Der am 10. August 1947 in Tullamore geborene irische Musiker, Komponist und Produzent Dónal Lunny (Bild) ist am 23. Oktober 2026 in Dublin gestorben. Er zählte zu den populärsten Interpreten des Irish Folk, war daneben aber auch im Jazz- und Rock-Bereich erfolgreich. Hierzulande wurde Lunny vor allem bekannt als Mitglied von Planxty, Seachtar, Bothy Band, Coolfin und Moving Hearts. Der gelernte Silberschmied Lunny spielte u.a. Gitarre, Mandoline, Irish Bouzouki und Bodhrán, aber z.B. auch Synthesizer. Dónal Lunny war als Musiker an zahlreichen irischen und internationalen Projekten beteiligt. Er produzierte Alben von Kate Bush, Paul Brady, Elvis Costello, Rod Stewart, Sinéad O’Connor und Clannad. Gelegentlich war Lunny auch als Komponist für Filmmusik tätig. Dónal Lunny war mit der japanischen Musikerin Hideko Itami verheiratet. Sie lebten auf der japanischen Insel Okinawa.
Bild: Dónal Lunny beim Craiceann Bodhrán Festival 2016, Inis Oirr – Foto: Hinnerk Rümenapf, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Hinnerk_R (Ausschnitt) – Lizenz: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en – Datei: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:394-0131_donal-lunny_hinnerk-ruemenapf.jpg
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. 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.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1861114406017083&set=a.131378295657378
Renowned Irish musician Dónal Lunny dies aged 79
Lunny, a gifted multi-instrumentalist, was considered central to the revival and growth of Irish traditional music.
Revered by many in traditional music, he had early musical success with the groundbreaking Planxty in 1971, then The Bothy Band, and subsequently Moving Hearts in the mid 1980s.
As his fans mourn his passing, he leaves a treasure trove of fascinating recordings behind him both as a uniquely talented musician and a producer.
Evelyn O’Rourke
https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2026/1023/1596634-donal-lunny-dead
In pictures: The life and music of Dónal Lunny
Dónal Lunny, one of Ireland’s most celebrated musicians, has died at the age of 79. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, he was considered central to the revival and growth of Irish traditional music. We look back at his life and music in pictures.
https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2026/1023/1596643-in-pictures-the-life-of-music-of-donal-lunny/
Tributes paid to musician Dónal Lunny after his death aged 79
Multi-instrumentalist founder of Planxty and Bothy Band produced albums for Elvis Costello, Sinéad O’Connor and others
Friends and collaborators described Lunny as a “genius” and saluted his “immense” contribution to Irish music. He was one of the central figures in folk and traditional music for the past 60 years. He joined his first band with his older brother Frank and neighbour Christy Moore when they formed the Rakes of Kildare as teenagers. Moore, who was two years ahead of him in school, maintained a friendship and a professional collaboration with Lunny for decades afterwards.
Ronan McGreevy
Pioneering trad musician Dónal Lunny dies aged 79
In a tribute to Lunny, the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) described him as “one of the most creative and influential figures in Irish traditional music”.
The National Concert Hall described Lunny as one of Irish music’s most innovative figures, adding that his work helped to redefine what Irish trad music was, “bringing new sounds to the tradition and inspiring generations of musicians”.
“A gifted musician, arranger and producer, he was admired for his creativity, collaborative spirit and enduring contribution to Irish music.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald remembered Lunny as a “giant of Irish traditional music” who helped to “shape the sound of Irish music for generations”.
Darragh Nolan
Dónal Lunny: the man who changed the sound of Ireland
DÓNAL LUNNY, a colossus of Irish music, has died at the age of 79. One of the most influential figures in Irish music, he was a member of Planxty, the Bothy Band and Moving Hearts, and was at the forefront of helping reimagine how Irish traditional and folk music could be played.
Mal Rogers
https://www.irishpost.com/news/donal-lunny-the-man-who-changed-the-sound-of-ireland-314988
Bild: (v.l.) Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Liam O’Flynn und Paddy Glackin beim Celtic Connections in Glasgow, 2012 – Foto: Candy Schwartz – Lizenz: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en – Datei: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lunny_irvine_o_flynn_glackin.jpg
Celebrated Irish musician Dónal Lunny dies aged 79
One of Ireland’s most-celebrated traditional musicians and multi-instrumentalists, Dónal Lunny, has died aged 79.
A founding member of three renowned bands – The Bothy Band, Planxty and Moving Hearts – he was widely credited for the revival and growth of Irish traditional music. He also composed and wrote scores for a wide range of projects including TV dramas, documentaries and films. In recent years he worked with contemporary artists such as Kate Bush, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello, Clannad and Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler. He is noted for having left a lasting impact on the music scene in Ireland and was once described by U2’s Bono as the island’s «answer to Quincy Jones».
Eve Hughes
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqpvgdjrzx13o?fbclid=IwY2xjawVKJ7ZleHRuA2Flb
Dónal Lunny, ‘colossus of Irish music’, dies aged 79
Founding member of Planxty, Lunny went on to play for bands such as Moving Hearts, the Bothy Band and Coolfin
The Irish president, Catherine Connolly, expressed her “deepest condolences to the family, friends and many musical collaborators of Dónal Lunny”.
In a statement, she 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.
“Dónal will be particularly remembered for his long partnerships with fellow musicians such as Christy Moore and Andy Irvine and for the innovative music he has left behind both as a musician in groups including Planxty, the Bothy Band and Moving Hearts and also as a renowned producer.
“This rich musical legacy, including his central role in the introduction of the bouzouki into Irish music, was appropriately recognised by his fellow artists in Dónal’s membership of Aosdána, as well as the well-deserved recognition which he received in being awarded a lifetime achievement award at the 2025 RTÉ Radio 1 Irish folk awards.
“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.”
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/oct/24/donal-lunny-colossus-irish-music-dies-aged-79
Le musicien Dónal Lunny, figure de la renaissance de la musique irlandaise, est décédé
C’est une immense figure de la musique traditionnelle qui s’est éteinte ce vendredi 23 octobre. Dónal Lunny jouait de la guitare, du bouzouki irlandais, dont il était l’un des pionniers, et a été toute sa carrière à l’avant-garde du renouveau de la musique traditionnelle irlandaise, avec notamment le Bothy Band et Moving Hearts. Il a aussi été l’un des piliers de l’Héritage des Celtes avec Dan Ar Braz.
Erwan Alix
Audios / Videos:
RTÉ Radio 1, 23.10.2026, 51 min, Remembering Dónal Lunny
Bill Whelan, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Nuala O’Connor, Shaun Davey, and Iarla Ó Lionáird discuss the life and career of the late Dónal Lunny
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/5ba36f9b-b2dc-438d-8d5e-b4ec013b004e
Diverses:
https://www.rte.ie/archives/profiles/lunny-donal
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_hMvnqQfYX0Tzfbmh8mfQ
Renowned Irish musician Dónal Lunny dies aged 79 | RTÉ News, 23.10.2026
A Tribute to Irish Folk Musician Donal Lunny, 1996
In Time: Dónal Lunny (2025) Official Trailer
The Celtic Songlines with Donal Lunny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42hviQGgpOM
Donal Lunny, Coolfin & Kodo Drummers – EAST MEETS WEST (1998)
Dónal Lunny performing «The Trip to Gort» | The Saturday Night Show, 2014
Raggle Taggle Gypsy/Tabhair dom do laimh – Planxty 1973
Mehr:
https://www.facebook.com/donallunnymusic
https://www.instagram.com/donallunnyofficial/?hl=de
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/d%C3%B3nal-lunny-mn0000183699
https://www.discogs.com/de/artist/255429-Donal-Lunny
https://www.imdb.com/de/name/nm0526779/
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20246874.html
https://itmacatalogues.ie/Portal/Default/en-GB/RecordView/Index/19342
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%B3nal_Lunny
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%B3nal_Lunny
#DónalLunny #CHcultura @CHculturaCH ∆cultura cultura+
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