MOYA Brennan is quick to laugh at the irony that the band for her current tour which heads to Bury Met next week features both her son and daughter.

After all, she initially made her name as a member of Clannad which also featured her brothers, her uncles and her sister Enya.

“It’s good they don’t mind being onstage with their old mother,” she said, “but there is such a lovely feeling on stage. They really are a bundle of fun.”

Moya credits daughter Aisling and son Paul with helping her get her career back on track.

After selling over 20 million albums both with Clannad and as a solo artist she admits that her father’s death in 2016 hit her hard.

“It was a funny kind of summer and I found myself a wee bit lost,” she said. “It was my kids who encouraged me to go into the studio. I hadn’t made my own studio album in a long time. They said they would write one or two songs with me and as it turned out they wrote nine of the 11 songs on the album with me.”

That album - Canvas - was her first solo release in over 10 years and will form part of her live show.

“Making the album we had just the best craic,” said Moya. “It was a really healing time. It was also very interesting for me as their influences are so different to mine.

“They have always loved what I’ve done, Clannad particularly, but Paul is into electronica and Aisling likes Imogen Heap and a bit of rock.

“I’m always going to be me but listening to their world was so successful. The album has their influences very much on it. too and I can’t wait to go into the studio with them again.”

Moya also had no hesitation in taking her children out on tour with her.

“It’s really important for me to feel comfortable on stage and this is the ultimate,” she said. “You couldn’t write it, coming from a family band and then having one of my own.

“It works really well. They respect me for what I’ve been doing. They call me Moya on tour then at home I’m mum.

“I wouldn’t have them on stage if I didn’t think they were capable of being there but that was never going to be an issue.”

Moya is acutely aware of her heritage - and the massive impact Clannad had on so many people’s lives with songs such as Harry’s Game and In a Lifetime.

“I know what it’s like when you go to see someone,” she said. “You love hearing new songs but you also want to hear the classics. I never get tired of singing Harry’s Game. When it’s a good song you don’t mind singing it.

“So if anybody likes Clannad, they will love the show as we do a number of Clannad songs.

“When you hear people give a wee sigh when you start off some of these old songs, that’s so lovely. We’ll also be doing some songs off Canvas and other albums I’ve done. There is so much to do, you can never satisfy everybody. But I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this tour.”

Moya will also be joined on stage by Cormac de Barra who acts as the band’s musical director.

“The dynamics in the band are just gorgeous,” said Moya. “It’s just a great experience.

“If people ever ask me for advice about music, I always say the day you stop learning then give it up. That’s what music is all about, you are constantly learning.”

Moya Brennan, Bury Met, Thursday, March 22. Details from www.themet.org.uk