In this hottest month of the year – with its inebriating scent of sun-warmed meadows, storms rushing through triumphal arches of rainbows, and the chirping of fledglings – our thoughts turn to you, Ewunia, for on 17 July you will celebrate your 44th birthday. Once again, we will blow out the candles for you in our usual circle of people and follow in your footsteps around Warsaw, hoping that you will guide us once again. But today we want to look a few months back, as this year – in April – someone important to you, who shaped your sensibility over the years, passed away: Moya Brennan. Had this message reached you on this side of life, it would have caused you great pain; however, it reached you on the other side. So we can take comfort in the thought that you now have almost the whole of Clannad with you, and that all those unfinished conversations and dreams – big and small – can now come true without any time limit. I was in Bologna when I heard the news of Moya’s passing, and the day before that sad moment, I found an Irish keyring in one of Bologna’s narrow streets… The next day, I looked up at the sky, sending you a knowing glance up there.
Less than a year before Moya’s death, we set off for Donegal on a special mission – to give her both of your books, along with a letter. The staff at Leo’s Tavern accepted the gift and promised that it would find its way into Moya’s hands at the earliest opportunity. We believe that this is what did happen – and that, in this way, your work was able to resonate (and continues to resonate) on both sides of life, accompanied by the music you cherished so much.
Translated by J. Niedziela