Departures of note

Dónal Lunny was an Irish musician, composer and producer who played guitar, bodhrán and the Irish bouzouki, an instrument he helped pioneer in traditional music. He was a central figure in the revival of Irish folk music from the 1970s onward, co-founding influential groups including the Bothy Band, Moving Hearts and Planxty, and collaborating with artists such as Christy Moore and Dan Ar Braz.

Beyond performing, Lunny was a prolific producer and arranger whose work shaped the sound of modern Irish music. He was a key pillar of the Héritage des Celtes project with Dan Ar Braz, which brought Celtic music to large audiences across Europe.

He remained active for decades as a performer, session musician and festival organizer, and was widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the renaissance of Irish traditional music.