Clannad awarded Freedom of County Donegal –
Donegal County Council has presented the Legendary Donegal group Clannad with the Freedom of the County of Donegal at a ceremony in the County House, Lifford. Ciaran, Máire, and Pól Brennan of Clannad accepted the award in a ceremony hosted by An Cathaoirleach Cllr Martin Harley in the presence of elected members, council staff and invited guests.
Photo Clive Wasson
The group, formed more than 50 years ago in 1970 in their native Gaoth Dobhair, have toured the world playing to millions of fans and sold tens of millions of records.
Surrounded by family, friends and fans, the three remaining members of the band said this was a very special award because it came from their own people.
Speaking on behalf of the band including brother Ciaran and sister Moya as they received the award at County House in Lifford, Pól Brennan said their parents Leo and Marie ‘Baba’ must have known that music would be their way of life from an early age.
He said: “I just wanted to say that I believe that Leo and Baba bestowed in us as people growing up and what they gave us and what we handed on to our children and what we’re most proud of.
“Because it is just the thing that has held us together, has allowed us to compose music, to travel the world and to have this vision back in the day when Leo and Bab would send us to Falcarragh or Derry.
“Nobody knew but they must have known. Something told them to do this and to spend time and to instil and to encourage it (the music) and it’s huge.”
“Growing up it was just like a musical, artistic playground and we were born into it and that’s what I believe sums up why we are here today.”
The occasion was tinged with sadness by the absence of two of the founding members of the band, brothers Pádraig and Noel Duggan who have since sadly passed away.
There was a moment of reflection at the start of the ceremony for both.
A spokesperson for Donegal County Council said the Freedom of Donegal does not come with any ‘ancient quirks.”
Members of the band did receive mementos of the occasion commissioned by the Council.
These included a scroll and a badge, crafted by Ms. Geraldine Hannigan, Designer Goldsmith from Letterkenny, is mounted and framed and is a silver replication of the County Badge granted to the County Council by the Chief Herald of Ireland as part of a Granting of Arms to the county.
The badge features the O’Donnell Cross on a Lunula. The Lunula on which it is based was discovered at Trentagh in Co. Donegal and dates to the period 15 -2000BC and is on display in the National Museum.
Clannad also received individual lapel pins which are reserved exclusively for those on whom the Freedom of Donegal is conferred.
The band were also presented with a painting of the iconic ‘Bád Eddie’ by artist Norman Gibson.
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