Irish traditional music icon Dónal Lunny to be buried on Saturday

Irish traditional music icon Dónal Lunny will be laid to rest in Newbridge, County Kildare, on Saturday, according to irishexaminer.com and BreakingNews.ie. The funeral service will take place at Saint Conleth Church in Newbridge. [1][2]

As irishexaminer.com reported, a funeral notice on RIP.ie stated that seating inside Saint Conleth Church will be limited to family and close friends. His family asked fans to attend the funeral by watching a live stream. They requested Irish wild flowers, autumn leaves, and stones instead of floral arrangements. A public book of condolences will be opened at the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge on the day of the service. [1]

His family encouraged people around the world to play and share music with friends and family over the weekend in his memory, irishexaminer.com reported. The family stated this would celebrate the joy and connection that Mr Lunny brought through his music. [1]

Mr Lunny was an Irish folk musician and producer who played guitar, bouzouki, keyboards, and bodhrán. He was a founding member of bands including Planxty, The Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, Coolfin, Mozaik, LAPD, and Usher's Island, remaining at the forefront of Irish traditional music for more than five decades. He received the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. [3]