfas deoch
Do mhnaoi an tí
A's tá súil 'gam nach ndiúltuigheann
Tú mé fa do iníon
The Clannad song Éirigh Suas a Stóirín is about a man pleading with his love to leave her comfortable life and join him on his travels. He asks her to rise up and open the door for him so he can come in and have a drink with the woman of the house. He hopes that she will not reject him as he is interested in her daughter. He describes how, when he wakes up in the morning, he looks back at the town he is leaving behind and how moving away from the town brings tears to his eyes, as if he is losing a friend. He goes on to describe the lonely and sad feelings he has as he wanders through the woods on his own, feeling lost and wondering if anyone will ever come to join him on his journey. He pleads with his love again to join him and tells her how he loves her.
The lyrics are layered with meaning and speak to the listener in a subtle manner. The man is trying to convince his love to leave her comfortable life behind and join him on his travels. He is not sure if she will accept him, but he is willing to take that risk. He describes his own feelings of sadness and loneliness and hopes that she too will feel the same and decide to join him. Ultimately, the lyrics evoke a sense of longing and desire for companionship and adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
Éirigh suas a Stóirín mura bfhuil tú do shui
Wake up my darling, if you're not asleep. Open the door and let me in. There's a bottle beside me for the lady of the house, and I hope you won't refuse me as your son-in-law.
Foscail a' doras agus lig mise 'un ti
Open the door and let me in.
Ta buidéal im aice bhéarfas deoch
There's a bottle beside me for the lady of the house.
Do mhnaoi an tí
For the lady of the house.
A's tá súil 'gam nach ndiúltuigheann
And I hope you won't refuse me.
Tú mé fa do iníon
As your son-in-law.
Nuair a éirighim amach ar maidin
When I wake up in the morning.
Agus dearcaim uaim siar
And look back at where I came from.
Is dearcaim ar a'bhaile ud a bhfuil
And gaze upon that home of mine.
Agam le ghabhail ann
As I set out towards it.
Tuiteann na deóra na sróite liom sios
My tears fall as I walk down the road.
Agus gniomh se míle osna a
And a thousand sighs escape me.
Tá cosúil le cumhaidh
It's like agony.
I ngleanntain na coilleadh uagní
In the loneliness of the woodland glen.
Is lag brónach a bim
I feel weak and sad.
Ó Dhomnach go Domhnach 's
From Sunday to Sunday.
Mé ag cathamh mo shaol
I spend my life.
's 'mé feitheamh gach trathnóna ce
And every evening I wait.
shiúlúil 'na ród no cé thiocfadh 'n ti
To walk on the road or who would come to the house.
'S gan duine ar an domhan mhór a thiocfadh
And nobody in the wide world would come.
s thógfadh mo chroi
And it breaks my heart.
A Mháilí a chéadsearc na
Oh my Molly, my first love.
Tréig thusa mé go brách
Have you abandoned me forever?
Nach bhfuil mé do dhiadh gach aon lá
Am I not your friend every day?
Fa mhalaidh na n-ard
In the high mountain valleys.
is tú cruithneach ar mhná Éireann
And you are the most beautiful woman in Ireland.
is tú an péarla 'tá doiligh 'fháil
And you are the pearl that is hard to find.
is dar mhionna mo bhéil ni bréag é
And it's not a lie what my mouth says.
go bhfuil mé leatsa I ngrá
That I am in love with you.
Contributed by Penelope F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bishno6229
éirigh suas a stóirín mura bfhuil tú do shui
Foscail a' doras agus lig mise 'un ti
Ta buidéal I'm aice bhéarfas deoch
Do mhnaoi an tí
A's tá súil 'gam nach ndiúltuigheann
Tú mé fa do níon
Nuair a éirighim amach ar maidin
Agus dearcaim uaim siar
Is dearcaim ar a'bhaile ud a bhfuil
Agam le ghabhail ann
Tuiteann na deóra na sróite liom sios
Agus gniomh se míle osna a
Tá cosúil le cumhaidh
I ngleanntain na coilleadh uagní
Is lag brónach a bim
ó dhomnach go domhnach 's
Mé ag cathamh mo shaol
'Mé feitheamh gach trathnóna ce
Shiúlúil 'na ród no cé thiocfadh 'n ti
'S gan duine ar an domhan mhór a thiocfadh
'S thógfadh mo chroi
A mháilí a chéadsearc na
Tréig thusa mé go brách
Nach bhfuil mé do dhiadh gach aon lá
Fa mhalaidh na n-ard
Is tú cruithneach ar mhná éireann
Is tú an péarla 'tá doiligh 'fháil
Is dar mhionna mo bhéil ni bréag é
Go bhfuil mé leatsa I ngrá
@BlindObedienceBrutal
First heard this 20 years ago, and it's still one of the prettiest songs I've ever heard. And thanks for the lyrics in Irish — spelled properly too I might add...
@50crckt51
And I have been viewing them when time permits. Ireland is a proud part my heritage - hope to visit soon, but working hard to pay my way in life and stumbling between the immensities!
@peterpowis4145
one of my favourite early clannad songs :)
@FantasyBookWriter
Hm... I always feel somekind of good when hearing this music, I mean all kinds of celtic music. I wish I could be irish... Greetings from Germany
@crisbio31
Lindo... Apaixonante...
@PhalainaBelgium
Very pure voice of Mairead Brennan with typical Clannad background vocals at the end !! Lovely !! Phalaïna
@1798UnitedIrishMen
Its really worth it mo chara, some places here are breath taken. And the way there is stone-age monuments everywhere is a real testament to just how old Ireland is, I have a few videos of some really cool spots and soon to have more as I have to go to wolfe tones grave for the anniversary of his death. If you ever come to Ireland I would be happy to show you around my part mo chara :D
@9thebear
Really beautifull.
@MJK1965
Love their music :) My Irish is so rusty it's not funny. A beautiful language. I'm glad it's making a come back.
@ioleromeo919
Il brano di Clannad "Eirigh Suas A Stoirin" è il più bello della Musica Celtica. Bravissimi!!!