Dónal Lunny was an Irish folk musician and producer, known as a founding member of bands such as Planxty, The Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, Mozaik, LAPD, and Usher’s Island. He played the guitar and bouzouki, as well as the keyboard and bodhrán. He passed away on October 23, 2026, at the age of 79, due to cancer.
Donal Lunny Biography
| Full Name | Donal Lunny |
| Nickname | Donal Lunny |
| Profession | Musician and producer |
| Date of Birth | 10 March 1947 |
| Age | 79 years old (at the time of his death in October 2026) |
| Birth Place | Tullanmore, County Offaly, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| School | Attended secondary school at Newbridge College Patrician Brothers’ school |
| College | National College of Art & Design |
| Education Qualification | Graduated |
| Gender | Male |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Date of Death | 23 October 2026 |
| Death Place | Dublin, Ireland |
| Cause of Death | From cancer |
Donal Lunny Age
Donal Lunny was born on 10 March 1947 in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. He was 79 years old at the time of his death, and his zodiac sign was Pisces.
Donal Lunny Wife | Children
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Affairs/Girlfriend | Julia Buthe Gina Moxley Sinead O’Connor Una O’Boyle (in his later years) |
| Spouse/Wife | Judy Slott (m. 1969, div. 1976) Itami Hideko (m. 2002) |
| Children | Oisin Lunny (son – with Judy Slott) Cora Venus Lunny (daughter – Julia Buthe) Sora Chan (daughter – with Itami Hideko) Shane Lunny (son – with Sinead O’Connor) |
Donal Lunny Family
| Father’s Name | Frank Lunny |
| Mother’s Name | Mary Rogers |
| Brother’s Name | Manus Lunny (his younger brother) Frank Lunny Jr. (his older brother) Note – He also had two other brothers |
| Sibling’s Name | Five sisters. |
Donal Lunny Albums
- 1972 – Prosperous
- 1976 – Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
- 1978 – Live in Dublin
- 1983 – The Time Has Come
- 1984 – Ride On
- 1985 – Ordinary Man
- 1989 – Voyage
- 1973 – Planxty
- 1974– Cold Blow and the Rainy Night
- 1983 – Words & Music
- 1976 – Andy Irvine/Paul Brady
- 2014 -Andy Irvine/70th Birthday Concert at Vicar St. 2012
- 2004 – Live from the Powerhouse
- 1982 – Moving Hearts
- 1984 – Live Hearts
Donal Lunny Height And Weight
| Height (Approx) | In Centimeters – 178 cm In Meters – 1.78 m In Feet and Inches – 5’10” |
| Weight (Approx) | In Kilograms – 75 kg In Pounds – 167 lbs |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Hair Color | Brown |
Donal Lunny Net Worth
| Net Worth (Approx) | No known |
| Real Estate | Not publicly known |
| Income Sources | Album sales, live shows, tours, and other ventures. |
Some Interesting Facts About Donal Lunny
- Donal Lunny was born and raised in Tullamore, County Offaly, to Frank Lunny and Mary Rogers.
- His father was from Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, and his mother came from Ranafast in The Rosses in County Donegal.
- When he was five years old, his family moved to Newbridge in County Kildare.
- He attended secondary school at Newbridge College and joined the Patrician Brothers school in 1963.
- In 1965, Lunny enrolled at Dublin’s National College of Art & Design, where he studied Basic Design and Graphic Design.
- He formed the group Emmiet Folk, which also included Mick Moloney and Brian Bolger.
- In 1970, Lunny formed a musical partnership with Andy Irvine.
- In 1974, Lunny produced and performed on the album Celtic Folkweave by Mick Hanly and Michael O’Donoghue.
- In 1981, Lunny reunited with Moore to form Moving Hearts along with a young uilleann piper, Davy Spillane.
- One of his last performances before his death was with this at the Electric Picnic festival in August 2026.
- When Moving Hearts broke up in 1985, Lunny diversified and became a producer.
- In 1989, he contributed synthesizer on May Black’ breakthrough album No Frontiers.
- As an arranger, he has worked for The Waterboys, Fairground Attraction and Eddi Reader.
- He also produced Jimmy MacCarthy’s album entitled Hey-Ho Believe.
- Lunny was the brother of musician and producer Manus Lunny.
- Lunny’s son Shane died by suicide at the age of 17 on 7 January 2022.
- He died of cancer at St. James’s Hospital in Dublin on 23 October 2026, at the age of 79.
FAQ:
How old was Donal Lunny?
79 years old (at the time of his death)
Who was Donal Lunny’s wife?
Donal Lunny was married twice: to Judy Slott and Itami Hideko.
What happened to Donal Lunny?
Donal Lunny died of cancer on 23 October 2026.
How tall was Donal Lunny?
5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
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