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Eithne,
the fourth youngest of nine children, comes from the small village
of Dore (Dobhar in Irish) in the Gweedore (Gaoth Dobhair) region
of County Donegal in the northwest of the Republic of Ireland. She
now lives in Killiney, a coastal district on the southern outskirts
of Dublin The family is very musical and her parents played in a
family dance band before settling down. Her father owns a local pub
- Leo's tavern in Meenalech (min na Leice) - and her mother Baba
taught music in the local school. In 1968 elder brothers Ciaran & Pol,
and uncles Padraigh & Noel O Dugain, formed the band An Clan
As Dobhar to perform traditional Irish music at festivals etc. Changing
their name to Clannad, and recruiting sister Maire in 1973, the band
have gone on to international success performing both their own and
traditional material. They have recorded a number of albums. Enya
joined Clannad in 1980 and, credited under her real name, provided
keyboards and (mostly) backing vocals. She appears on their 1982
album "Fuaim". It is often said that she also appeared
on their 1980 album "Crann Ull" although she is not listed
in the credits. I 1982 Clannad split with their long time manager
and producer Nicky Ryan. Eithne. apparently frustrated with being
left in the background, left at the same time and in Ryan's belief
that she had talent in her own right, moved to live with him and
his wife Roma and develop her own musical career. In 1985 film producer
David Puttnam commissioned Eithne to write music for his film "The
Frog Prince" which was released in 1985. The Titles on "The
Frog Prince" credit music to Enya Ni Bhraonain and the transition
of Eithne to Enya had begun In 1986 BBC-TV began work on a six part
documentary series charting the history and continuing cultural influence
of the Celts. Enya was signed to write and perform music for the
series. "The Celts" was first shown in 1987 and a selection
of its music released under the title "Enya", giving the
artist her first album, largely unnoticed at the time. Her 'big break'
began in 1987 when she was signed by Rob Dickins, head of WEA Music
UK, after he had heard and been entranced by the "Enya" album.
WEA's backing made the recording of "Watermark" possible
and the album was released in 1988. Although no singles were originally
planned, it was the release "Orinoco Flow" (Sail Away)
that brought Enya to public attention and resulted in an unexpected
chart number one in several countries. She continued the success
with her next albums "shepherd Moons" and "The Celts"...
Enya
Nude Gallery
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