Pádraig Duggan, founding member of Clannad

Pádraig Duggan, who has died aged 67, was a guitarist and founding member of Clannad, the family band who did much to popularise Irish music all over the world with their theme music to the TV series Harry’s Game and Robin Of Sherwood.

Singer and harpist Moya Brennan – Duggan’s niece – may have been the focal point of Clannad, but Pádraig and his twin brother Noel played a key role in creating the group’s unique style, blending traditional Irish music with jazz and their trademark ethereal arrangements.

Pádraig and Noel were the youngest of six children born to Hugh and Máire Duggan on January 23 1949 in the rural Gaeltacht Irish-speaking parish of Gweedore, in the North West of Donegal, an area steeped in music and folklore. From a young age Pádraig mastered a variety of instruments – excelling on the mandolin, harmonica and guitar – and regularly joined other members of the family playing informal sessions at Leo’s Tavern, a pub at Meenaleck owned by his sister Baba and her husband Leo Brennan.

Playing alongside their niece Moya and nephews Pól and Ciarán Brennan, the brothers evolved a hybrid of populist and traditional styles, blending Donegal folklore with more modern influences that included Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Mamas & Papas and Joni Mitchell.

The story goes that they were playing together in Leo’s Tavern late one night when a police sergeant entered. When he presented them with a form they feared a summons, but it turned out to be an entry form for a music contest at Letterkenny Folk Festival, offering the prize of a recording contract with Philips. In need of a name they decided on Clann as Dobhar – Irish for “the family from Dore” – which was subsequently shortened to Clannad.

Noel Duggan, Padraig Duggan, Ciaran Brennan, Moya Brennan and Pol Brennan at Clannad's 40th Anniversary Celebration in 2011

They went on to win the competition, releasing their first LP, Clannad, in 1973. Heavily concentrated on Gaelic material – itself a rarity at the time – it also included Liza, originally composed by Pádraig Duggan on the roof of Leo’s Tavern.

Their mellow, thoughtful approach earned comparisons with Pentangle, one of the most popular English folk groups of the time, and their fame swiftly spread beyond Donegal. Their second album, Clannad 2 (Gael Linn, 1975), included contributions from Donal Lunny, one of the leaders of the renaissance in Irish traditional music. Another of Pádraig’s nieces, Enya, joined them in time to play piano and sing harmonies for their fifth and sixth albums Crann Ull (Tara, 1980) and Fuaim (Tara, 1982) before leaving to launch her own solo career.

They continued to champion ancient, long-forgotten Gaelic songs and tunes but it was Harry’s Game – the haunting theme to a gritty 1982 Yorkshire TV drama series about The Troubles – which brought them international acclaim.

Described by Bono of U2 as “the sound of angels”, it became the first Irish-language record to break into the UK Top 10 and created the blueprint for what became known as “New Age” music.

A revival of interest in Celtic culture followed. Theme from Harry’s Game won an Ivor Novello Award, accompanied an advertising campaign for Volkswagen that launched Clannad’s career in America, and featured on the soundtracks of numerous subsequent films, such as Patriot Games (1992).

Padraig Duggan, Moya Brennan and Noel Duggan performing in 1970 

Clannad went on to create the music for the BBC TV series Robin Of Sherwood, including the hit single Robin (The Hooded Man) in 1984, after which they began to explore electronica and a more rock-orientated approach on the albums Macalla (RCA, 1985) and Sirius (RCA, 1987). Their 1993 album Banba (RCA) featured another high-profile movie theme, I Will Find You from Last Of The Mohicans, and their 1997 album Landmarks won their first Grammy award for Best New Age album.

Throughout this time Pádraig took a strong role in the songwriting process. When Clannad went on a sabbatical following the release of Landmarks, he and brother Noel released a duo album, Rubicon (2005).

Both Duggan brothers rejoined Clannad when they started touring again in 2007 – going on to win a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Folk Awards – and were back in the studio with them in 2013 recording their first album for 15 years, Nádúr (ARC Music).

Pádraig Duggan wrote one of the album’s most acclaimed tracks, Setanta, about the mythical Irish hero, reflecting that – while his music took him all over the world – his heart remained firmly at home in the mystical stories of Donegal.

Pádraig Duggan is survived by his wife Janet.

Pádraig Duggan, born January 23 1949, died August 9 2016