Having shunned marriage, kids and socialising for a peaceful life in her remote castle, Irish singer-songwriter Enya, 64, lives alone with her 12 cats
Enigmatic singer-songwriter Enya has famously snubbed the spotlight for a secluded life. The reclusive Irish musician, who once described herself as “dark and difficult to be with”, bought herself a small £2.5m castle, with views of the moody Irish Sea.
Having never married or had children, the 64-year-old keeps to herself and lives alone in her fortress, except for her 12 cats and estimated €121m (£105m) fortune. A recent viral social media post about her peaceful life saw Ncuti Gatwa comment: “Goals”, while Dawn O’Porter added: “Icon.” Here’s what we know about Enya’s solitary existence.
Enya’s remote castle
In 1997, Enya invested £2.5 million into the 19th-century Manderley Castle. Behind her fortified gateway, she lives in the renovated mansion, which has an attached guest house, art room, exercise room and lounge area complete with staff quarters and a large loft.
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A tunnel also runs from the castle’s basement down to the Irish Sea, giving private access to Killiney Beach, but this was sealed off in the 1980s. Enya outbid Riverdance star Michael Flatley for the house, which she renamed Castle Manderley, thanks to her interest in Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 gothic novel Rebecca.
She previously stated in interviews that the home needed extensive remodelling after falling into disrepair. Due to the threat of stalkers, she also installed substantial security measures. The singer also calls fellow Irish music royalty Bono, of U2, her neighbour.
A local told the Sun previously: “When she bought the castle, there was a lot of work done and plenty of money put into security — cameras, gates and lights. People come looking for it from all over the world, but you can’t see through the gates. You wouldn’t even know there was anyone there most of the time.”
Who does Enya live with?
Having shunned marriage, children and friends – except for her long-time collaborators, couple Nicky and Roma Ryan – she lives in isolation. It was reported that Enya once lived with 12 cats in her County Dublin fort, but it’s not known how many pets the musician lives with now.
She once said that no “man would be able to adapt” to a life with her. Speaking about her thoughts on relationships, she said previously: “After a bad day in the studio, I’m dark and difficult to be with, I want and need to be on my own. What sort of man would be able to adapt?
“Falling madly in love and getting married would be the most horrific thing that could happen. My affairs are with melody, words, and beautiful sounds.
“I had partners. But I find long relationships, well, how can I say it without appearing strange? I’m too much devoted to my music. Some people think it sounds sad, but believe me, I’m happy. I am my music.”
Last public appearance
Enya stunned fans last year when she made her first public appearance for eight years and went on a rare night out to celebrate a wedding at Drumhalla House. She wore a black lace top and white midi skirt as she posed for photos alongside her Moya Brennan, brother-in-law Tim Jarvis and members of the Irish dance group, Donegal Dancer, who shared a photo on their Facebook page.
Her last appearance before that was at the 2017 Grammy Awards. Her uncle, Noel Duggan, told the Sun in 2016: “We don’t see much of her. She lives like a queen. She is a recluse.”
Meanwhile, an industry insider told the paper: “Throughout the music business, there’s no one else who is so successful about whom so little is known. She doesn’t socialise, she’s barely seen out of the house, there aren’t any clues in her lyrics about her life.”
Defending her quiet social life, Enya previously said: “It’s not a hanging offence not wanting to go to nightclubs. What happened to choice? My choice is that after a certain amount of promotion, I feel it gets very false, and then I’m not interested.
“When the album has been out for, say, ten months, people will start focusing on me, and I really don’t want that. I love the music to be known, but I’m not after fame for myself.”
Enya’s stalking ordeals
It may be unsurprising that Enya wants to keep her life private, with the singer experiencing multiple disturbing incidents of stalking. A 1996 episode saw an Italian man track her for over a year, before turning up at her parents’ pub in Donegal sporting a pendant with her image. When confronted, the situation escalated as he wounded himself with a knife.
And if that wasn’t horrifying enough, in 2005, another intruder invaded her castle, detaining a housemaid as he scoured the premises for Enya, who had taken refuge in a safe room. Following these events, Enya has stepped back from fan meet-and-greets and avoids public outings.
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