According to RTÉ, the new avant-garde feature-length documentary In Time: Dónal Lunny explores the life, pioneering career, and personal tragedies of Irish folk music figure Dónal Lunny. Directed by Nuala O’Connor and broadcast on RTÉ One, the black-and-white film relies on archival footage, poetry, and intimate recollections to trace Lunny’s journey from a pop heart-throb in Emmet Spiceland to a founding member of the Bothy Band and his work alongside Moore in Planxty.
Tragedy and the Emotional Core of In Time
The emotional center of In Time: Dónal Lunny focuses on the death of Lunny’s son, Shane, who died by suicide in 2022 at age 17, according to RTÉ. Shane’s mother was Sinéad O’Connor. In the documentary, Lunny recalls standing in the woodland where his son died and hearing a robin chirping nearby. According to Lunny, as reported by RTÉ, the bird’s presence felt deliberate and has stayed with him since.
“I could hear a robin in the area. It was obviously flying around us, from bush to bush. Eventually it appeared and it stayed there as long as we were at the place. It interposed itself right in front of us: it’s like it had something to tell us. Its presence was unavoidable and it has meant something to me ever since,” Lunny told RTÉ.
Pioneering Irish Folk and Personal History
Before Sinéad O’Connor, Lunny’s personal life involved several significant relationships and career shifts. According to RTÉ, his early marriage to Julia Buthe unraveled as he became a fixture on the Dublin folk scene, turning their flat into an unofficial stop-off for musicians. His subsequent marriage to Japanese musician Hideko Itami also ended during his relationship with O’Connor. Lunny noted to RTÉ that the rupture of his marriage to Itami and the breakdown of his connection with Sinéad O’Connor proved to be an absolute disaster.
Musically, the documentary functions as a secret history of Irish traditional music. RTÉ notes that the film charts Lunny’s progression from Newbridge College in Co Kildare—where he befriended Christy Moore—to pioneering the use of the Greek bouzouki in Irish folk, playing in Emmet Spiceland, and co-founding Planxty and the Bothy Band.
Production Context and Poignant Conclusion
Lunny became ill during the making of In Time, and a deep ennui hangs over the project, according to RTÉ. While the illness is not addressed directly on screen, the film concludes with a poignant scene where Lunny and his long-time friend Christy Moore perform Moore’s ballad “Natives,” originally written by Paul Doran.
Did you know?
Dónal Lunny helped revolutionize traditional Irish music arrangements by introducing the Greek bouzouki into sessions, altering the sonic landscape of bands like Planxty and the Bothy Band.
As Moore sings of the slow-to-disappear scars of the past and the cries of the dead, he places a hand on Lunny’s shoulder as Lunny tries not to cry, wrapping up an intense study of an artist shaped by both massive cultural influence and profound personal tragedy, as reported by RTÉ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed In Time: Dónal Lunny?
The feature-length documentary was directed by Nuala O’Connor, according to RTÉ.
What is the emotional core of the documentary?
According to RTÉ, the emotional core centers on Dónal Lunny’s recollections of his son Shane, who died by suicide in 2022 at age 17.
Which musical groups did Dónal Lunny help found?
According to RTÉ, Lunny was a founding member of the Bothy Band and played in Planxty and the pop group Emmet Spiceland.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this article, support is available. Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 or by email at [email protected].