Dónal Lunny: Celebrated Irish musician dies aged 79
In a statement, The Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) said Lunny’s influence on Irish music was “immense” and he “opened new harmonic and rhythmic possibilities”.
Crediting the work he produced in his bands, they said “his imagination shaped the sound of Irish music” and his career was described as being built on “creativity, friendship and collaboration.”
“Dónal leaves behind an extraordinary body of work. His artistry, generosity and influence are woven deeply into the living tradition and into the lives of so many who knew him, were inspired by him, or had the privilege of playing and working alongside him,” ITMA added.
Lunny is survived by his family including his children Oisin, Cora Venus, and Sora Chan, as well as his partner Una O’Boyle. His brother, Manus, is also a noted musician and producer.
He had a brief relationship with his musical collaborator Sinéad O’Connor in the early 2000s and they welcomed a son, Shane, in 2004.
Shane died in 2022 at the age of 17, followed by his mother in 2023.
