Maire Brennan,
Joanne Hogg and Margaret Becker
Maire Brennan (pronounced Moya) like her sister Enya
began her music career with their successful family group
Clannad. Clannad were Celtic and Gaelic music pioneers and
sold over 15 million albums world-wide and had a huge hit
with the theme Harry’s Game. Even whilst singing with
Clannad, Maire began recording her own solo albums – Maire
in 1992 and Misty-Eyed Adventures in 1995. In 1998 she
combined Celtic and Christian music in the highly successful
album Perfect Time. 1999 saw the release of another
Christian album Whisper To The Wild Water on which she sang
and played harp and keyboards. The album has brought her
world-wide recognition. She completed her success in 2000
with a number 1 single in collaboration with Chicane –
Saltwater. Joanne Hogg is from Ballymena, county Antrim and
worked as a doctor in Belfast before joining the band Iona.
Iona’s music is based on Celtic spirituality. Their first
album Iona was inspired by the lives of early Celtic saints,
their second album is based on the book of Kells and their
1994 album, Beyond These Shores, is based on the voyage of
Brendan. Having released many albums over the years, Iona
have become Europe’s best selling contemporary Christian
band. Recently Joanne Hogg has been making solo albums,
featuring on other Christian artist’s albums and forming the
partnership between herself, Maire and Margaret. Margaret
Becker is the least known of the Irish trio, she is becoming
more popular as a solo Christian artist in her own right.
With The Early Morning is a song about the risen Jesus on
Easter morning and is an Easter hymn released on the trio’s
album of new contemporary Christian hymns which was launched
at Easter 2002. The trio launched the album with an Easter
concert in Belfast and the album has been very successful.
It was written by Irish modern hymn writer Keith Getty who
is a successful artist in his own right and lyrics are by
Maire Brennan herself.
