Pádraig Duggan, musician, songwriter and founding member of Irish Celtic music pioneers, Clannad, died early today, aged 67.
Clannad was formed in the early 1970's through regular performances in the family pub, Leo's Tavern and, after winning the Letterkenny Folk Festival in 1973, they embarked on a busy touring schedule - finding initial success in Europe, especially Germany. Their music was a blend of Irish traditional songs from their native Donegal and contemporary influences of the day, such as the Beach Boys, The Beatles, the Mamas & Papas and Joni Mitchell
“Time and tide waits for no man. That old phrase occurred to me when I heard the very sad news of the death of Pádraig Duggan this morning,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. "I remember playing the old Folk, Blues and Beyond gig, run by the late Larry Roddy in Slattery’s of Capel Street, on a Sunday afternoon many years ago. Our band was called Eyeless, and we were supported by an outfit that had travelled all the way from Donegal to play. Apart from their obvious talent as musicians, I was, like every young man who encountered the family troupe from Gweedore at the time, immediately struck by the extraordinary beauty of Máire Ní Bhraonáin. But I remember also thinking about Padraig and his identical twin, Noel, and wondering about the great mystery of life and the accidents of birth and fate that decide who and what we are.
“Pádraig strode on to have a great career as a musician and as a member of Clannad – a band who, of course, went from being local Donegal heroes to international stars. Padraig was an essential part of that great adventure, both personally and musically, along with Noel bringing a core solidity and wonderful, nuanced textures to Clannad’s extraordinary, melodic sound. He will be greatly missed."
Clannad's breakthrough, and the beginning of worldwide acclaim, came in 1982 when their theme song for the TV mini-series, 'Harry's Game' became a UK hit. Clannad became the first act to perform in the Irish language on BBC's Top of the Pops. This success was followed by their scoring of two seasons of the highly successful 'Robin of Sherwood' TV series and an international recording and touring career followed spawning 25 albums and a mantle-troubling quantity of awards.
When the band took a break, Pádraig and Noel released their own album, Rubicon (which featured, among others, their close friend, Finbar Furey) and spent much time touring Germany with traditional band, Borland Wind, before Clannad's reemergence in 2012.
He passed away in Blanchardstown Hospital and is survived by his wife Jan.