Moya Brennan

Maire Brennan is the lead singer for Clannad, the Irish folk-pop group, which is probably best known for (a) "Theme from Harry's Game", which was used as prelude and postlude music for U2's Red Rocks concert video and in the movie "Patriot Games" and for (b) the fact that Enya is Maire's sister and was in Clannad for a time. Maire grew up in an isolated corner of Ireland in a musical family and had a very innocent childhood and a strong Catholic upbringing. When she went off to boarding school at age 18, she began to make a name for herself musically and also began a life of debauchery, involving a lot of promiscuous sex (resulting in an abortion) and alcohol and drug abuse. In the late 80s she fell in love with a born-again Christian, beginning a process that turned her life around. This book is her autobiography.

I read it over the course of 3 or 4 days, which is very quick for someone with my limited attention span. I found the sections about Maire's wild years, including her trip across the Irish Sea to an abortionist, quite wrenching. It was a little weird to read about her falling in love with a devout Christian and then to read about them living together out of wedlock for quite a while. Eventually, they admitted that that was out of harmony with their faith and began to live chaste lives before their marriage, and Maire talks about how that enhanced their relationship.… (more)

The biography of the singer Moya (Maire) Brennan, of Clannad, older sister of Enya, detailing her naïve, innocent childhood, Clannad’s success and rise to fame, her experience with with abortion, drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, marriage-breakdown, illegitimate pregnancy, miscarriage – and how she made it out the other side. I know people have said that the more they find out about celebrities, the less they want to know, but this wasn’t like that at all. It was interesting, but more than that, it was inspirational. It was sad, moving and real, and so positive, with a lot of amusing stories along the way. And photos - I liked those.
It was definitely worth reading!… (more)