Leo Brennan

Leo Brennan (1925 to 2016) was an Irish musician and 'tavern' owner. Leo Henry Brennan-Hardin was born in Cliffony, Co Sligo, in 1925, at the border between Eire and Northern Ireland. Part of a 'showband' family, he spent much of his life on the road playing accordion, saxophone and singing with the 'Slieve Foy Dance Band', at first known for some while as 'Leo Hardin'. After the 'showband' era had exhausted itself in about 1968, as 'Leo Brennan' he set up a small pub in Meenaleck, Co Donegal, called "Leo's Tavern" (or "Tábhairne Leo"). The pub became a gathering place for musicians and singers to take part in Irish traditional music sessions, and as they grew up, each of his children would accompany Brennan onto the stage to tell old Irish stories to the locals, thus giving them a firm grounding in public performance. Groups of tourists from Japan, Britain and the USA would visit the pub just to hear him sing and tell stories. Four of his children later formed the famous 'Irish harmony' group 'Clannad', including the smash hit "The Theme from Harry's Game". His daughter Enya eventually left the group to embark on her own highly successful solo career, selling an estimated 75 million records. Leo Brennan died at his home in Gweedore, County Donegal, on June 22nd 2016, aged 90. He is survived by his wife Máire (Baba) and their nine children, and his son Bartley continues to run the Tavern.