Press Release
For immediate use
12 July 2005
Donegal County Council Civic Reception to honour Leo and Baba Brennan
Leo and Baba Brennan will be accorded the county’s highest honour at a specially convened Civic Reception at the Donegal County Council Chambers in Lifford on Thursday next, July 14th. (1.00pm)
Cathaoirleach, elected members and staff of Donegal County Council, members of the Brennan Family and invited guests will be present at the Reception when the Freedom of County Donegal will be conveyed on Leo and Baba in recognition of their unique contribution to the music and culture of Donegal.
Speaking about the forthcoming civic reception, Cllr. Dessie Larkin, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council stated that “it is only fitting that Leo and Baba Brennan should be accorded with the county’s highest honour and it would be difficult to overestimate the depth of the achievements of Clann Uí Bhraonáin”. He added that ‘from Leo Brennan’s touring theatre and variety shows with the Connacht Concert Company and latterly with the much loved Slieve Foy Showband, to Baba Brennan’s life-long passion for choral music with Cór Mhuire at St. Mary’s Church in Derrybeg and extensive performing and recording careers of their family who, as Clannad, Enya and the Moya Brennan Band who, between them, have brought the music of Gaoth Dobhair, The Rosses and Tory Island to a mass international audience”.
By bringing a formal vocal and musical training to bear on their arrangements of the traditional songs and airs of the Donegal Gaeltacht and combining it with a modern, jazz influence, the younger Brennan’s literally created a new form of music that was both instantly recognisable as their own and born uniquely of Donegal.
A Civic Reception at this time is particularly appropriate as it takes place in the context of a celebratory Earagail Arts Festival programme of events –under the banner Oidhreacht/Legacy - featuring the entire Brennan Family in all of their various combinations and ensembles.
Angela McLaughlin, Director of the Earagail Arts Festival stated that “the Oidhreacht concert programme takes place in Gaoth Dobhair and Letterkenny from Wednesday to Sunday, July 13th. to 17th and has attracted huge national and international interest and is the musical highlight of this years festival programme”.
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For further information please contact:
Anne Marie Conlon
Communications Officer
Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 72574
Mob: 087 9192275
Email: amconlon@donegalcoco.ie