About Planxty
Planxty were an influential Irish folk music group formed in January 1972. Initially consisting of Christy Moore (vocals, guitar, bodhrán), Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, bouzouki), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitars, bodhrán), and Liam O'Flynn (uilleann pipes, whistle), they popularized and transformed traditional Irish folk music. They recorded several albums and gained widespread acclaim for their innovative arrangements and energetic live performances.
The band’s early years saw significant success, including charting singles and albums such as Planxty (1973) and The Well Below the Valley (1973). Despite lineup changes, including the departures of Moore and Lunny, Planxty continued to evolve. They disbanded in 1975, reformed in 1978, and enjoyed a second successful run until their final breakup in 1983. Their later work, including the albums After the Break (1979) and The Woman I Loved So Well (1980), included contributions from other musicians like Matt Molloy, Bill Whelan, and Nollaig Casey.
After the 1983 breakup, the members pursued solo projects, including Moore's solo career and Lunny’s work with Moving Hearts. Rumors of a reunion circulated for years, and in 2003, the original lineup reunited for a brief, successful run, which they dubbed “The Third Coming.” They performed together in 2004 and 2005, with concerts recorded for a live album and DVD.
Though no further reunions occurred after 2005, a spin-off project, LAPD (Liam O'Flynn, Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, Paddy Glackin), formed in 2012 and performed occasional concerts but did not record. In 2015, after O'Flynn's departure, Irvine, Lunny, and Glackin formed a new band, Usher’s Island, continuing their musical legacy with new members Michael McGoldrick and John Doyle.
Planxty’s influence on Irish music remains significant, with their blend of traditional and contemporary folk resonating through generations of listeners.
Comments
kevin flynn wrote on 2006-12-06 00:00:00:my namesake cousin from sligo managed them for a while. they were and are one special group.
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