Lunny, Donal (1945– )

Irish folk musician, composer, and record producer. He first began playing folk music with the 1960s ballad band Emmett Spiceland. Lunny was a founder member of Planxty and helped create the Bothy Band in 1975 and Moving Hearts in 1981, three of the most influential groups in modern Irish folk music. Since being involved in Moving Hearts, he has devoted more of his time to production, and has been a leading figure in the successful blending of Irish traditional music with rock.

Lunny was born in Newbridge, County Kildare. He first learned to play the drums, but later switched to the guitar and then to the bouzouki, as well as playing keyboards. While pursuing his performing career, he also ran a record company, Mulligan, in Dublin. He was involved in the eclectic ‘Common Ground’ project in 1996, fusing folk and rock. From this he developed his present band, Coolfin (1998).

His brother, Manus Lunny, is a member of the Scottish folk-rock group Capercaillie.