Dónal Lunny, the influential Irish folk musician who died on October 23, 2026, aged 79, was survived by his partner, Una O’Boyle. The celebrated instrumentalist and producer had previously been married twice and shared important relationships with several figures in the arts, including singer Sinéad O’Connor.
Lunny was best known for helping transform Irish traditional music through his work with Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts. Yet his personal life also connected Ireland, America, Germany and Japan.
Following his death, interest has grown in his marriages, children and the woman who shared his later years.
Who Was His Partner?
Una O’Boyle was Dónal Lunny’s partner at the time of his death in October 2026.
She was named among his surviving loved ones in reports announcing the musician’s passing.
Unlike Lunny, whose career unfolded on international stages and recording sessions, Una maintained a relatively private public profile.
Detailed information about her profession, early life and the length of their relationship has not been widely documented.
It is important to distinguish her position as Lunny’s partner from his earlier marriages. Public reports identify Una as his surviving partner, rather than confirming that they were married.
His First Wife
Lunny married his first wife, Judy Slott, in 1969.
Judy was from California and had connections to the film industry. Their marriage lasted approximately seven years before ending in divorce.
The couple welcomed a son, Oisín Lunny, who later established his own connections to music and creative work.
Their relationship belonged to an earlier period of Lunny’s life, before some of his most influential musical collaborations became internationally recognized.
Although the marriage ended, Oisín remained part of Lunny’s family story.
His Second Wife
Dónal Lunny’s second wife was Japanese musician Itami Hideko, whom he married in 2002.
Hideko was associated with the Japanese folk-rock group Soul Flower Union, bringing her own musical background to their relationship.
The couple spent time living in Okinawa, a Japanese island region known for its distinctive culture and musical traditions.
Their shared interest in music connected two different artistic worlds.
Lunny had already spent decades exploring traditional sounds and collaborations beyond Ireland, making his experiences in Japan another chapter in his international life.
Lunny and Hideko shared a daughter named Sora.
Although their marriage is documented, the precise details of its eventual ending are less widely established.
Sinéad O’Connor Relationship
One of Lunny’s best-known relationships was with the late Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor.
The two shared both a personal connection and a history of musical collaboration.
They welcomed their son, Shane Lunny, in 2004.
Lunny and O’Connor were not married, despite occasional confusion in online searches about their relationship.
Both artists were significant figures in Irish music, although their careers followed different directions.
Lunny was celebrated for traditional music, instrumental arrangements and production, while O’Connor became internationally famous for her powerful voice and uncompromising artistic identity.
Their shared son connected the two musicians beyond their professional work.
The Loss of Shane
Shane Lunny died in January 2022 at the age of 17, a devastating loss for his family.
His death received widespread attention in Ireland and internationally because of his parents’ public profiles.
Sinéad O’Connor later died in July 2023, aged 56.
These losses became deeply painful chapters in Lunny’s later life.
Although both events were publicly reported, the family’s private grief deserves respect.
Shane remains an important part of Lunny’s family history, separate from the musical achievements for which his father became famous.
Gina Moxley
Lunny also had a long-term relationship with Gina Moxley, an Irish actress and playwright.
The couple lived together for several years.
Moxley is known for her contributions to Irish theatre, including her work as a writer and performer.
Their relationship reflected Lunny’s longstanding connections with Ireland’s wider artistic community.
Music, theatre and literature frequently intersected within the creative circles in which he worked.
Although their relationship eventually ended, Moxley remains one of the publicly documented figures in Lunny’s personal history.
Julia Buthe
Another significant relationship was with Julia Buthe, a German photographer.
Lunny and Buthe shared a daughter, Cora Venus.
Information about their relationship is less extensive than coverage of his marriages or his connection with Sinéad O’Connor.
However, Cora Venus is among the children identified in accounts of his family.
His relationships across different countries reflected a life spent moving between artistic communities and collaborating with musicians internationally.
His Children
Dónal Lunny was the father of several children from different relationships.
Four children identified in public accounts are Oisín, Cora Venus, Sora and Shane.
Oisín was born during his marriage to Judy Slott, while Cora Venus was his daughter with Julia Buthe.
Sora was born from his relationship with Itami Hideko, and Shane was his son with Sinéad O’Connor.
Shane died in 2022.
Although Lunny was a major public figure in Irish music, his children did not all live equally public lives.
Their individual privacy remains important when discussing his family.
His Final Years
Lunny remained connected to music until the final months of his life.
In February 2025, he received a lifetime achievement award at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, recognizing more than six decades of contributions to Irish music.
He also performed during the 2026 Fleadh Cheoil in Belfast.
His death on October 23, 2026, was reported by RTÉ and The Irish Times. The latter reported that he died at St James’s Hospital in Dublin following cancer. <Cite refs={[“turn831790news0″,”turn831790search7”]}/>
His Musical Legacy
Born in Tullamore, County Offaly, in March 1947, Lunny grew up in Newbridge, County Kildare.
He became one of the most influential musicians in the revival of Irish traditional music.
His work with Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts introduced new arrangements and instrumental approaches to traditional melodies.
He was particularly celebrated for his bouzouki playing and also worked as a composer, arranger and record producer.
His collaborations included Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Kate Bush and Elvis Costello.
Following his death, fellow musicians and public figures paid tribute to his extraordinary influence on Irish music. <Cite refs={[“turn831790search5″,”turn831790search10”]}/>
Final Answer
Dónal Lunny’s partner at the time of his death was Una O’Boyle. His two previously reported wives were Judy Slott and Japanese musician Itami Hideko.
He also had relationships with Sinéad O’Connor, Gina Moxley and German photographer Julia Buthe.
Lunny was survived by Oisín, Cora Venus and Sora, while his son Shane had died in 2022. RTÉ confirmed Una O’Boyle among his surviving loved ones. <Cite refs={[“turn831790news0″,”turn831790search7”]}/>
Beyond his relationships and family history, Lunny leaves a remarkable musical legacy that helped shape the sound of modern Irish folk music.
