Moya Brennan, Máire Ní Bhraonáin, better known as Máire Brennan or phonetic… Read Full Bio ↴Moya Brennan, Máire Ní Bhraonáin, better known as Máire Brennan or phonetically as Moya Brennan (born 4 August 1952, Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland), is a Grammy Award-nominated Celtic folk singer. She began her singing career when her family formed the band Clannad in 1970. She is the mother of Aisling Jarvis and the sister of Enya .

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.

Heroes
Moya Brennan Lyrics

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Is mór an trua é truailliú na farraige
Is fearr liom mó sháigh fairsinge na gorta
Is fearr liom fhéin síocháin na cogadh
Is lig domh mo shaol a chonaí is
a choinneáil slán
Is mór an trua é is mór an trua é
Is mór an trua é trualliú na farraige
Is mór an trua é trualliú na farraige

Is fearr liom mó sháigh fairsinge na gorta
Is fearr liom fhéin síocháin na cogadh
Is lig domh mo shaol a chonaí is a
choinneáil slán
Is mór an trua é is mór an trua é
Is mór an trua é trualliú na farraige

Look around and see the choice you've made
Turn around see clouded spaces
Hear the cries of future darkness
Time is running out our life to live

Why turn a blind eye Why can't you hear us
Too late too late la la la low
Too late to defend us
Why can't you hear us
Hear us hear us

Seoithín seó mó chroí go deo
ag teacht's ag imeacht
Seothín seó mó chroí go deo
Ag teacht's ag imeacht
Fearg...Scrios...Crá

Is mór an trua é truailliú na farraige
Is fearr liom mó sháigh fairsinge na gorta
Is fearr liom fhéin síocháin na cogadh
Is lig domh mo shoal a chonaí
is a choinneáil slán
Is mór an trua é is mór an trua é
Is mór an trua é trualliú na farraige

Look around and see the choice you've made
Turn around see clouded spaces

Hear the cries of future darkness
Time is running out our life to live

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Heroes" by Moya Brennan touch on important themes of social justice and environmentalism. The opening verse laments the destruction of the ocean and the preference for economic prosperity over famine relief and peace. The chorus repeats the phrase "Is mór an trua é," which translates to "It is a great pity," emphasizing the tragedy of the situation. The second verse directs the listener to take notice of their surroundings and the consequences of their actions, hearing the cries for help from future generations. The Irish language phrase "Seoithín seó mó chroí go deo ag teacht's ag imeacht" means "Sleep, sleep, my heart forever coming and going" and emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and the importance of taking care of oneself and everything around them.

Line by Line Meaning

Is mór an trua é truailliú na farraige
The devastating effects of the sea pollution are deeply saddening

Is fearr liom mó sháigh fairsinge na gorta
I prefer abundance of wealth rather than famine

Is fearr liom fhéin síocháin na cogadh
I value peace over war

Is lig domh mo shaol a chonaí is a choinneáil slán
Let me live my life in a safe and secure manner

Look around and see the choice you've made
Observe the decisions you have taken

Turn around see clouded spaces
There are obscured areas that need your attention

Hear the cries of future darkness
Be aware of the warnings of the imminent danger

Time is running out our life to live
Our time to live on this planet is limited

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MOYA BRENNAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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