The Irish Traditional Music Archive is deeply saddened at the passing of Dónal Lunny, one of the most creative and influential figures in Irish traditional music.

Dónal’s influence on Irish music was immense. As a musician, arranger and producer, he opened new harmonic and rhythmic possibilities in our melody tradition. Through Planxty, The Bothy Band, Moving Hearts and a lifetime of collaboration, his imagination helped shape the sound of Irish music over more than half a century.

A gifted multi-instrumentalist, Dónal was best known for his bouzouki playing, but also played guitar, bodhrán, mandolin, keyboards and synthesizer, as well as singing. His range reflected the breadth of his musical imagination and his instinctive understanding of rhythm, harmony and melody.

His musical life was founded on creativity, friendship and collaboration. His work with the likes of Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Liam O’Flynn, Paddy Glackin, Matt Molloy, Maighréad and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Frank Harte and so many others places him at the heart of some of the most important developments in Irish music of the modern era. His election to Aosdána reflected the wider significance of that contribution to Irish artistic life.

Dónal’s legacy is also visible throughout ITMA’s own catalogue. The many recordings he produced, arranged, recorded and played on form an extraordinary thread through the recorded history of Irish traditional and folk music.

His influence is present not only in individual recordings, but in the generations of musicians he inspired, including Daoirí Farrell, Zoë Conway and Pauline Scanlon, whose own work continues to carry his influence forward within the tradition.

Dónal was a great friend to ITMA and to many members of its Board and staff over the years. We were particularly fortunate to have Dónal with us at 73 Merrion Square very recently, rehearsing with Zoë Conway. His continuing music-making with Zoë and Máirtín O’Connor, and his appearance with Zoë at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast this summer, reflected the curiosity and joy in collaboration that remained so central to his artistry throughout his life.

We remember too his very special contribution to ITMA’s Drawing from the Well: Tommy Peoples concert at the National Concert Hall in 2023, when he joined Tommy’s daughter Siobhán Peoples and fellow Bothy Band members Matt Molloy, Paddy Glackin, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Paddy Keenan in celebrating their great friend and colleague.

Dónal’s friendship and musical partnership with Christy Moore stretched back to their youth in Newbridge. That story is reflected in ITMA’s current Christy Moore exhibition: as a teenager, Christy found The Curragh of Kildare in P. W. Joyce’s Old Irish Folk Music and Songs and brought it to Dónal, the two young musicians giving new life to a song collected generations before.

Bhí grá mór ag Dónal don Ghaeilge agus grá faoi leith aige do Ghaeilge Thír Chonaill. Bhí ceangal domhain aige le ceol, teanga agus traidisiúin Dhún na nGall. Fear cruthaitheach, fiosrach agus flaithiúil a bhí ann, agus mairfidh a lorg ar cheol na hÉireann go ceann i bhfad.

We are also deeply grateful to Nuala O’Connor, a former member of ITMA’s Board, and to Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill, ITMA Treasurer, who directed and produced the film In Time – Dónal Lunny. Made with Dónal in recent years, the film captures not only an extraordinary career but something of the artist himself — his imagination, personality and lifelong curiosity.

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 who knew him, were inspired by him, or had the privilege of playing and working alongside him.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Dónal’s family, friends and the very wide musical community who mourn him.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.