“Dónal will be forever loved and very sadly missed by his loving family and friends, wife, children, grandchildren, sisters and brothers… and the global musical community,” reads the family funeral notice for foundational Irish traditional musician Dónal Lunny, who died last week at age 79.
Lunny’s funeral is scheduled for this Saturday at St. Conleth’s Parish Church in Newbridge, as detailed in the family announcement published on RIP.ie. Born in Tullamore and raised in Newbridge, the multi-instrumentalist helped shape the sound of modern Irish folk music as a founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band, and Moving Hearts.
Saturday Funeral Arrangements in Newbridge
Capacity inside St. Conleth’s Church for the 11 am service is strictly limited to family and close friends, prompting the musician’s relatives to ask well-wishers to watch the proceedings via live stream. In place of traditional floral tributes, the family requested “Irish wild flowers, autumn leaves and stones,” according to the RIP.ie notice.
Mourners worldwide are encouraged by the family to share music with loved ones over the weekend to celebrate Lunny’s artistic legacy. The public can share tributes and performances using the hashtag #donallunnyfleadh. Kildare County Council Offices have arranged a public book of condolences at The Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge for those wishing to pay their respects locally.
Musical Legacy and Tributes Across Ireland
Tributes poured in from cultural leaders and government officials following the death of the bouzouki pioneer. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described Lunny as a “colossus of Irish music” who brought traditional tunes to wide new audiences, while Arts Council director Shona McCarthy called him a trailblazer who expertly balanced tradition with reinvention. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald noted that he shaped the sound of Irish music for generations.
Throughout his career, Lunny popularized the Greek bouzouki within traditional Irish circles, an instrument introduced to him by Andy Irvine in 1970. His extensive collaborations included work with Sinéad O’Connor, Kate Bush, and Van Morrison. In 2025, Christy Moore presented Lunny with a lifetime achievement award at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, following a similar honor at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2018.
Common Questions About the Service
Where is Dónal Lunny’s funeral taking place?
The service will be held at St. Conleth’s Parish Church in Newbridge, County Kildare, starting at 11 am this Saturday.
How can fans watch the service if church capacity is limited?
The family has arranged a live stream of the ceremony so that supporters worldwide can participate virtually.
Where can the public sign a book of condolences?
Kildare County Council has made a public book of condolences available to sign at The Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge.
How are fans encouraged to remember him this weekend?
The family has asked well-wishers to play and share music with friends and family using the hashtag #donallunnyfleadh, alongside leaving Irish wildflowers and autumn leaves.
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