Planxty

Planxty

Company type	Music group
Industry	Music
Founded	January 1972 (1972-01)
Founder	Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, Liam O'Flynn
Defunct	January 31, 2005 (2005-01-31)
Headquarters	Ireland
Key people	Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, Liam O'Flynn, Johnny Moynihan, Paul Brady, Matt Molloy, Bill Whelan, Nollaig Casey
Products	Irish folk music recordings and performances

Planxty emerged as an influential Irish folk music ensemble in January 1972, originally featuring Christy Moore (vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhrán), Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, hurdy-gurdy, harmonica), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitars, bodhrán, keyboards), and Liam O'Flynn (uilleann pipes, tin whistle). Their extensive touring and celebrated recordings significantly reshaped and elevated the profile of Irish folk traditions.

Additional contributors to the group included Johnny Moynihan, Paul Brady, flautist Matt Molloy, keyboardist Bill Whelan, fiddler Nollaig Casey, alongside brief stints by concertina player Noel Hill and fiddler Tony Linnane.

Planxty experienced two disbandments, initially in December 1975 and later in April 1983. The founding members reunited in October 2003, culminating in their final concert on 31 January 2005.

Origins and initial period (1972–1975)

Christy Moore and Dónal Lunny had a longstanding friendship dating back to their school days in Newbridge, County Kildare, with Lunny mentoring Moore on guitar and bodhrán techniques. Prior to Planxty's establishment, Lunny partnered with Andy Irvine—fresh from travels in Eastern Europe—to perform as a duo and co-found the folk venue The Mugs Gig. Meanwhile, Liam O'Flynn was already well-established within traditional Irish music circles. The quartet first collaborated during the summer of 1971 while recording Moore’s second solo project, Prosperous.

Planxty officially formed in January 1972 and promptly recorded their debut single "Three Drunken Maidens"/"Sí-Bheag, Sí-Mhór" on 18 January. Soon after, they appeared on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show and began regular performances at The Mugs Gig before embarking on an Irish tour.

Their major breakthrough occurred when they opened for Donovan at the Hangar in Galway over Easter 1972 to enthusiastic audience reception. The single "Three Drunken Maidens" reached number seven on Ireland’s charts; a subsequent re-recording of "The Cliffs of Dooneen" climbed to number three. This success was followed by two albums: Planxty, recorded in London during September 1972, and The Well Below the Valley, recorded in Kent in June 1973.

Expanding their reach, Planxty undertook extensive tours across Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and northern Europe.

In September 1973, Lunny departed to explore other ventures including joining The Bothy Band. Johnny Moynihan replaced him, bringing versatility on several instruments and contributing to their third album Cold Blow and the Rainy Night, recorded in London in August 1974.

Shortly after this release, Moore left to concentrate on his solo work. Paul Brady joined the group in September 1974 to fill this vacancy; Moore remained until October. The lineup of Irvine, Moynihan, Brady, and O’Flynn toured extensively but did not produce further recordings before disbanding following a final performance in Brussels on 5 December 1975.

Reformation and subsequent phase (1978–1983)

Following the split, Moynihan largely withdrew from recording activities while Irvine and Brady toured as a duo, releasing the album Andy Irvine/Paul Brady in 1976 with production by Lunny. Brady’s solo album Welcome Here Kind Stranger appeared in 1978 featuring contributions from Irvine and Lunny.

Maintaining contact among original members led to a reunion prompted by promoter Kevin Flynn who became their manager. Joined by Matt Molloy from The Bothy Band, rehearsals commenced in September 1978 ahead of an extensive European tour in 1979 comprising 47 concerts across multiple countries.

In June 1979, Planxty recorded their fourth studio album After the Break, produced by Lunny and released through Tara Records. Molloy soon departed to join The Chieftains. Meanwhile, Irvine toured Europe with Lunny and others and released his solo album Rainy Sundays... Windy Dreams in 1980.

On 28 February 1980, Planxty headlined the Sense of Ireland concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Returning home to Ireland, they expanded their lineup by adding Noel Hill and Tony Linnane for rehearsals and recordings alongside Molloy and keyboardist Bill Whelan. This six-member formation produced the fifth album The Woman I Loved So Well, recorded at Windmill Lane Studios.

During summer tours of 1980, Planxty performed mainly as a quartet with Whelan and fiddler Nollaig Casey joining for additional sets. They completed a week-long engagement at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre which was recorded for a potential live album eventually released as The Best of Planxty Live. In 1981 they augmented their sound with an orchestra and rhythm section to record "Timedance" for the Eurovision Song Contest—a precursor composition to Whelan’s later work Riverdance.

Despite ongoing tours, internal divergence grew: O’Flynn engaged with projects such as Shaun Davey’s The Brendan Voyage, while Moore and Lunny formed Moving Hearts pursuing fresh musical directions. The original quartet played their last show together in August 1982. Nonetheless, Planxty—with Whelan and Casey—recorded their final WEA album Words & Music, featuring contributions from James Kelly and Moving Hearts bassist Eoghan O’Neill.

Early in 1983 Lunny and Moore left to dedicate themselves fully to Moving Hearts. Irvine, O’Flynn, and Whelan continued under the Planxty name alongside Kelly, guitarist Arty McGlynn, vocalist Dolores Keane, plus other traditional musicians. Irvine later described this configuration as "Planxty-Too-Far," reflecting its altered musical emphasis dominated by Whelan.

A spring tour throughout Ireland concluded with a final concert at Dublin’s National Stadium on 27 April. Irvine subsequently remarked that rather than an official split, the band gradually dissolved quietly.

Although members occasionally collaborated privately or in various combinations afterwards, formal reunions did not occur for over twenty years.

No Disco Documentary (2002–2003)

Towards the end of 2002, broadcaster and journalist Leagues O'Toole, while working on the RTÉ programme No Disco, persuaded editor Rory Cobbe to create a special documentary focused on Planxty. O'Toole conducted interviews with Moore, Irvine, and O'Flynn; Lunny was unable to participate as he was residing in Japan at the time. The filming also featured significant locations associated with Planxty. This documentary was broadcast on 3 March 2003, attracting considerable audience interest and favorable responses from the band members. On camera, Moore remarked: "No one desires it more than myself and the other three guys. The moment is truly right. Let's do it".

"The Third Coming" (2003–2005)

On 7 October 2003, O'Toole received a postcard from Moore suggesting forthcoming developments. Paddy Doherty, proprietor of the Royal Spa Hotel in Lisdoonvarna and co-founder of the Lisdoonvarna Music Festival, had arranged rehearsal facilities that led to a one-off concert held on 11 October 2003 before an audience of 200. Moore attributed the inspiration for this event to the No Disco documentary.

Buoyed by this achievement, the original members of Planxty consented to reunite under the banner "The Third Coming", performing intermittently over a period slightly exceeding one year. Their concerts included appearances at Glór Theatre in Ennis, County Clare (23 & 24 January 2004) and Vicar Street in Dublin (30 & 31 January; 4 & 5, 11 & 12 February 2004), with selected live recordings issued as the CD Live 2004 alongside a DVD.

Additional performances took place in late 2004 and early 2005 at these venues:

• Radisson SAS Hotel, Galway (6–8 October 2004)
• Point Theatre, Dublin (28–30 December 2004; plus 3–5 January 2005)
• Waterfront Hall, Belfast (19–21 January 2005)
• Barbican Centre, London (29–31 January 2005)

Throughout this period, Planxty remained a quartet, with Moore occasionally contributing keyboard parts. Since then, no further reunions have taken place; Moore declined proposals for another reunion but approved of others using the Planxty name.

The Humours of Planxty (2006)

Leagues O'Toole documented the band's journey in the biography The Humours of Planxty, which was published by Hodder Headline in 2006.

LAPD (2012–2013)

On 20 January 2012, a group comprising three original Planxty members made their debut at Dublin's Vicar Street under the name 'LAPD', derived from the initials of Liam O'Flynn, Andy Irvine, Paddy Glackin, and Dónal Lunny.

Their repertoire included tunes from:

• Planxty: "Jenny's Wedding/The Virginia/Garrett Barry's", "Paddy Canny's" ("The Starting Gate"), "The Jolly Beggar/The Wise Maid", "Arthur MacBride", "As I Roved Out (Andy)", "The Blacksmith/Blacksmithereens" and "West Coast of Clare"
• Irvine & Lunny: "My Heart's tonight in Ireland/West Clare Reel", "Braes of Moneymore", "Suleiman's Kopanitsa", "The Dream/Indiana", "O'Donoghue's" and "Siún Ni Dhuibhir"
• O'Flynn & Glackin: "Kitty's Rambles/Humours of Ennistymon", "The Green Island/Bantry Hornpipe", "Young Tom Ennis/Nora Crean", "A Rainy Day/The Shaskeen", "Two Flings", "Speed the Plough/Colonel Fraser" and "The Gold Ring".

In June 2012, during performances celebrating Andy Irvine's seventieth birthday, LAPD played Planxty classics such as "The West Coast of Clare" and "The Blacksmith," with Paul Brady joining for the latter piece, marking a partial reunion of Planxty members.

Although LAPD performed occasionally to critical praise, they never produced recordings and concluded their activities with a final concert at Sligo Live on 26 October 2013.

Usher's Island (2015–present)

Following O'Flynn's departure from LAPD, Irvine, Lunny, and Glackin joined forces with Michael McGoldrick and John Doyle to establish the group Usher's Island, a name inspired by the Dublin quay.

Etymology

The term "Planxty," associated posthumously with compositions by harper Turlough O'Carolan, is generally understood as a dedication or homage to an individual—such as "Planxty Irwin," which commemorates Colonel John Irwin of Sligo. Its origin may trace back to the Irish toast "sláinte" meaning "good health," the Latin word planctus referring to a medieval lament, or the Ancient Greek planktos meaning "wandering." This designation replaced the initial working title "CLAD" (representing Christy – Liam – Andy – Dónal) and corresponded well with the ensemble’s emphasis on O'Carolan’s repertoire (see "Influences").

Influences

A significant source of inspiration for Planxty, particularly for Moore, was the Irish Traveller vocalist John "Jacko" Reilly from County Roscommon. Moore incorporated songs like "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" and "The Well Below the Valley" learned from Reilly into Planxty’s recordings. Additionally, Moore adapted Reilly’s ballad "Lord Baker" for their 1983 release Words & Music. Reilly passed away in 1969 at age 44, shortly after his songs were documented by collector Tom Munnelly.

Several Planxty albums feature music composed by Turlough O'Carolan, frequently performed by O'Flynn on pipes. The band became acquainted with much of this material through composer Seán Ó Riada and his ensemble Ceoltóirí Chualann.

Members

• Dónal Lunny – vocals, bouzouki, guitar, bodhrán, portative organ, blarge (a large bouzouki with an additional B-course crafted by luthier Andy Manson), synthesiser, spinnet, dulcimer, bowed psaltery, Prophet-5 synthesizer (1972-1973, 1978-1983, 2003-2005)
• Andy Irvine – vocals, mandolin, mandola, hurdy-gurdy, harmonica, dulcimer (1972-1975, 1978-1983, 2003-2005)
• Liam O'Flynn – uileann pipes, tin whistle (1972-1975, 1978-1983, 2003-2005; deceased 2018)
• Christy Moore – vocals, guitar, harmonica, bodhrán (1972-1975, 1978-1983, 2003-2005)
• Johnny Moynihan – vocals, bouzouki, fiddle, tin whistle (1973-1975)
• Paul Brady – vocals, guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, tin whistle (1974-1975)
• Matt Molloy – flute, tin whistle (1978-1979, 1980)
• Noel Hill – concertina (1980)
• Tony Linnane – fiddle (1980)
• Bill Whelan – keyboards (1980-1983)
• Nollaig Casey – fiddle (1980-1983)

Studio albums

• 1973: Planxty
• 1973: The Well Below the Valley
• 1974: Cold Blow and the Rainy Night
• 1979: After the Break
• 1980: The Woman I Loved So Well
• 1983: Words & Music

Live Albums

• 1987: The Best of Planxty Live – a two-cassette live recording from Dublin's Olympia Theatre in August 1980. This unauthorized issue by former manager Kevin Flynn was halted through legal injunction.
• 2004: Live 2004
• 2018: One Night in Bremen – captured by Radio Bremen on April 24, 1979 at University of Bremen.

Anthologies

• 1976: The Planxty Collection—Features the track "The Cliffs of Dooneen"
• 1984: Planxty Arís—Released exclusively in Ireland; includes both "The Cliffs Of Dooneen" and "Yarmouth Town"
• 2016: Between the Jigs and the Reels: A Retrospective (Universal Music Ireland CD/DVD LC01846)—A two-disc compilation comprising a 17-song CD alongside a 36-track DVD containing over two hours of previously unreleased footage from RTÉ archives (1972-1982), showcasing live performances at Abbey Tavern, National Stadium, and Aisling Ghael Special

Compilations

• 1973: Kertalg 73: 2ème Festival Pop'Celtic (France – Barclay CPF 920 452 LP)—Live recordings from the July 22, 1973 festival, including "Si Bheag Si Mhor", "Jig", and "Raggle Taggle Gypsy"
• 1980: Nyon Folk Festival (France – Cat Music CAT 81004/05 LP)—Features live tracks from the July 1979 festival, such as "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" and "Smeceno Horo"
• 1980: High Kings of Tara (Ireland – TARA 3003)—An Ireland-only various artists release; contains exclusive Planxty pieces "Lord McDonald"/"The Chattering Magpie" and "The Bonny Light Horseman" (subsequently added to CD/digital versions of After The Break); also includes an unreleased Andy Irvine / Dónal Lunny composition titled "General Monroe" and a Planxty medley "First Slip"/"Hardyman The Fiddler A & B"/"The Yellow Wattle"
• 1986: Irish Folk Festival (Sound CD 8)—A Dutch-exclusive CD featuring "Timedance" and "Nancy Spain"
• 1992: The Seville Suite (Tara CD 3030)—Credited to Bill Whelan, this album features a unique Planxty reunion studio recording entitled "Timedance '92"
• 2004: Christy Moore: The Box Set 1964–2004—Includes an early live rendition of "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy" recorded at City Hall, Cork; also contains "Three Drunken Maidens" and an unreleased Planxty outtake called "Down In The Valley"

Singles

• 1972: "Three Drunken Maidens"/"Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór"—7-inch single (Ruby 152)
• 1972: "Cliffs of Dooneen"/"Yarmouth Town"—7-inch single (Polydor 2078–023)
• 1981: "Timedance"/"Nancy Spain"—7-inch single (WEA IR 18711 / UK K 18711)
• 1981: "Timedance"/"Nancy Spain"—12-inch single (WEA IR 28207)
• 1983: "I Pity the Poor Immigrant"/"The Irish Marche"—7-inch single (WEA PLAN01)

With Christy Moore

• 1971: Prosperous (Trailer LER 3035 LP)—Christy Moore’s second solo album, recorded in the village where Planxty members initially gathered
• 1983: "Easter Snow" / "The Knock Song" (WEA IR 9591 45)—7-inch single featuring Planxty members on the track "Easter Snow", later included in The Christy Moore Collection 1981–1991
• 1985: Ordinary Man (WEA 0706 & WEA 0763 LP)—Planxty collaborated on the song "St. Brendan's Voyage"

Filmography

• Planxty Live 2004 (2004), DVD
• Come West Along the Road Vol. 1 (2005), DVD
• Come West Along the Road Vol. 2 (2007), DVD
• Come West Along the Road Vol. 3 (2010), DVD
• Between the Jigs and the Reels: A Retrospective (2016), DVD

Bibliography

• Huntington, Gale; Herrmann, Lani; Moulden, John, editors (2010). Sam Henry's Songs of the People. Athens, GA and London: University of Georgia Press. ISBN 08-2033-625-4
• Irvine, Andy (1988). Aiming For The Heart. Germany: Heupferd Musik Verlag GmbH. ISBN 39-2344-501-6
• Irvine, Andy (2008). Aiming For The Heart: Irish Song Affairs (second expanded edition). Germany: Heupferd Musik Verlag GmbH. ISBN 978-3-92-344505-9
• Irwin, Colin (2003). In Search of the Craíc. London: André Deutsch. ISBN 02-3300-004-6
• Moore, Christy (2000). One Voice: My Life In Song. London: Lir/Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 03-4076-839-8
• Moore, Christy (2003). One Voice (second revised edition). London: Lir/Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 978-0-340-83073-4
• Ó Callanain, Niall; Walsh, Tommy (1989). The Irish Bouzouki. Ireland: Waltons. ISBN 07-8661-595-8
• O'Toole, Leagues (2006). The Humours of Planxty. Dublin: Hodder Headline. ISBN 03-4083-796-9
• Planxty (Songbook) (1976). London: Mews Music.

External links

• "Planxty" at wiktionary.org