Family Announces Saturday Funeral Service for Dónal Lunny
Dónal Lunny will be laid to rest on Saturday at St. Conleth’s Parish Church in Newbridge, according to funeral arrangements announced on RIP.ie. The acclaimed multi-instrumentalist died last week at the age of 79. Family members requested that well-wishers join the service via a live stream because church capacity is restricted to close friends and family.
Global Music-Sharing and Public Book of Condolences
The Lunny family encouraged fans around the world to play and share music with friends and family over the weekend under the hashtag #donallunnyfleadh, suggesting participants remember him from locations as far-flung as the moon. Mourners can sign a public book of condolences at The Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge, Kildare County Council Offices. Attendees of the funeral are asked to bring Irish wildflowers, autumn leaves, and stones instead of floral tributes.
From Tullamore Beginnings to Bouzouki Innovation
Born in Tullamore, County Offaly, in 1947, Lunny moved with his family to Newbridge when he was five. In the 1960s, he formed the Rakes of Kildare alongside his older brother Frank and Christy Moore. Although he mastered guitar, keyboards, bodhrán, mandolin, and drums, Lunny is chiefly remembered for popularizing the Greek bouzouki within Irish traditional music after Andy Irvine brought one back from European travels in 1970.
Shaping Planxty, The Bothy Band, and Moving Hearts
Lunny co-founded several seminal ensembles that revolutionized Irish folk music. He produced Moore’s 1971 debut solo album, Prosperous, which laid the groundwork for the formation of Planxty in 1972. Seeking fresh musical directions, he joined The Bothy Band in 1975 and later co-founded Moving Hearts, a boundary-pushing outfit that combined traditional instruments with a rock-and-roll rhythm section, jazz drums, and saxophone. Throughout his career, he also collaborated with artists including Sinéad O’Connor, Kate Bush, Van Morrison, and U2.
Honors and Final Appearances
In recent years, the musician’s lifelong contributions received formal institutional recognition. He was a member of Aosdána, an affiliation established in 1981 to honor artists who have made an invaluable contribution to the arts. In 2018, he received a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, followed by another lifetime achievement award at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards in 2025, where Christy Moore presented the honor. RTÉ broadcast a biographical documentary film titled In Time: Dónal Lunny in August, which noted that Lunny had become seriously ill during its production in March 2024. He performed alongside fiddler Zoë Conway during the Fleadh Cheoil festival in Belfast in August.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dónal Lunny’s Funeral
Where is Dónal Lunny’s funeral taking place?
The funeral service takes place this Saturday at St. Conleth’s Parish Church in Newbridge, County Kildare.
Can the public attend the service in person?
Church capacity is strictly limited to family and close friends, but the family has arranged a live stream for the public to watch the 11 am ceremony.
Where can fans sign a book of condolences?
A public book of condolences is available to sign at The Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge, Kildare County Council Offices.
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