Funeral Arrangements Announced for Irish Trad Pioneer Dónal Lunny
Funeral arrangements have been announced for Dónal Lunny, the acclaimed folk and traditional musician who died last week at the age of 79. Born in Tullamore, County Offaly, in 1947, the virtuoso shape-shifter of Irish music left an indelible mark across decades of cultural evolution as a founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band, and Moving Hearts.
The funeral service will take place this Saturday at 11:00 AM in St. Conleth’s Parish Church in Newbridge, County Kildare, as detailed in a family notice on RIP.ie. Because church capacity is restricted to close family and friends, loved ones have requested that well-wishers participate from afar.
In lieu of physical attendance, the family has asked supporters to watch the ceremony via live stream. They also encouraged a global celebration of the musician’s life, inviting people worldwide—”including the moon!”—to play and share music with friends and family this weekend under the hashtag #donallunnyfleadh, alongside requests for Irish wild flowers, autumn leaves, and stones instead of traditional floral tributes.
A Colossus of Irish Music and Innovation
Lunny continues to profoundly affect traditional methods. He is largely responsible for integrating the Greek bouzouki into the heart of Irish traditional music, mining its percussive forces with an adventurous spirit that transformed how the genre sounded and traveled. His career included extensive collaborations with artists such as Christy Moore, Sinéad O’Connor, Kate Bush, and Sharon Shannon.
Tributes poured in from cultural and political figures alike following his passing. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described Lunny as “a colossus of Irish music” who carried traditional sounds to entirely new audiences, while Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald noted that he helped shape the sound of the genre for generations. Last year, Lunny was honored with the lifetime achievement award at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, presented to him by Christy Moore.
Public Books of Condolences Open in Newbridge
For those wishing to pay their respects locally, a public book of condolences has been made available to sign at the Riverbank Arts Centre and at the Kildare County Council Offices in Newbridge.
Lunny is survived by his wife, Una, his children, and extended family members, with notices acknowledging the profound loss felt by both his personal family and the global musical community.
