Dónal Lunny, Giant of Irish Traditional Music, Dies at 79
Irish traditional musician and producer Dónal Lunny, a member of Planxty, the Bothy Band and Moving Hearts, has died of cancer aged 79. Ireland's president and prime minister were among those paying tribute.
Dónal Lunny, the Irish traditional musician and producer, has died of cancer at the age of 79. A post on his Facebook page said he passed away peacefully on Friday morning, 24 October, in St James's hospital in Dublin after a short stay. Lunny is regarded as one of the central figures in the revival of Irish folk music.
Career
Lunny was born in Tullamore, County Offaly. A multi-instrumentalist, he was best known for his mastery of the bouzouki. He rose to prominence in the band Rakes of Kildare with Christy Moore and Moore's brother Frank, and later played in Planxty, Moving Hearts, the Bothy Band and Coolfin, touring internationally. As a producer he released 17 albums on his own label, Mulligan Records.
Tributes
Irish president Catherine Connolly called Lunny one of Ireland's greatest musical figures, central to many of the most influential moments in Irish music over the past 60 years. She also noted his part in introducing the bouzouki to Irish music, his membership of Aosdána, the association of Irish artists, and the lifetime achievement award he received at the 2025 RTÉ Radio 1 Irish folk awards.
The taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Micheál Martin, described him as a colossus of Irish music as a performer, songwriter and producer, who took traditional and folk music to new audiences through Planxty and other projects. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said Lunny helped shape the sound of Irish music for generations.
