55°01′38″N 8°16′16″W / 55.027357°N 8.271192°W
| Leo's Tavern Tábhairne Leo | |
|---|---|
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 Leo's Tavern in 2005 | |
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1968 |
| Owner(s) | Leo Brennan (founder) Bartley Brennan (proprietor) |
| Food type | Irish traditional, European |
| City | Meenaleck, Crolly, Gweedore |
| County | Donegal |
| Country | Ireland |
| Other information | Pub, music venue, tourist attraction |
| Website | www.leostavern.com |
Leo's Tavern (Irish: Tábhairne Leo) is a pub in the Donegal Gaeltacht, known as the home of music artists Clannad, Enya and Moya Brennan. It serves food and is a music venue.[1] The pub opened in 1968 and held Irish traditional music sessions nightly, becoming the musical starting block for the children of Leo Brennan, the pub's founder.[2]
History
editOrigins and development
editAt the end of Ireland's showband era, musician Leo Ó Braonáin settled with his wife Máire "Baba", opening Tábhairne Leo in 1968.[3] The pub became a gathering place for musicians and singers to take part in Irish traditional music sessions. While working shifts behind the bar, Leo's children Máire (Moya), Ciarán, Pól Ó Braonáin, Noel, and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin would accompany their father on stage to tell old Irish stories, or seanchas, to the locals.[4] While touring in later years as Celtic/Folk band Clannad, the siblings, their uncles, and their younger siblings Brídín, Eithne (Enya), Olive, and Deirdre would perform.
The pub has also hosted guests and performers such as Bono,[5] The Edge, Paul Brady,[5] Christy Moore, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Mary Black.[citation needed] Tour buses of tourists began to visit the pub to hear Leo sing and tell stories.[6]
The pub was renovated in 2002,[7] and now also has a food offering and features Gold, Platinum and Diamond discs and memorabilia associated with Clannad, Moya and Enya on its walls.[8]
Concerts
edit
The tavern was celebrated during the 2005 Errigal Arts Festival, at which Leo and Baba Brennan were awarded the Freedom of Donegal by Donegal County Council.[9] The ceremony, held on 14 July 2005, was preceded by a series of concerts called Oidhreacht (Irish for Legacy). These concerts featured Leo and Baba's daughters performing at St. Mary's Church in Derrybeg.[citation needed] A jazz concert was also held, with some of these events being broadcast on TG4 and RTÉ Television.[citation needed]
Leo's Tavern marked its 40th anniversary in 2008 and held a three-day celebration. A concert was held, featuring music from Leo Brennan, Clannad, Brídín Brennan, Deirdre Brennan, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Manus Lunny.[10]
Leo Brennan died on 22 June 2016, aged 90.[11]
References
edit- ^ Leo's Tavern. Official website
- ^ "Leo's Tavern". DiscoverIreland.ie. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Moya (Máire) Brennan interview". Rambling House. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Interview with Moya Brennan". irishexaminerusa.com. Irish Examiner USA. 9 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Brídín Brennan". MDM Artist Management. Archived from the original on 28 April 2001. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Clannad ón Ardán". TG4. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2010 – via video.google.com.
- ^ "Our History". Leo's Tavern. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Lounge". Leo's Tavern. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Annual Report 2005" (PDF). Donegal County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011.
- ^ "News Archives". MoyaBrennan.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.
- ^ "Leo Brennan, dad of Enya and Clannad, dies aged 90". RTÉ. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.