FACEBOOK POST CONFIRMS DEATH OF MUSICIAN DÓNAL LUNNY

Irish musician Dónal Lunny died from cancer on Friday morning after a short stay at St James’s Hospital in Dublin. A post on his Facebook page announced his death. “We are heartbroken to confirm that our beloved Dónal passed away peacefully this morning in Dublin following a short stay in St James’s hospital,” the post said. Irish president Catherine Connolly offered condolences to Lunny’s family, friends and musical collaborators.

Lunny was born in Tullamore, County Offaly, in 1947 and moved to Newbridge, County Kildare, as a child. He played in Rakes of Kildare with Christy Moore and Frank before founding Planxty with Moore, Liam O’Flynn and Andy Irvine. Planxty recorded three albums between 1971 and 1973, with Lunny playing bouzouki, guitar, keyboards and bodhrán. He joined the Bothy Band in 1975 and later played with Moving Hearts and Coolfin. His work also included scores for television dramas, documentaries and films.

Lunny established Mulligan Records in 1973 and produced 17 albums for the label, which published music by the Boomtown Rats, the Radiators and Agnes Bernell. He also worked with Kate Bush, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello, Clannad and Mark Knopfler. Connolly cited Lunny’s role in bringing the bouzouki into Irish music and his membership of Aosdána. He received a lifetime achievement award at the 2025 RTÉ Radio 1 Irish Folk Awards. Bono once described him as Ireland’s “answer to Quincy Jones”.