Other reasonable Enya questions

[イ𝑜ⳏⲁ𝑧 𝑅𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒]

Just a new thread, asking questions that hopefully don't seem to invade privacy, but might be worth asking. 💡

I recently wondered this: do Enya (Eithne, Nicky and Roma) mostly speak to each other in English or Irish?
Or Loxian 

Eithne speaks Irish as her first language of course, and Roma probably understands quite a lot, and maybe speaks Irish too. Nicky had worked with other Irish artists, not sure whether he had spoke to them in the language too, beyond greetings. 

In the studio (while not being filmed) or even when they claim to argue with each other 😅 do they still speak in English to each other, or is there a mix of Irish too? For example, Roma and Eithne speaking in Irish sometimes when writing the lyrics, then during recording Eithne and Nicky might briefly speak in English.

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but it would be rather interesting if anyone else here knew and could explain more about that aspect.

[TheFirstOfAutumn]

Hi,

I never thought about this before, but now that you have come up with this question, I must say I can't get it out of my mind  . The answer should be easy, if you knew it already, from inside or from other sources, like interviews, or knowing the language most used in the cities of Ireland. Otherwise there are two possibilities that I as a foreigner see as not being different enough, but just slightly different, and I can't decide which one is more probable. That is regarding the language used in talks, because when they argue one another, it comes easier to me to imagine: Enya would use various heavy tonalities of her voice, Roma would use Loxian incantations, and Nicky... well, he wouldn't use any language at all, he would better run!

[イ𝑜ⳏⲁ𝑧 𝑅𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒]

Apr 12, 2023 15:28:16 GMT -5 TheFirstOfAutumn said:

Hi,

I never thought about this before, but now that you have come up with this question, I must say I can't get it out of my mind  . The answer should be easy, if you knew it already, from inside or from other sources, like interviews

Hi True, it does seem like a simple question with easy answer if it has already been stated in interviews.
I have read quite a lot of the old archived interview transcripts here and here 💡

Still, I get more of the idea that there was more moodiness and shouting (in the old studio, before recording The Memory of Trees) than a nice calm discussion  

when they argue one another, it comes easier to me to imagine: Enya would use various heavy tonalities of her voice, Roma would use Loxian incantations, and Nicky... well, he wouldn't use any language at all, he would better run!

 That's an interesting interpretation of them arguing, haha. Nicky apparently does use bad (English) language/swearing according to a Watermark-era article, where Roma say she is used to hearing it. Eithne would prefer not to, mainly because of it being extra, often  unnecessary words. 👍I imagine her shouting sounds more 'sharp' with a raised voice rather than 'heavy' a bit like in the Latin songs with the higher pitched parts. 💡

[smileyanna]

I have also wondered about this before, but I obviously don't know the answer.  
In my opinion, Roma must speak (some) Irish, since there are many Enya songs with Irish lyrics (written by Roma).
 I think Nicky might know some Irish, too (basic phrases at least).
However, I haven't seen any Irish interviews with Roma or Nicky, only English ones.

[Draíocht an Dúlra]

I would think that they speak to each other in English. I don’t know for sure. I also thought that Enya helped Roma with the Gaelic lyrics.

[sempiternity]

That came up in the early years of the trio. If I remember correctly, there is an interview where Roma says she doesn't speak Gaelic and wasn't raised with it.

From what I've heard and read over the years, I'm pretty sure all Gaelic in Enya's songs comes from her alone.

[イ𝑜ⳏⲁ𝑧 𝑅𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒]

Apr 16, 2023 0:05:52 GMT -5 sempiternity said:

That came up in the early years of the trio. If I remember correctly, there is an interview where Roma says she doesn't speak Gaelic and wasn't raised with it.

That's quite interesting - do you remember any more about that interview, and whether it has an article transcript or a video?

From what I've heard and read over the years, I'm pretty sure all Gaelic in Enya's songs comes from her alone.

That could be the case, in a way. Roma might have some of the ideas in English; I've read somewhere that Enya adapts these into the Irish language.
Still, some lyrics in the liner notes are slightly different to what is being sung, which is the case for Storms in Africa (I) - see this (also for more of the Latin or Gaelic songs from Watermark:)

It would be rather fitting if Enya has written a new Gaelic song since ADWR, for the new album 🤞🎶😌

[イ𝑜ⳏⲁ𝑧 𝑅𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒]

Another thing I have wondered about, after seeing it mentioned in a few places online (notably IMDB) is when/why did Enya get a nickname of 'The Silver Lady'? 

[phantas]

I know Roma mentioned writing the English for Deora ar mo Chroi at some point, after which Enya adapted it into Gaelic if my memory serves me right. So that would sort of prove that Roma isn't versed in Gaelic. Since most of her poetic work also seems to be in English, it's assumable to go with that.

As for Nicky, I'm not sure but I am leaning towards English mostly, with maybe a relative understanding and light ability in Gaelic? For instance, he worked with Clannad, and if there's any family that's steeped in Gaelic chatter, it's them! BUT, otoh, it could also be Nicky isn't versed in Gaelic at all and it [going into a slight bit of speculation here] might be a part of the reasons why he and Ciaran never quite got along.

[Moe]

Apr 25, 2023 16:13:51 GMT -5 イ𝑜ⳏⲁ𝑧 𝑅𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒 said:

Another thing I have wondered about, after seeing it mentioned in a few places online (notably IMDB) is when/why did Enya get a nickname of 'The Silver Lady'? 

If my memory is still functioning, I think it was a fan who came up with The Silver Lady.

[イ𝑜ⳏⲁ𝑧 𝑅𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒]

Jun 11, 2023 10:26:49 GMT -5 Moe said:

Apr 25, 2023 16:13:51 GMT -5 イ𝑜ⳏⲁ𝑧 𝑅𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒 said:

Another thing I have wondered about, after seeing it mentioned in a few places online (notably IMDB) is when/why did Enya get a nickname of 'The Silver Lady'? 

If my memory is still functioning, I think it was a fan who came up with The Silver Lady.

Ah okay, is that fan anywhere on this forum?  

[Moe]

If that person is here they can respond.

[RichardF]

I remember one interfview where Roma said she spoke Irish, but not often. Unlike Eithne who spoke it daily.