Just a few snapshots
Listen to Dana sing Irish favorites: |
The little Northern Ireland town of Derry was founded in the sixth century when the great Irish saint Colmcille/Columba (521-597) built a Christian Monastery. This started the tradition of praising God. Music was also a large part of the culture of Derry. During the day and the night the air was full of old Irish folk songs. When Rosemary Brown (Dana’s
birth name) was born, music and the love of God
surrounded her in her family and in the Derry community.
Her family taught her songs long before she knew the true
meaning of the words. At six, she won her first
competition at St. Columb’s Hall in Derry singing an
Irish lullaby that she had learned from her grandmother.
Dana’s parents taught their family that God was an
essential part of life, and daily prayer was very
important. Praying the Rosary together and attending
Sunday Mass was a natural family event. Dana remembers from a early age that God was real a person. "I recall the time I realized the significance of the Crucifixion. I was about seven or eight, attending the Good Friday celebrations. Behind the altar was a beautiful stained glass window depicting the Crucifixion, and as I knelt staring at it, I suddenly realized that this man had really died a terrible death for me. Tears were streaming down my face, but somehow it didn’t matter that people could see my crying. I felt heartbroken." One of Dana’s best friends who had a tremendous impact on her life was Sister Imelda, her music teacher. She helped teach Dana "faith is a gift from God and that our life was bought for us by the death of His Son. He only asks for our love in return - and our lives laid down for Him to bring His life to others." As Dana became noticed for her voice and dancing talents in Europe, she felt the name "Rosemary Brown" was too long to use. After a number of suggestions, the name, "Dana" won as the favorite. The name, Dana is an old Gaelic word meaning "bold" or "mischievous." Later it was discovered that Dana was a queen of a ancient Irish tribe which had been dedicated to music, poetry, and dance. True to the name, Dana made her way into the world of television shows and record albums. In 1969, she was asked to represent Ireland by singing "Look Around" in the Eurovision Song Contest. She won second place. Dana thought that was her chance at making it big. At Christmas time of that year, she was asked to participate in the next competition in March of 1970. Upon accepting this invitation, little did Dana know what was about to occur.
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Dana as a baby.