Dónal Lunny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dónal Lunny
|
|
|---|---|
Lunny in 2006
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | 10 March 1947 Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Associated acts |
|
Dónal Lunny (born 10 March 1947) is a famous Irish folk musician and producer. He plays many instruments, including the guitar, bouzouki, keyboards, and bodhrán. He helped start popular bands like Planxty, The Bothy Band, and Moving Hearts. For over 50 years, Dónal has been a key figure in bringing Irish traditional music back into the spotlight.
Dónal is the brother of another musician and producer, Manus Lunny.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Dónal Lunny was born in Tullamore, Ireland, on 10 March 1947. His family moved to Newbridge when he was five years old.
As a teenager, Dónal joined a small music group called Rakes of Kildare. He played with his older brother Frank and the well-known musician Christy Moore. They often performed in local pubs.
In 1965, Dónal went to art college in Dublin. He studied design and even learned to be a skilled gold and silversmith. But soon, he decided to focus all his energy on music. While in Dublin, he also played in a band called The Parnell Folk.
Dónal Lunny's Music Journey
Emmet Spiceland
Later, Dónal formed a group called Emmet Folk. They started their own music club in Dublin. They began to create their own unique songs and sound.
Eventually, Dónal joined with other musicians to form Emmet Spiceland. This group became very popular and even had a number one hit song in Ireland called "Mary from Dungloe".
Working with Andy Irvine
In 1970, Dónal teamed up with musician Andy Irvine. They started their own club night called 'The Mug's Gig'. Here, they performed together and invited other talented musicians to play. People loved their new and exciting way of playing traditional Irish music.
Planxty: A New Sound
In 1971, Dónal, Andy Irvine, and Liam O'Flynn played on Christy Moore's album, Prosperous. This led them to form the band Planxty. Their first show was in 1972. Planxty quickly became a very important band for Irish traditional music. They helped make instrumental music popular again.
The Bothy Band: High Energy Music
Dónal left Planxty in 1974 to start The Bothy Band. He played guitar and bouzouki in this new group. The Bothy Band became famous for their energetic and skilled performances of Irish traditional music. They inspired many other musicians before they stopped playing together in 1979.
Moving Hearts: Mixing Styles
After The Bothy Band, Dónal worked on different music projects. In 1981, he joined Christy Moore again to form Moving Hearts. This band, which also included Davy Spillane on uilleann pipes, mixed Irish traditional music with rock and even jazz. Moving Hearts stopped playing in 1985, but they have reunited for special concerts since then.
Coolfin and Mozaik
In 1987, Dónal released his first solo album, Dónal Lunny. He invited many guest musicians to play his songs. In 1998, he created a similar album called Coolfin.
From 2002, Dónal and Andy Irvine formed a band called Mozaik. This group included musicians from different cultures and played music from around the world. They have released two albums and toured globally.
LAPD and Usher's Island
In 2012, Dónal performed with a new group called LAPD. The name comes from the first letters of the musicians' names: Liam O'Flynn, Andy Irvine, Paddy Glackin, and Dónal Lunny. They played a few concerts before disbanding in 2013.
In 2015, Dónal formed his newest band, Usher's Island. This group includes Dónal, Andy Irvine, Paddy Glackin, Michael McGoldrick, and John Doyle.
Dónal Lunny continues to play and tour with many musicians today, including Zoë Conway and Máirtín O'Connor.
Dónal Lunny as a Producer
When Moving Hearts broke up in 1985, Dónal started working as a music producer. A producer helps artists record their music and guides them in the studio.
Dónal helped start a new Irish record label called Mulligan Records. He produced and played on many of their first albums. He also worked as a producer and musician on albums for famous artists like Christy Moore, Kate Bush, Mary Black, Elvis Costello, and Sinéad O'Connor.
He also created music for films, like the Turkish film Teardrops and the Irish film Eat the Peach. Dónal has been a very important person behind the scenes in Irish music.
Dónal Lunny's Impact on Music
Dónal Lunny is known for making the bouzouki a popular instrument in Irish music. He was given a bouzouki by Andy Irvine. Dónal then had a special bouzouki made with a flat back, different from the traditional Greek ones.
He also invented a special acoustic drum kit. This drum kit was designed to create a bass and percussion sound for Irish traditional music. His work on this instrument was even shown in an Irish TV series called Lorg Lunny.
Discography
|
|
Filmography
- Planxty Live 2004 (2004), DVD
- The Transatlantic Sessions Series 3 (2007), DVD
- Moving Hearts Live in Dublin (2008), DVD
- Andy Irvine 70th Birthday Concert at Vicar St 2012 (2014), DVD
- Mozaik on Tour 2014 (2014), YouTube video
