Máire Brennan Concert, March 17 1999
Copley Theater, Boston MA
Her voice was magical...
The music was mystical...
The dancing was whimsical...
And, for over 90 minutes, Máire Brennan and her band of Celtic troubadours held a St. Patrick's Day audience estimated to be over 500 spellbound with an evening of song, instrumentals, and story telling.
Even though Boston was the last night of a US road trip that had taken them over 6000 miles and through 21 states, their love for their music and the comradery they shared was quite evident.
Days before the concert, I found myself wondering if Máire would be able to reproduce the music I am so familiar with in a live performance. I was a little afraid that the music would lack that trademark ethereal quality. It didn't. Máire is only more spectacular live. The music was even more enchanting and powerful than I had hoped. If you have not seen her live, you are missing out.
What's more, the concert was down right fun. Many of the songs were old Irish knee slappers that made you want to get up and dance. And you could tell the players were having a blast. Máire on stage is very expressive. She doesn't hold back. When she was singing, it was with joy and emotion. When she played her harp, it was with closed eyed reflection, feeling the song. And when she paused while the others in her band played, she danced and swayed. And all the time with an absolutely marvelous grin.
As much as I loved the music, the "autograph session" in the lobby after the show was an event in itself. At first, I was concerned that with such a large turnout and with me being at the back of the line, there would be little left of Máire by the time I got to meet her. But I had nothing to fear. Máire appeared to only gain energy with the crowd. My friends and I chatted and took photos with Máire, swapped stories of the road and Ireland with her brother, and listened to personal memories from various members of the band, who also gave graciously of their time. It felt less like an autograph session, and more like a fun night at a pub. Máire spent time with each person or group, signing autographs, talking, laughing, and taking pictures. She is genuinely warm and seemed quite relaxed with the crowd. And after meeting her, you can't help smiling with the memory, even days later.
All in all, it was a night to remember!
The concert was the last in her US tour to promote her new solo album 'Perfect Time'. It was her first visit to the Boston area in six years, and she said she was eager to return. She and her band performed 22 songs, many of them from her new album, including two especially moving pieces dedicated to Saint Patrick and the healing of Ireland. She also performed songs from her other solo albums as well as music, both traditional and modern, from Clannad's rich repertoire. The audience was touched by the tender melodies of 'Oro', a song written for Máire's then baby daughter. They clapped to the energetic 'Nil Se Ina La' and 'Teidhir Abhaile Riu', both traditional Irish Gaelic songs. And of course, Máire sang the perennial Clannad favorite 'Harry's Game', the song that captured the attention of so many Americans as the music to an early 90's Volkswagon commercial.
In addition to these and other songs from Máire's and Clannad's albums, her band performed four instrumentals. The first was 'I am Asleep, Don't Wake Me' and was played on the Uilleann pipes. 'On the White Rock' was a Máire's harp solo. 'The Whispering Jig' was played on the fiddle. And 'Sweeney's Buttermilk' was played by the entire band.
In between songs, she explained some of the stories behind her music. In 'Teidhir Abhaile Riu' a young girl runs away from home after she is told she must marry a man she does not love. The ballad 'Na Páistí' (The Children) was actually inspired by 'Harry's Game', a fact that is evident when you consider the similarity between the choruses of both songs. 'Alasdair Mac Colla' is actually a popular Scottish song. In 'I Will Find You', featured in the movie 'Last of the Mohicans', Máire sings not in Irish Gaelic, but in Mohican and Cherokee. 'Light on a Hill' recounts Saint Patrick's defiance of pagan Irish custom. And 'Heal this Land' is a plea to end the religious rivalry that still splits the Emerald Isle.
She also commented on how 'lotto' is Irish for 'lotto', how 'wee County Derry' is wee for no apparent reason, and she made fun of how many Americans pronounce 'CLAN-ehd' as 'clan-AAAHD'.
This is the full list of songs that she performed and the albums they were featured on:
| Na Buachaillí Álainn | - Fuaim |
| An tÚll | - Fuaim |
| Our World | - Perfect Time |
| Oro | - Máire |
| Light on a Hill | - Perfect Time |
| Eleanor Plunkett | - Clannad 2 |
| Broken Pieces | - Lore |
| The Big Rock | - Perfect Time |
| Perfect Time | - Perfect Time |
| Nil Se Ina La | - Clannad |
| Teidhir Abhaile Riu | - Clannad 2 |
| I Will Find You | - Banba |
| Alasdair Mac Colla | - Lore |
| I am Asleep, Don't Wake Me | |
| On the White Rock | |
| Whispering Jig | |
| Sweeney's Buttermilk | |
| Harry's Game | - Magical Ring |
| Na Páistí | - Perfect Time |
| Heal this Land | - Perfect Time |
| Against the Wind | - Máire |
| A Mhuirnin O | - Landmarks |
The band consisted of a Uilleann piper who also played the Irish flute, a fiddler, two guitarists, and a drummer. Máire's "wee sister" Dee Brennan (see photo at left) played the bodhran. Máire herself played the harp and the lemon. (She used a plastic lemon shaped juice container as a rattle!) Vocals were performed, of course, by Máire herself. Background vocals were provided by Dee and the other band members. The tour itself was managed by Máire's brother Neil.
Looking for scoops about future Brennan family projects? According to Máire, fans should expect both a new Clannad album and a new Máire solo album this year, possibly in September. It sounds like Enya will also be having a new album out this year. And, if all goes well, Clannad may be touring the United States by the end of the year! Stay tuned to this website for more!