Brennan grew up as the eldest in a very musical family in a remote parish in the northwest of Ireland, a place where the Irish language and tradition was and still is very much alive. She sang along with her siblings in the family pub, Leo's Tavern. She also took part in many pantomimes in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair, the local theatre, usually dancing and singing.
It was during 1970 that she joined her two brothers Pól and Ciarán and their mother's two twin brothers Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin and eventually formed Clannad. After enjoying a decade of being the world's foremost traditional Irish act, they graduated to chart success in 1982 with the album Magical Ring. Moya Brennan was at the forefront of the group's success and her voice suddenly became synonymous with celtic music and Irish music at the time. She has recorded 17 albums with Clannad and has won a Grammy, a BAFTA and an Ivor Novello award with the quintet.
Moya Brennan released her first solo album in 1992, Máire, on Atlantic Records. Misty Eyed Adventures on BGM followed three years later. In 1998, Brennan signed with Word Records and released Perfect Time, and Whisper To The Wild Water a year later. The album was nominated in the Grammy Awards of 2001 for Best New Age Album. Her music is usually classified as New Age or Celtic. She accepts the Celtic label, but has at times indicated a slight discomfort with being seen as "New Age" as much of her music is strongly Christian, with several of her songs centering on maintaining a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some of her songs show influences from her Catholic upbringing or seem relational due to her own views concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In total Brennan has recorded 25 albums, and has sold over 20 million records. Since 2002, she has promoted herself as Moya Brennan — a spelling closely resembling the phonetic pronunciation of her name for those not familiar with the Irish variant of the spelling.
Brennan, along with Clannad, are considered as the inventors of contemporary celtic music and are held in high esteem for their vast contribution to modernizing old Irish songs. It is Brennan's haunting voice that has left the most lasting legacy, it has become synonymic with Clannad's work and with Irish music in general. Her ethereal vocalization is considered the archetypal sound of Ireland and strains of her style have been acquired in the soundtracks to Titanic and Riverdance. Brennan is also famous for her harp playing, she has featured it on many Clannad records and her album Two Horizons is based on the discovery of the harp.
Moya is also a member of Irish traditional group, T with the Ms.
An Fharraige
Moya Brennan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Siúl thart fán chladaigh
Éist le ceol binn na farraige
Siúl thart fán chladaigh
An áit a mothaíonn túsa suaimhneas
An áit a mothaíonn túsa ciúnas
Amach is isteach
Fuaim na gaoithe dóchas beo
Lig do shúile sineadh go bun an aeir
Féach anois tá sólás ag mo chroi
Amharc amach ar an fharraige
Gan comhrá na comhairle ar an trá bhán
An áit a chim gorm glas an uisce
An áit a chimes tonnaí ag damhsa romham
Ag éisteacht leis an taoide
Amach is isteach
Fuaim na gaoithe dóchas beo
Lig do shúile síneadh go bun an aeir
Féach anois tá sólás ag mo chroi
Éist le coel binn na farraige
Luath leat fháin ar maidin
An áit a mbíonn cumhacht luí na gréine
An áit a mbíonn draíocht dheireadh an lae
Ag éisteacht leis an taoide
Amach is isteach
Fuaim na gaoithe dóchas beo
Lig do shúile sineadh go bun an aeir
Féach anois tá sólás ag mo chroi
An Fharraige is a tranquil and reflective song by Moya Brennan. The lyrics talk about listening to the sweet melody of the sea and taking a stroll along the beach while feeling the calming effect of the place. It portrays the sea as a source of hope and healing, providing solace and peace to the troubled soul. The singer urges the listener to look out into the sea, as it offers a sense of comfort and calmness to the heart.
The lyrics carry a deeper meaning by emphasizing how the sea is a reminder of the power and mystery of nature, with its large waves and the sound of the wind. The sea is a place for contemplation, where one could experience a meditative mood by listening to the sounds of nature. Brennan refers to the sea as healing, a place to find balance and solitude. Through the lyrics of this song, the singer invites us to understand that the sea carries a distinct beauty, which could be appreciated by anyone who takes their time to listen and observe.
Line by Line Meaning
Éist le ceol binn na farraige
Listen to the sweet music of the sea
Siúl thart fán chladaigh
Walk around the shore
An áit a mothaíonn túsa suaimhneas
The place where you feel peaceful
An áit a mothaíonn túsa ciúnas
The place where you feel quiet
Ag éisteacht leis an taoide
Listening to the tide
Amach is isteach
In and out
Fuaim na gaoithe dóchas beo
The sound of the wind, alive with hope
Lig do shúile sineadh go bun an aeir
Let your eyes stretch to the bottom of the air
Féach anois tá sólás ag mo chroi
Look now, my heart is at peace
Amharc amach ar an fharraige
Look out at the sea
Gan comhrá na comhairle ar an trá bhán
Without conversation or counsel on the white sand
An áit a chim gorm glas an uisce
The place where I see the blue green of the water
An áit a chimes tonnaí ag damhsa romham
The place where the waves dance before me
Luath leat fháin ar maidin
Early rise in the morning
An áit a mbíonn cumhacht luí na gréine
The place where the power of the setting sun resides
An áit a mbíonn draíocht dheireadh an lae
The place where the magic of the end of the day is present
Contributed by William V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Raurt
Listening to this is like taking a lush emotional journey to the center of your heart. We are seriously indebted to her for the gifts she has given over her lifetime. Amazing.
@joesheppard5149
Truly excellent tune😫
@danielsheridan5019
Listening in Ms. De brunes Irish class. Beautiful stuff honestly
@samiatuma727
Beautiful song 💯
@DNoelC
Maire is a class act. Her work with producer Daniel Franks marks her most productive period.
@FrancescoL70
Una voce e una canzone stupenda...
@lunescent2007
Beautiful song!
@ewacubersztain
cudowność!!!!!!
@ewacubersztain
wspaniałość!!!!!
@fharaigha
thats my name!!!:D an fharrige it means sea my mother sings it when I whas young