Macalla Explained

Macalla is a 1985 musical album by the Irish folk group Clannad. It is their ninth album and is known for the duet between Clannad's singer Moya Brennan and U2 vocalist Bono on the single "In a Lifetime". An alternate version of the album's first track, "Caisleán Óir", was used throughout the third Robin of Sherwood series.

The album's title is Irish for "echo". Two of its songs are sung entirely in Irish: "Caisleán Óir", which translates as "golden castle", and "Buachaill Ón Éirne", which means "Boy from the Erne".

Track listing

1. "Caisleán Óir" (Ciarán Brennan, Máire Brennan) – 2:06
2. "The Wild Cry" (Pól Brennan) – 4:41
3. "Closer to Your Heart" (C. Brennan) – 3:29
4. "In a Lifetime" (a duet with Bono) (C. Brennan, P. Brennan) – 3:08
5. "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)" (P. Brennan) – 4:51
6. "Indoor" (P. Brennan) – 3:53
7. "Buachaill Ón Éirne" (Traditional) – 3:08
8. "Blackstairs" (P. Brennan) – 4:15
9. "Journey's End" (Noel Duggan, Pádraig Duggan) – 2:42
10. "Northern Skyline" (C. Brennan, P. Brennan) – 4:58
11. "Caisleán Óir (Planet Heaven Mix)" – 7:04 (bonus track available only on 2003 Deluxe Edition)

Personnel

Band

• Ciarán Ó Braonáin – bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Máire Ní Bhronáin – vocals, harp
• Pól Ó Braonáin – flute, guitar, percussion, vocals
• Noel Ó Dúgáin – guitar, vocals
• Pádraig Ó Dúgáin – guitar, mandolin, vocals

Additional Musicians

• Bono – vocals
• Mel Collins – saxophone
• Danny Cummings – percussion
• James Delaney – keyboards, synthesizer
• Anto Drennan – guitar, electric guitar
• Paul Moran – drums
• Steve Nye – keyboards

Production

• Steve Nye – producer
• Louis Austin – engineer
• Justin Birt – assistant engineer
• Ron Kurz – engineer
• Martin Pearson – assistant engineer
• Kevin Maloney – engineer
• John Grimes – assistant engineer
• Kevin Metcalfe – mastering
• Anton Corbijn – photography
• Jill Furmanovsky – photography

Additional information

• Engineered by Martin Pearson and Ron Kurz (Power Play Studio)
• Engineered by Louis Austin (Ridge Farm Studio), Assistant engineer - Justin Birt
• Engineered by Kevin Maloney (Windmill Lane Studio), Assistant engineer - John Grimes
• Mixed at Windmill Lane Studio
• Mastered at Townhouse Studios by Kevin Metcalfe
• Sleeve direction by Mainartery
• Photography - Jill Furmanovsky
• Clannad photography by Anton Corbijn

Charts

External links

• Album Northern Skyline

Notes and References

1. Web site: Music Week. 65.
2. Web site: 19 April 1986 . Billboard 200™ . 23 June 2025 . Billboard.
3. Web site: 26 October 1985. Macalla Chart History . 23 June 2025 . Official Charts.