A death in Dublin
Dónal Lunny died on Friday morning, 23 October, at St James’s Hospital in Dublin, the Irish Times reported. He had cancer and was 79.
For about 60 years he was at the centre of Irish folk and traditional music, as a player, an arranger and above all as a producer who shaped how the music sounded on record.
Planxty, the Bothy Band, Moving Hearts
The Irish Traditional Music Archive said in its tribute that his imagination shaped the sound of Irish music for more than half a century, through Planxty, the Bothy Band, Moving Hearts and a lifetime of working with other musicians. He was best known for playing the bouzouki, but he also played guitar, bodhrán, mandolin, keyboards and synthesiser, and he sang.
In her statement, President Catherine Connolly highlighted his central role in bringing the bouzouki into Irish music. She also mentioned his long partnerships with Christy Moore and Andy Irvine.
Aosdána said he co-founded Mulligan Records and produced 17 albums for the label. He also worked on records with Kate Bush, Mark Knopfler, Clannad and Baaba Maal, among others. He was elected to Aosdána in 2006 and received an honorary doctorate in music from Trinity College in 2008. Recently he had been playing with the group Mozaik and with Zoë Conway. In January he became the first person inducted into The Late Late Show’s Trad Music Hall of Fame.
The tributes
President Catherine Connolly said: “Dónal was one of Ireland’s greatest musical figures, a wonderfully talented musician and producer who was central to so many of the most influential moments of the last 60 years of Irish music.” She added: “Beyond his music, Dónal will be remembered for his warmth and the strong connection which he had with audiences all over Ireland and beyond. He will be deeply missed.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin described him as “a colossus of Irish music, as a performer, songwriter and producer”, adding: “Uniquely gifted, Dónal carried traditional and folk music to new audiences through Planxty and his many other endeavours.”
Sharon Shannon said: “The loss of Dónal is immeasurable both to the world of Irish traditional music and to those of us who were lucky enough to know him and love him.” (RTÉ)
His friend, the broadcaster Philip King, called his contribution “immense” and described him as the “Quincy Jones of Irish producers”. (Irish Times)
The Irish Traditional Music Archive said: “His musical life was founded on creativity, friendship and collaboration.”
Shona McCarthy, director of the Arts Council, said: “Dónal was a trailblazer, inspiring generations of musicians and expertly balancing tradition and reinvention.”
The National Concert Hall said he “helped redefine Irish traditional music, bringing new sounds to the tradition and inspiring generations of musicians”. He last performed there in 2023, at Drawing from the Well: Tommy Peoples.
Remembering him
Sharon Shannon’s tribute mentioned his children and grandchildren, his siblings and his partner, Úna.
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