Roma Ryan
Encyclopedia
Roma Shane Ryan is an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist, currently living in Artane
, Ireland
, with her husband Nicky
.
Ryan is the primary lyricist for the singer Enya
, who has stated that the importance of Roma's and Nicky's contributions are such that without them, "Enya" would not exist.
. Enya had just finished secondary school when Nicky Ryan rang her, asking if she would become a member of the group. The Ryans and Enya left Clannad several years later to focus on their own musical careers. Enya originally wrote instrumental melodies. Roma found these melodies "very visual" and suited to film work; she began to write lyrics to them.
Ryan's lyrics for Enya have won Grammy awards; the song "May It Be
" for the The Lord of the Rings
film The Fellowship of the Ring was nominated for an Oscar
.
Her lyrics can be heard in films such as The Frog Prince
(1984), Green Card
(1990), L.A. Story
(1991), Toys (1992), Cry, the Beloved Country
(1995), and Calmi Cuori Appassionati
(2001), all of which feature Enya's music.
, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's Elvish language, for Enya's album Amarantine
. This language can be heard on three tracks from "Amarantine": "Less Than a Pearl", "The River Sings" and "Water Shows the Hidden Heart". Enya has mentioned in interviews that Roma developed Loxian while writing lyrics for the track "Water Shows the Hidden Heart"; she and Enya had attempted to write lyrics for the track in Latin, Gaelic and English and been disappointed with the results. The first Loxian phrase created by Roma-- "Syoombraaya"-- is the title of that track (Water Shows the Hidden Heart).
She has undertaken several projects without Enya, including a book describing the Loxian language called Water Shows the Hidden Heart. The book also contains poetry and stories written by Ryan.
"Water Shows the Hidden Heart" was released in two editions: the first edition as a standalone item, shortly after the release of Amarantine in 2005. The first edition features a short introduction by Enya. The second edition was included in the Deluxe Collector's Edition of Amarantine boxed set in early 2006. It omitted Enya's introduction and added colour images, as well as containing a different selection of Ryan's poetry. Neither version is currently in print, although they may be obtained second-hand from various sources.
Roma is a visual artist as well as a poet and writer; her artwork, as well as selected poems, may be viewed at her official website, www.romaryan.com.
Roma provides the majority of Aigle's contact with fans on the official website and also communicates periodically on the Unity forum.
Artane, Dublin
Artane, sometimes spelled Artaine , historically Tartaine is a Northside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. Neighbouring districts include Coolock, Beaumont, Killester, Raheny and Clontarf; to the south is a small locality, Harmonstown, straddling the Raheny-Artane border.-History:Artaine, now usually...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, with her husband Nicky
Nicky Ryan
Nicholas Dominick Ryan is an Irish music producer, recording engineer and manager for the musician Enya. He previously managed the Irish group Clannad, the band with which Enya first performed. In 1982, when Nicky Ryan left Clannad, Enya followed him...
.
Ryan is the primary lyricist for the singer Enya
Enya
Enya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to...
, who has stated that the importance of Roma's and Nicky's contributions are such that without them, "Enya" would not exist.
Biography and work with Enya
Roma and Nicky Ryan met Enya in 1978; Nicky was managing Enya's family's band ClannadClannad
Clannad are an Irish musical group, from Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. Their music has been variously described as bordering on folk and folk rock, Irish, Celtic and New Age, often incorporating elements of an even broader spectrum of smooth jazz and Gregorian chant...
. Enya had just finished secondary school when Nicky Ryan rang her, asking if she would become a member of the group. The Ryans and Enya left Clannad several years later to focus on their own musical careers. Enya originally wrote instrumental melodies. Roma found these melodies "very visual" and suited to film work; she began to write lyrics to them.
Ryan's lyrics for Enya have won Grammy awards; the song "May It Be
May It Be
"May It Be" is a song composed by Irish musician Enya and featured in Peter Jackson's 2001 film The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring...
" for the The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
film The Fellowship of the Ring was nominated for an Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
.
Her lyrics can be heard in films such as The Frog Prince
The Frog Prince (1984 film)
The Frog Prince is a 1984 romantic comedy film written and directed by Brian Gilbert. The film was a British and French co-production and was released in the US under the title French Lessons. The story revolves around a young British girl who travels to Paris to go to college, and is determined...
(1984), Green Card
Green Card (film)
Green Card is a 1990 romantic comedy film written, produced, directed by Peter Weir and starring Gérard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell. The screenplay focuses on an American woman who enters into a marriage of convenience with a Frenchman so he can obtain a green card and remain in the United...
(1990), L.A. Story
L.A. Story
L.A. Story is a 1991 American romantic comedy film, written by and starring Steve Martin. Set in Los Angeles, California, it relates a series of episodes in the romantic life of an L.A. TV weatherman. It includes surreal sequences in which he is offered romantic advice flashed to him by a freeway...
(1991), Toys (1992), Cry, the Beloved Country
Cry, the Beloved Country (1995 film)
Cry, the Beloved Country is a 1995 film directed by Darrell Roodt. Based on the novel Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton it stars James Earl Jones and Richard Harris. It features the song Exile by Enya. The score was composed by John Barry....
(1995), and Calmi Cuori Appassionati
Calmi Cuori Appassionati
Calmi Cuori Appassionati is a 2001 Japanese movie directed by Isamu Nakae, starring Yutaka Takenouchi and Kelly Chen. It is a love story about two students who met at an art college in Japan...
(2001), all of which feature Enya's music.
Loxian Language and Solo Work: Water Shows the Hidden Heart
In 2005, Ryan created a new language known as LoxianLoxian
Loxian is an artistic language and alphabet created by writer and lyricist Roma Ryan for Enya's 2005 album Amarantine. The language is featured in three songs on the album...
, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's Elvish language, for Enya's album Amarantine
Amarantine (album)
Amarantine is an album by Irish musician Enya. The album was released on November 22, 2005. It won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for 2007.The release date was announced by Roma Ryan on September 23, 2005, at the official Enya forum...
. This language can be heard on three tracks from "Amarantine": "Less Than a Pearl", "The River Sings" and "Water Shows the Hidden Heart". Enya has mentioned in interviews that Roma developed Loxian while writing lyrics for the track "Water Shows the Hidden Heart"; she and Enya had attempted to write lyrics for the track in Latin, Gaelic and English and been disappointed with the results. The first Loxian phrase created by Roma-- "Syoombraaya"-- is the title of that track (Water Shows the Hidden Heart).
She has undertaken several projects without Enya, including a book describing the Loxian language called Water Shows the Hidden Heart. The book also contains poetry and stories written by Ryan.
"Water Shows the Hidden Heart" was released in two editions: the first edition as a standalone item, shortly after the release of Amarantine in 2005. The first edition features a short introduction by Enya. The second edition was included in the Deluxe Collector's Edition of Amarantine boxed set in early 2006. It omitted Enya's introduction and added colour images, as well as containing a different selection of Ryan's poetry. Neither version is currently in print, although they may be obtained second-hand from various sources.
Roma is a visual artist as well as a poet and writer; her artwork, as well as selected poems, may be viewed at her official website, www.romaryan.com.
The Loxian Games and the Unity forum
Roma Ryan has been the coordinator of two on-line competitions at Enya's official website, enya.com - the First and Second Loxian Games, which have both been completed. Ryan announced the games on the official website in August 2008; the first Games began on 1 September 2008 and the second Games in September of the following year. Ryan says of the games: “The Games are a series of treasure hunts and you can tell by the name that they‘re based on the Loxian language you heard on “Amarantine”. They are games of riddles and clues and of you, looking for answers. As with most treasure hunts – there are prizes to be won. As with most treasure hunts you do not know what prize you may have won!" The winners for both Games have been announced on the official forum, unity.enya.com.Roma provides the majority of Aigle's contact with fans on the official website and also communicates periodically on the Unity forum.