Noel and Pádraig Duggan Biography

© Northern Skyline

   

When Clannad formed in 1970, the maternal uncles of the Brennans were members themselves, but not much is known about these brothers, these twins, Noel and Pádraig Duggan. Little know that it was these two who wrote some of our Clannad favorites and that they have been on the road more than any of the other Clannad members, apart from Moya.

Growing up as children in Gaoth Dobhair, Noel and Pádraig Duggan were surrounded by music. Their parents were teachers, musicians, story-tellers, cultural ambassadors to the area, meaning that the Duggans and their brothers and sisters would never be far from home, not even their brother Colmcille (Columba who set out as a priest to America as an adult).

Pádraig is always first to stress that his inspirations are varied. He is inspired by world history itself, by his friends and family, by the Donegal landscape, his pets and of course his youth and frequent visits to Tory island, where the brothers still have family ties. Noel is inspired by those too, but also books and the often-wry, poisonous evolution of this world through war, pesticides and conflict. Each of these inspirations, they have proven, are enough to enthral the minds of listeners of every age, nationality and background.

Sent to piano lessons while still at National School, after Grade 3 the Duggan brothers gave up altogether on the instrument, seeing it as old-fashioned and definitely not hip compared to the music scene at the time. Although secluded in Donegal from a buzzing, smoky civilisation, Noel and Pádraig listened as much as they could to all the bands that that civilisation possessed: The Hollies, The Rolling Stones and The Beachboys. The Duggans then picked up guitar, and the creativity began.

At the same time as the birth of Clannad, another band, Skara Brae had formed. They were made up of three siblings and a Derry man; the late, honourable Mícheal Ó Domhnaill, Maighréad and Tríona Ní Dhomnaill and Daithí Sproule, who is now with Altan. As the members of Skara Brae spent time in the Donegal Gaeltacht area of Rannafast, they often found their way to Leo’s Tavern where the two groups became good friends, mingled and inspired each other in terms of harmony.

Clannad shared a record with Skara Brae, in which Clannad had a single on one side, Skara brae a single on the other, a record I keep and treasure in my own collection today. Clannad’s harmonies ‘broke the ice’ in traditional music, so to say. The songs they had learned from singer and Gaelic language pioneer Albert Fry and locals singers came into great use.

I sat myself down with Albert not so long ago and asked what it was like having Clannad sat in Cumann Chluain Árd. He was quick to reply. In Gaelic, he told me that Máire and the boys had such uniqueness about them and of how the Duggans picked up any acoustic instrument and played it with ease – even the old German instruments that he owned that they had never touched before! Albert takes great pride in the fact that he taught them a few traditional songs, and to this day, he and I are their biggest fans!

Clannad have come a long way, and are back on the road after twelve years, but the Duggans have never came off the road, just as Moya has continued to tour and record solo albums. Noel and Pádraig have toured Europe extensively with world-class harpist Thomas Loefke, their band Norland Wind and in 2005 released a new album, ‘Rubicon : The Duggans and Friends’, featuring Finbar Furey, Orla Fallon of Celtic Woman, and the members of Clannad.

Keep an eye on the Duggans, it seems they’ve just begun.