Arts Listing: Donal Lunny
Address: Newbridge, Kildare
Website:
Description:
Biography:
Donal Lunny was born in Tullamore in 1947 into a large family. He then moved to Newbridge, Co. kildare when he was still young. His father hails from Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh and his mother comes from Ranafast in the Gaeltacht region of Co. Donegal. Early musical influences on Donal would have been pop, jazz and classical music.
His interest in playing music first appeared when he volunteered as a drummer in a school band which led him to playing the guitar. Donal joined ballad band The Liffeysiders and played in Dowling's pub in Prosperous Co. Kildare.
Donal next went to study at the National College of Art in Dublin where he met Mick Moloney and Brian Bolger and Founded The Emmet Folk. When Moloney left to join The Johnstons, Donal and Brian Bolger met the Byrne brothers from England and formed the Emmet Spiceland.
After The Emmet Spiceland decided to split up Donal teamed up with Andy Irvine who had recently returned from the Balkans first introduced Donal to the Bouzouki which was to become his preferred instrument.
Donal and Andy in 1971 collaborated with fellow kildare man Christy Moore and Liam Og O Floinn who had been playing the folk pub and club scene in England. The result was the innovative album "Prosperous" which was to be a watershed in Irish music. Encouraged by the success of the album the four formed Planxty and in 1973 recorded the album Planxty or The Black Album.
Recent Work:
Donal's music has gone from strength to strength over the years and his latest album "Coolfinn" has been another hugh success.
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This listing has been compiled by the County Kildare Community Network
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