In search of Enya, the star who sailed away from the spotlight

Times

25-04-2025

She is estimated to be worth €140 million and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide, quietly building a fortune from her Killiney castle, but the elusive Enya's mystery endures.
Despite being Ireland's bestselling solo artist and second overall behind U2, Enya has never toured or even performed a solo concert. Heavily decorated with four Grammy awards and six World Music Awards, she remains intensely private, rarely gives interviews and has not made a public appearance in years.
This, it seems, has only added to her allure, and more than 38 years after the release of her self-titled debut album, Enya's new-age ethereal voice, meticulously layered and haunting melodies have found a new audience. The 63-year-old Only Time singer has clocked up millions of views on TikTok.
The American reality TV star Spencer Pratt, who has 2.1 million followers on TikTok, has made several videos of himself eating burritos to Enya's song Echoes in Rain. He has been on a campaign recently for permission to sample the track for a remix with I'll Do It, a song by his wife, Heidi Montag. He has abandoned a plan to visit Enya, warned by Irish people online that it would be a fruitless expedition, but his initiative has helped to create yet another generation of Enya fans.
It's not the first time Enya has gone viral. In 2023, she was celebrated in all her mystical glory with the Enyacore trend, when fans created fantasy and medieval-style videos set to her music and shared them with the world.
In 2019, she trended on Twitter when her single Caribbean Blue was the soundtrack to the final scene of Channel 4's hugely popular series Derry Girls. Enya also showed up on the soundtrack to Bo Burnham's 2018 indie film Eighth Grade.
Last month, there was hope that the Donegal singer would attend the RTE Choice Music Prize event in Vicar Street, Dublin, to collect an award in recognition of the impact of Watermark, her 1988 album.
Instead Enya, whose real name is Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, wrote a statement that was read out by Priscilla Kotey, managing director of Warner Music Ireland. It did not say whether Enya had plans to record another album.
'I am very very honoured tonight,' she said. 'When Watermark came out, I was just so proud to be able to make music. My love of music has always been a driving force to me and any success always feels like a great bonus, as I've been determined to create music which is true to myself from a very young age. Watermark really kickstarted my career and has always remained very special to me.'
Even when Watermark was released, Enya, then 27, was described in the media as reclusive and as someone who put her music before her image. Today, she is rarely seen outside her 19th-century castle in Killiney, south Dublin, which she bought for IR£2.5 million in 1997. She was reported to have outbid Michael Flatley.
Surely, though, someone must have seen her recently? The Sunday Times recently visited her home, which she named Manderley after the fictitious manor in Daphne du Maurier's novel Rebecca.
Although the property is surrounded by 9ft stone walls and a solid timber gate, those who pass by can still see its Victorian turrets, which offer panoramic views of the Irish Sea. There was no answer but, after some very bad experiences with fans, Enya never opens the door to unexpected guests.
In 2005, a stalker broke into her home and terrorised her for two hours. It was reported that the man had tied up a maid before searching the castle for Enya. She managed to avoid him by locking herself in a safe room as gardai rushed to the scene.
In a separate incident, an Italian fan was said to have stalked Enya for more than a year, and stabbed himself after he was thrown out of her family's pub in Donegal.
Many residents in the nearby village of Dalkey say they have never seen Enya in person, though they regularly encounter other big stars, such as the U2 singer Bono, as they go about their day-to-day business.
However, neighbours have recalled seeing her being chauffeured in a brown Mercedes-Maybach limo, which was priced at more than €500,000 at the time. Only a few other people in Ireland have owned this car, including the Coolmore stud owner John Magnier and the property developer Johnny Ronan.
In an interview several years ago, though, Enya laughed off descriptions of her as a recluse, saying simply that she was working.
Born in 1961 and raised in Gweedore, Co Donegal, where Irish was her first language, Enya was the middle child among four brothers and four sisters. After leaving school, she studied classical music and in 1980 she joined several members of her family in the band Clannad, touring Europe and recording two albums with them. She left the band several years later to complete her studies and write her own music.
• Enya: 'I walked away from the things that would have made me more famous'
Despite having lost a core member, Clannad are still known as one of the most influential Irish groups of the past five decades.
The Sunday Times reached out to the family band on social media to see if they could set up an interview with Enya. They responded: 'Unfortunately can't help with this. Best to contact Nicky Ryan through Warner Music … that's the only route.'
Enya has co-owned a music company, Aigle Music, with Nicky and Roma Ryan since 1981. Nicky Ryan, a manager and music producer, is credited with having helped Enya bring her sound to life, and his wife, Roma, is known for adding another layer to her artistic legacy through her lyrics.
Their support was not overlooked by Enya, who made sure to thank them in her statement at the RTE Choice Music Prize event. 'I couldn't have made it happen without Nicky and Roma, and I am eternally grateful for their talent, vision and support. This award is as much theirs as it is mine,' she said.
Efforts were made to reach the Ryans at their home and studio in Killiney, but requests for a few words about Enya's success were politely declined via the intercom outside their gate.
Enya's ethereal sound and unique blend of Celtic, classical, and ambient music still influence a wide range of artists across genres. Taylor Swift cited Enya as an influence on the atmospheric production of Folklore and Evermore. The Fugees memorably sampled Boadicea in Ready or Not (1996), bringing it into hip-hop culture, which was followed by Drake using the same song in Is There More (2018).
Moby has spoken about Enya's influence on his approach to ambient soundscapes, and Grimes and Brandy have both said the Irish artist's ability to layer vocals and create lush soundscapes inspired their work. Lana Del Rey's dreamy and cinematic music draws comparisons to Enya's style, and Florence + the Machine use similar ethereal vocal layering and orchestral elements.
Back in Dalkey village, business owners and locals were happy to hear of Enya's latest accolade, but could not recall seeing her in recent years.
Jérôme Fernandes, owner of the Guinea Pig, said she had last dined at his restaurant before the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Even though she is rarely seen these days, Enya is still very much respected in Dalkey as she's brought so much positivity to the area,' he said.
'When she was here before Covid it was clear that she wasn't looking for attention and didn't stand out compared to anyone else. We have catered for many celebrities and artists over the years and I feel it's important that their privacy is respected.'
Pam Cooney of the Grapevine wine shop said she had never seen Enya in all her years working in Dalkey. 'I've never seen her out and about, and we get many stars either going to the pub or enjoying a meal in the village,' she said. 'Nevertheless, if Enya doesn't choose to go out in public much, that's her business alone. She's had an incredibly successful career and deserves to spend her time as she wishes.'
Louie Krcho, a worker at the Roberts of Dalkey market, told The Sunday Times he had been a massive fan since he was a child.
'I've been listening to her for as long as I can remember and I'm always hopeful that I'd see her around,' he said. 'Unfortunately, she's not come across my path yet but I would be sure to leave her alone as I know she's a very private person.'
A young man who worked in a nearby restaurant said that, despite having lived in Dalkey all his life, he had never heard of Enya. 'I like my music, but I'm drawing a blank on who she is,' he said. 'Looking at a picture of her now I'm positive that I've never seen her in person or even on television.'
• Why today's stars love Enya
In 2022, Enya was seen at an event at Dublin City University celebrating the achievements of her sister Moya Brennan, who received an honorary doctorate. She was seen posing happily in several photographs with her sister and their mother, Baba Brennan, who is now in her nineties.
Last year, a photograph emerged on social media of Enya having a meal with friends and some of her siblings at a restaurant in Monte Carlo. She sat the head of the table wearing a red summer dress.
That was the singer's last known public appearance and, although little information could be gathered from the images alone, it was enough to satisfy fans that Enya is surrounded by her friends and family.