Joanna Melon from Lodz, Poland, first saw the mighty Clannad in Warsaw, 2002.
This was Clannad’s first concert in Poland meaning demand for tickets was
huge and sold out in record time leading to a second performance being added for the same day!
Joanna was so moved by the music she couldn’t sit down, and as it was a seated event she was easily spotted by Moya Brennan during a performance. By pure chance a member of the audience had backstage access and invited her to meet the band afterwards, a moment Joanna will never forget!
The band were due to travel to Germany the same night for a gig in Berlin, and in true Clannad fashion, they took time to meet fans for photos and autographs. The band members were clearly moved by the reception they received in Warsaw.
Joanna told mng.ie that she feels this performance was a defining moment for Poland and Ireland, and that Clannad’s music sparked a keen interest in Ireland, its music and its culture for Polish people. Asked what makes her love this group from Donegal so much, Joanna says, “ you can never explain it but the music triggered something inside me”. This has clearly kept with her as she often travels to see the band whenever she can, tying it in with visiting friends and family. Once, she travelled 6 hours by train, to see Moya perform three songs at the Sopot Music Festival.
In 2004, Joanna took a trip to Ireland, she says “it was only when I arrived in Donegal did I feel that this was the Ireland I’d been looking for”. Staying at Errigal Hostel, she visited Leo’s Tavern, Teach Hudai Beag for many a session, to name a few, and has been coming back ever since.
With five tickets bought for Abhaile – The Homecoming on July 13th, Joanna says “it’s going to be amazing, I have invited my little sister, my friend Gaia from Dunfanaghy. Clannad’s gigs always seem to represent a reunion in some way, and I think that playing with Altan, who I also love, will be such craic, it’s going to be really interesting how they will arrange the music, I can’t wait”.
Abhaile – The Homecoming is a key flaghship event of Donegal Gathering. Tickets are selling quickly, especially with 5 tickets for € 150.
