Irish musician Dónal Lunny dies aged 79

Irish musician Dónal Lunny, a leading figure in traditional music and a founding member of Planxty, has died aged 79. His death was confirmed in a statement from the Irish Traditional Music Archive, while a post on his family’s Facebook page said he died in Dublin on Friday morning after a short hospital stay and a battle with cancer. The family post said Lunny died at St James’s Hospital. The account of his illness and the circumstances of his death was attributed to his family; the archive’s statement confirmed his passing and paid tribute to his influence. Lunny helped shape Irish traditional music across a career spanning more than six decades. He was a founding member of Planxty, alongside Christy Moore, Andy Irvine and Liam Ó Flynn, and later played with The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts. He also worked with musicians across a wide range of projects as a performer, arranger and producer. A multi-instrumentalist, Lunny was best known for playing the bouzouki, a string instrument that became an important part of his sound. Tributes credited him with helping popularise the instrument in Irish music. The Irish Traditional Music Archive said his work opened new harmonic and...