Moya Brennan, born Máire Ní Bhraonáin (Irish pronunciation: [mˠaːrʲə nʲiː vɾˠiːn̪ˠaːn]), also known as Máire Brennan (born 4 August 1952), is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist. She began performing professionally in 1970 when her family formed the band Clannad, and is now widely considered as the "First Lady of Celtic Music". Moya released her first solo album in 1992 called Máire, a successful venture, her solo career has remained successful to this day, many years after Clannad took a hiatus in 1996. She has been nominated for two Grammys and has won an Emmy Award. She has recorded with many world-famous musicians and has provided music for several soundtracks, including Titanic, To End All Wars and King Arthur.
Máire Philomena Ní Bhraonáin (Irish pronunciation: [mˠaːrʲə nʲiː vɾˠiːn̪ˠaːn]) was born in Dublin after her parents eloped from County Donegal to marry in County Louth. Máire grew up as the eldest child of a very musical family in the remote parish of Gweedore (Gaoth Dobhair), a Gaeltacht area in which the Irish language and tradition continue to flourish, in Ireland's northernmost county, County Donegal. Her mother Máire (née Ní Dhúgáin or Duggan in English) was a music teacher and her father, Leo Brennan, was a member of a cabaret band with whom she performed as a child.