Dónal Lunny, architect of modern Irish traditional music, dies at 79

Founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts leaves a legacy that shaped Irish music for six decades

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Updated23 October 2026

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Dónal Lunny, the multi-instrumentalist and founding member of three of Ireland's most influential traditional music groups, has died aged 79, his family has confirmed. A linchpin of the revival and evolution of Irish folk music, Lunny was a member of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts and worked with artists including Kate Bush, Mark Knopfler and Sinéad O'Connor.

Born in Tullamore, County Offaly, in 1947, Lunny moved to Newbridge, County Kildare as a child and met fellow future Planxty member Christy Moore in 1959. With Moore, Liam O'Flynn and Andy Irvine, Lunny founded Planxty in the early 1970s, redefining Irish music with bouzouki, guitar, keyboards and bodhrán. The group recorded three albums between 1971 and 1973.

In 1973 he established Mulligan Records, going on to produce 17 albums for artists including the Boomtown Rats, The Radiators and Agnes Bernell. He joined The Bothy Band in 1975, pushing boundaries alongside Matt Molloy, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Kevin Burke and others.

Lunny's influence extended beyond performance. In 1981 he and Bill Whelan composed the Eurovision interval act "Timedance"; Whelan later built on that foundation to create the Riverdance interval act in 1994, and the production became a global phenomenon. Lunny produced and served as musical director of the acclaimed TV series "Bringing It All Back Home" and composed film scores including "This Is My Father".

He received a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2018 and at the RTÉ Radio 1 Irish Folk Awards last year. One of his final public appearances was at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast in August.

Musician and collaborator Neil Martin described Lunny as an "extraordinary figure" and said the loss was "huge". "Since the mid-60s nearly anything that was of significant movement within the traditional music world, Dónal was at the epicentral to it," he told BBC's Evening Extra programme.

The Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) said Lunny's influence was "immense" and that he "opened new harmonic and rhythmic possibilities". "Dónal leaves behind an extraordinary body of work. His artistry, generosity and influence are woven deeply into the living tradition," the archive said.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Lunny was a central figure in the revival and modernisation of Irish traditional music, influencing generations of musicians
His work helped bring Irish music to global audiences, most notably through the Riverdance phenomenon
The loss marks the end of an era for a musical movement that reshaped Ireland's cultural identity

Background

Dónal Lunny began his musical journey in the 1960s and quickly became a driving force in Irish folk. His bands Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts each pushed the boundaries of traditional music, incorporating rock, jazz and other influences while retaining Irish roots. Beyond performing, Lunny produced albums, mentored younger artists and composed for film and television.

Key Perspectives

Musicians and collaborators: Neil Martin called him an "extraordinary figure" and said all Irish musicians would have "nodded to him at some stage". Irish Traditional Music Archive: ITMA credited Lunny with opening "new harmonic and rhythmic possibilities" and said his imagination "shaped the sound of Irish music". Legacy: Bono once described him as Ireland's "answer to Quincy Jones". t

What to Watch

Tributes from fellow musicians and cultural figures are expected in the coming days
Possible commemorative concerts or reissues of his work
The fate of Mulligan Records and unreleased material

Sources

Tributes paid to Irish traditional musician Dónal Lunny after death aged 79 · The Irish News
Celebrated Irish musician Dónal Lunny dies aged 79 · BBC Northern Ireland

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

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SupportedDónal Lunny has died aged 79.BBC Northern Ireland: “Dónal Lunny, has died aged 79.”
Not in the sourcesLunny’s family confirmed his death.
SupportedLunny was an architect of modern Irish traditional music.BBC Northern Ireland: “he was widely credited for the revival and growth of Irish traditional music.”
SupportedLunny was a founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts.BBC Northern Ireland: “A founding member of three renowned bands - The Bothy Band, Planxty and Moving Hearts”
SupportedLunny’s legacy shaped Irish music for six decades.BBC Northern Ireland: “Since the mid-60s nearly anything that was of significant movement within the traditional music world, Dónal was at the epicentral to it,”
SupportedNeil Martin called Lunny an “extraordinary figure” and said the loss was “huge.”BBC Northern Ireland: “described the loss as "huge" and said he was an "extraordinary figure".”
SupportedNeil Martin said, “Since the mid-60s nearly anything that was of significant movement within the traditional music world, Dónal was at the epicentral to it.”BBC Northern Ireland: “"Since the mid-60s nearly anything that was of significant movement within the traditional music world, Dónal was at the epicentral to it,"”
SupportedThe Irish Traditional Music Archive said Lunny’s influence was “immense” and he “opened new harmonic and rhythmic possibilities.”BBC Northern Ireland: “The Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) said Lunny's influence on Irish music was "immense" and he "opened new harmonic and rhythmic possibilities"”
SupportedThe archive said, “Dónal leaves behind an extraordinary body of work. His artistry, generosity and influence are woven deeply into the living tradition.”BBC Northern Ireland: “"Dónal leaves behind an extraordinary body of work. His artistry, generosity and influence are woven deeply into the living tradition and into the lives of so many”
SupportedLunny and Bill Whelan composed the Eurovision interval act “Timedance” in 1981.BBC Northern Ireland: “In 1981, Ireland hosted the Eurovision Song Contest. For the interval act, Dónal Lunny and Bill Whelan composed a three-part suite of baroque-influenced traditional music called Timedance”
Partly supportedWhelan created the “Riverdance interval act” in 1994, and that production became a global phenomenon.BBC Northern Ireland: “When Whelan was commissioned to orchestrate the interval for the 1994 competition, again hosted in Ireland, he built on the foundation established by himself and Lunny. That interval act was later developed into the full-scale production Riverdance”
SupportedMulligan Records went on to produce 17 albums.BBC Northern Ireland: “In 1973, he set up the label Mulligan Records and went on to produce 17 albums,”