Noel Duggan: founding member of Clannad dies aged 73



Duggan fashioned Clannad successful Donegal successful 1970 on with his brother, nieces and nephews, happening to unfold Celtic way astir the world

‘Outstanding guitar solos’ … Clannad successful 1982. (L-R) Pádraig Duggan, Ciarán Brennan, Moya Brennan, Noel Duggan and Pól Brennan. Photograph: John Rodgers/Redferns‘Outstanding guitar solos’ … Clannad successful 1982. (L-R) Pádraig Duggan, Ciarán Brennan, Moya Brennan, Noel Duggan and Pól Brennan. Photograph: John Rodgers/RedfernsLaura SnapesMon 17 Oct 2022 05.35 EDTLast changed connected Mon 17 Oct 2022 06.21 EDT

Noel Duggan, a founding subordinate of the Irish radical enactment Clannad, has died aged seventy three. The set shared the accusation connected its Twitter account, adding that Duggan had died “all of abrupt successful Donegal” connected 15 October.

“Noel mightiness beryllium for ever remembered for his singular guitar solos, his emotion of euphony and his willpower to the band,” they said.

Duggan shaped Clannad successful 1970 on his member Pádraig and nieces and nephews Ciarán, Pól and Moya Brennan. Pádraig died successful 2016.

In 1973, they competed for Ireland wrong the warmness levels of the Eurovision euphony contest, nevertheless had been overwhelmed with the assistance of Colman Pearce.

Between 1980 and 1982, the Brennans’ much youthful sister, Enya, turned into besides a subordinate of the organization, having been invited to s up for to assistance the set enlarge their sound. Following her departure she person go the astir important-promoting Irish solo creator of each time.

The set broke thru internationally aft they recorded the taxable for the 1982 ITV bid Harry’s Game, acceptable for the duration of the Troubles.

That 12 months, they besides became the superior enactment to sing successful Irish connected Top of the Pops aft the Theme From Harry’s Game reached No 5 wrong the UK singles chart. It is the astir effectual British illustration deed sung perfectly successful Irish and gained the set an Ivor Novello grant for songwriting.

Clannad: Theme From Harry’s Game – video

That decade, they would amplify their dependable with the impacts of caller property and pa. They had 1 greater UK Top forty deed successful 1986 with In a Lifetime, a collaboration with Bono, which peaked astatine No 17.

Their person an effect connected persevered: Theme From Harry’s Game is taken into information to person birthed the ample conception of Celtic opus that could proceed to beryllium a illustration proposition into the Nineteen Nineties with acts consisting of the Corrs, and US composer James Horner chiefly based the soundtrack of the 1997 movie Titanic connected their sound.

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Catherine Martin, the Irish Green enactment curate for tourism, mode of life, arts, gaeltacht, athletics and media, praised the relation that Duggan and Clannad performed successful elevating the illustration of Irish music.

“With Clannad, helium created a dependable infused with the way of his autochthonal Donegal and taken it to a countrywide and planetary people audience, prevailing awards and breathtaking euphony lovers astir the world.”

Their 1997 medium Landmarks won the Grammy grant for large caller property album. The set past went connected hiatus and Noel and Pádraig finished due to the fact that the Duggans, releasing 1 album, Rubicon, successful 2005.

The set reformed successful 2007 and released their 16th and last album, Nádúr, successful 2013. Following the nonaccomplishment of beingness of Pádraig, the surviving individuals deliberate a farewell excursion successful 2020, coping with a fewer dates earlier lockdown restrictions ended enactment euphony performances.