Clannad. Photo: Suzanne Crompton
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
THE Donegal group that put the county on the world-wide map, Clannad, has just announced selected number of Irish dates. Donegal’s favourite Clann as Dobhar will be playing five dates around Ireland at the end of October and November.
The group will be starting off their tour in Limerick (October 29), continuing the next night in Cork Opera House (October 30), then returning north to play in the Waterfront Hall Belfast (October 31), before going west to the Royal Theatre, Castlebar (November 1) and finishing at The Olympia Theatre, Dublin (November 2).
It has been an incredible three years since Moya, Ciarán, Pól, Pádraig and Noel all got back together again to play a series of sell-out concerts at Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin to celebrate the band’s 4oth anniversary during the Temple Bar TradFest.
Amongst the many shows they have played all over the world since, Clannad gave an unforgettable performance during last year’s Earagail Arts Festival, when they co-headlined the Abhaile/Homecoming concert with Altan in Carrickfinn.
After these shows the group hit the ground running touring all over the world, while brothers Ciarán and Pól began writing together again. It is the combined talent that created the magic to create wonderful multi award-winning hits such as Theme from Harry’s Game, In A Lifetime, I Will Find You and the soundtrack to the Robin Of Sherwood TV series, amongst many more.
Over the decades, Clannad have made music that entwines the traditional and the modern, the past and the future, with stunningly beautiful results. With their haunting songs, mesmerizing vocals, and captivating sound the group has sold over fifteen million records worldwide.
Their most recent album Nádúr, (Irish for Nature), was released in September 2013 and was their first album of new material since 1998. Following that release the band undertook an extensive world tour with the show comprising songs from right their 40 year career as recording artists.
For this close-knit group, Clannad’s musical journey is both remarkable in its personal accomplishment and historic in its contributions to Irish culture.
Tickets for the Irish dates will go on sale next Friday, July 18 at 9am. Tickets for The Olympia are available from €30.50 including booking fee via Ticketmaster.