Quick Info
| Profession | Musician, songwriter, record producer |
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Date of Birth | 10/03/1947 |
| Age | 79 years (died on 23, Oct, 2026) |
| Birthplace | Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland |
| Date of Death | 23/10/2026 |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
Latest News about Dónal Lunny
23/10/2026
Irish traditional musician Dónal Lunny died in St James's Hospital in Dublin at the age of 79, after a period of illness linked to cancer, according to reports. A statement on his Facebook page said he passed away peacefully that morning following a short stay in hospital. Tributes followed from President Catherine Connolly and fellow musicians, who remembered him as a central figure in Irish traditional music.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Irish folk and traditional musician and record producer, associated with the revival of Irish traditional music over several decades. Founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts. |
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Educational Qualification(s)
| National College of Art & Design | Enrolled 1965; studied basic design and graphic design for three years |
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Personal Life
| Upbringing | Raised in Newbridge, County Kildare, from around the age of five |
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Relationships & More
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Family
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Career
| Early career | Joined the Rakes of Kildare as a teenager; later a member of the folk trio Emmet Spiceland, whose version of 'Mary from Dungloe' reached number one in Ireland in 1968 |
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| Record label | Co-founded Mulligan Records in 1976 |
| Production | Produced albums for artists including Sinéad O'Connor, U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush and Elvis Costello |
| Television and theatre | Composed music for Abbey Theatre and Field Day; wrote and produced music for RTÉ and BBC television series in the 1990s; presented the music series 'Sult' on Telefís na Gaeilge (1997–1998) |
| Solo album | Dónal Lunny (Gael-Linn, 1987) |
| Awards | RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award (2025) |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Learned the harmonica at the age of six | |
| 2. Picked up the bouzouki from bandmate Andy Irvine and became especially known for it | |
| 3. Co-produced the 1979 Planxty album After the Break |
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