The Myth & The Magic
In 1984, Clannad released one of their best-known albums. Legend was the soundtrack to the cult TV show Robin Of Sherwood and helped them become the first Irish band to scoop a BAFTA. Forty years on, it’s been lovingly expanded with previously unreleased material and performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Prog takes a journey through Sherwood Forest with Moya and Pól Brennan to uncover the story behind the album that made them household names.
The Hooded Man: Martin Kielty
When Pól Brennan returned to his family band – 21 years after leaving to work with Peter Gabriel at Real World Studios – he had a specific ambition in mind. It took Clannad a further 13 years to realise that ambition, and it may be the last thing they will ever do. The Irish group – Pól’s sister Moya, brother Ciarán and late uncles Pádraig and Noel Duggan – first turned heads in the wider world with 1982’s Theme From Harry’s Game: a haunting, dark, close-harmony ode for the TV series that lamented Ireland’s Troubles. The first Gaelic hit single outside their own country, it proved to be a levelling-up experience along with its parent album, 1983’s Magical Ring. The most immediate result was an invitation to do more TV work. Screenwriter Richard ‘Kip’ Carpenter – known for creating goldenera British shows Catweazle, The Ghosts Of Motley Hall and The Boy From Space for the BBC’s Look And Read educational strand – wanted to retell the Robin Hood myth in a deeply different manner from his Hollywood predecessors.
Moya and her merry men. Back row: Noel Duggan, Pádraig Duggan. Front row: Pól Brennan, Moya Brennan, Ciaran Brennan.
Portrait:
Simon Fowler
“We each took characters; I went for Herne the Hunter, Ciáran did Lady Marian. We were going through it, picking out moods that could work for the show.”