Funeral Of Renowned Musician Dónal Lunny To Take Place In Newbridge This Saturday

Thursday, 29 October 2026 at 11:59

By Tara Flanagan

Lunny's family encourages people to celebrate his life through music, as books of condolence open across Kildare.

Donal Lunny's funeral will take place this weekend.

The musician died last Friday, and the service will take place on Saturday in St Conleth's Parish Church in Newbridge.

In a message on RIP.ie his family has asked that people play music this weekend to celebrate Donal, and share it online with the hashtag #donallunnyfleadh

On RIP.ie it stated "Dónal will be forever loved and very sadly missed by his loving family and friends, wife, children, grandchildren, sisters and brothers Máire, Sheila, Frank, Eveleen, Phelim, Gráinne, Roisín, and Manus extended families, especially his music families and the global musical community. Dónal is back in the arms of his loving parents Frank and Mary and his beloved son Shane."

Books of condolence have been opened at the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge and at the offices of Kildare County Council.

The renowned musician, composer and producer, who helped transform the sound of Irish traditional music, passed away on Friday.

Born in Tullamore in 1947, Lunny moved to Kildare with his family at the age of five, growing up and attending school in Newbridge.

It was during those early years that he developed his passion for music and formed a friendship with fellow Kildare musician Christy Moore in 1959, beginning a musical partnership that would span more than six decades.

Lunny went on to become a founding member of Planxty alongside Moore, Liam O'Flynn and Andy Irvine, before helping shape the success of The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts.

His influence extended well beyond traditional music, with a distinguished career in composition and record production, working with artists including Kate Bush, Paul Brady and Elvis Costello.

More about Dónal Lunny can be read here.