Irish folk musician Dónal Lunny has died at the age of 79 following a battle with cancer. He passed away on Friday (October 23) morning in St James's Hospital in Dublin.
His family announced the news on his official Facebook page, writing: "We are heartbroken to confirm that our beloved Donal passed away peacefully this morning in Dublin following a short stay in St James's Hospital. Thank you for helping us to remember and celebrate his immense contribution to music, to culture, and to so many people's lives all over the world. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann."
Founding member of Planxty and The Bothy Band
Lunny was one of Ireland's most celebrated musicians and played a vital role in reviving and growing the country's traditional music. He was best known for playing the bouzouki, but was also highly skilled on the guitar, bodhrán, mandolin and keyboards.
He was a founding member of the influential Irish traditional group Planxty alongside Liam O'Flynn, Christy Moore and Andy Irvine, with the quartet recording three albums between 1971 and 1973. He went on to form The Bothy Band in 1975 and subsequently Moving Hearts in the mid 1980s.
Producer and composer across genres
Lunny also co-founded Mulligan Records in 1973, producing 17 albums for the label, which published music from artists such as Boomtown Rats, The Radiators, and Agnes Bernell. He served as musical director and producer of the award-winning documentary series Bringing It All Back Home, released in 1991.
His talent extended to films, composing scores for several projects, including the 1998 drama This Is My Father, starring Aidan Quinn and James Caan. In his later career, he expanded into contemporary music, producing albums for artists including Kate Bush, Paul Brady, Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, Rod Stewart and Clannad. He also produced Common Ground, an internationally acclaimed album released by EMI featuring contributions from Sinéad O'Connor, Kate Bush, Bono and Elvis Costello.
Tributes from political and cultural figures
Speaking to The Irish Examiner in 2014, Lunny said: "I was dedicated to expanding the reach of traditional music. You want to push the boundaries and broaden the treatment of the music in an acceptable way — one that wouldn't turn people off, that wasn't alien to the music. It was a matter of finding approaches that worked."
In February 2025, Lunny received a lifetime achievement award at the RTÉ Radio 1 Irish Folk Awards. He is survived by his children Oisin, Cora Venus, and Sora Chan, as well as his partner Una O'Boyle. His son Shane, who he shared with O'Connor, died at the age of 17 in 2022.
Tributes have flooded in online, with friends and collaborators of Lunny describing him as a "genius" and praising his "immense" contribution to Irish music. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described Lunny as a "colossus" of Irish music, adding: "Uniquely gifted, Dónal carried traditional and folk music to new audiences through Planxty and his many other endeavours."
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald posted: "Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dónal Lunny. A giant of Irish traditional music, Dónal helped shape the sound of Irish music for generations, bringing our rich musical heritage to audiences at home and around the world. His contribution to Irish music and culture will never be forgotten. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam."
Shona McCarthy, Director of the Arts Council, said: "It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Dónal Lunny today. His championing of Irish traditional music was instrumental in bringing the artform to the fore. Dónal was a trailblazer, inspiring generations of musicians and expertly balancing tradition and reinvention. He was a talented and passionate artist, and on behalf of the Arts Council I would like to extend my most sincere sympathies to all those who knew him personally or were inspired by his work."
