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
Newgrange
Clannad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mysterious ring, a magical ring of stones
The druids have lived there once they said,
Forgotten is the race that no-one knows.
[Chorus]
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
The circled tomb of a different age
Secret lines carved on ancient stone.
Heroic kings laid down to rest
Forgotten is the race that no-one knows.
Wait for the sun on a winter's day
And a beam of light shines across the floor.
Mysterious ring, a magical ring.
But forgotten is the race that no-one knows.
The song "Newgrange" by Clannad speaks about a place on the east, which is a mysterious ring, and a magical ring of stones. It is believed that the druids had once lived there, but no one knows the race that had created this place. The song's lyrics refer to the Newgrange Monument, which is a prehistoric site located in the Boyne Valley, County Meath, Ireland. The monument is a passage tomb, and it was built around 3200 BC, which predates the Egyptian pyramids by over 500 years.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Rum de rum 'rud a derimo," which are believed to be Celtic words that translate to "A magical spell I will weave on you." The verse talks about the circled tomb of a different age, which has secret lines carved on ancient stones. The heroic kings are laid down to rest, but the race that created this place is long forgotten.
The last verse of the song talks about the winter's day, when a beam of light shines across the floor of the mysterious ring, which is a magical ring. Here, the song highlights the significance of the winter solstice, which is when the rising sun enters the tomb and illuminates the central chamber. This intricate alignment has been kept intact for over five millennia.
Overall, Newgrange is a tribute to the prehistoric monument and the ancient race who created it. The song conveys how their legacy has endured and how their rich history, culture, and tradition are still held in high regard centuries later.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a place on the east
In the east lies a place of significance.
Mysterious ring, a magical ring of stones
The place is surrounded by a circle of stones that hold some enchanting aura.
The druids have lived there once they said
The local folklore tells that this place was once inhabited by the druids - the ancient priestly class of the Celts.
Forgotten is the race that no-one knows.
However, the knowledge of the culture and the people who built this site has been lost as time passed.
[Chorus] Rum de rum 'rud a derimo Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
A repeated chant adding a mystical and spiritual tone to the song.
The circled tomb of a different age
The site is an ancient tomb of a bygone era.
Secret lines carved on ancient stone.
There are engravings on these stones, the meaning of which is lost to modern times.
Heroic kings laid down to rest
The tomb contains the remains of some legendary kings.
Forgotten is the race that no-one knows.
But unfortunately, the people who were responsible for constructing the site have faded away from human memory.
Wait for the sun on a winter's day
A precise time of the year and day is mentioned, giving a sense of the depths of thought the band has gone to.
And a beam of light shines across the floor.
The sun's beam reflected by the stones creates an ethereal atmosphere in the site.
Mysterious ring, a magical ring.
Enchantment and mystique accompany the place as a theme throughout the song.
But forgotten is the race that no-one knows.
Despite how magical the site feels, humanity has no record of those who built it or held it sacred.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CIARAN MARION BRENNAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Insights Intuition
Words courtesy of SONG LYRICS
There is a place on the east
Mysterious ring, magical ring of stones
The druids lived here once they said
Forgotten is the race that no one knows
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Circled tomb of a different age
Secret lines carved on ancient stone
Heroic Kings laid down to rest
Forgotten is the race that no one knows
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Wait for the sun on a winter's day
Beam of light shines across the floor
Mysterious ring, magical ring
But forgotten is the race that no one knows
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
MagicMonkey10100
There Is A Place On The East
Mysterious Ring A Magical Ring Of Stones
The Druids Lived Here Once They Said
But Forgotten Is The Race That No One Knows
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Circled Tomb Of A Different Age
Secret Lines Carved On Ancient Stone
Heroic Kings Laid Down To Rest
But Forgotten Is The Race That No One Knows
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Wait For The Sun On A Winter's Day
And A Beam Of Light Shines Across The Floor
Mysterious Ring A Magical Ring
But Forgotten Is The Race That No One Knows
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Rum De Rum 'Rud A Derimo
Bird Lover
Beautiful and very haunting music
janesgems7
Forgotten is the race that no one knows....heck, those lyrics give me chills.
nick haswell
Even bono said she has the best female voice he has ever heard
Luis Fernando Lopez Romero
Masterpiece , long life to CLANNAD ever ! 🎼🔊⚡💪🏻
Sparkle Brico
Along with all the other qualities, the rhythm of this song is perfect for your footsteps when jogging. I play this over and over in my head for 10 km. Give it a try!
Chrit Houben
Impressive video and awesome song
Romek S
the greatest song i`ve ever heard..and trust me i`ve heard lot of music...this could go on and...on...on..
Sparkle Brico
Echo that. Strange, but true!
Guy
Such a beautifully mysterious song
Stiofán Collins
C'est prenant ! sans doute l'un des plus beaux morceaux du groupe Clannad. Et les images de ce clip vont très bien avec la musique.