From the late 1960's, when he formed Emmet Spiceland, the first group to break into the pop charts , with Irish music, through the seventies and eighties as a member of the influential band Planxty, the high-energy Bothy Band, and the trad-rock band Moving Hearts, Donal has revolutionized attitudes to traditional music.

Donal has composed music for theatre as well as for TV and film. But recently he has become more involved , with contemporary music and is a much sought-after producer. Common Ground: Voices of Modern Irish Music was produced by Donal.

He also designed the first custom-built bouzouki - the prototype of what is now known as the "Irish bouzouki".

Discography:

Prosperous, with Christy Moore (1972)

Planxty, with Planxty (1973)

The Well Below the Valley, with Planxty (1973)

Cold Blow and the Rainy Night, with Planxty (1974)

1975, with the Bothy Band (1975)

Old Hag You Have Killed Me, with the Bothy Band (1976)

Christy Moore, with Christy Moore (1976)

Whatever Tickles Your Fancy, with Christy Moore (1976)

Out of the Wind, Into the Sun, with the Bothy Band (1977)

Afterhours (Live in Paris), with the Bothy Band (1978)

Live in Dublin, with Christy Moore & Jimmy Faulkner (1978)

After The Break, with Planxty (1979)

The Woman I Loved So Well, with Planxty (1980)

Ninety Miles from Dublin, The Rights of Man, Repeal the Union, with Christy Moore (1980)

H-Block, with Christy Moore, Matt Molloy, Declan Sinnott (1980)

Christy Moore and Friends, with Christy Moore (1981)

Moving Hearts, with Moving Hearts (1982)

The Dark End of the Street, with Moving Hearts (1982)

Words & Music, with Planxty (1983)

The Time Has Come, with Christy Moore (1983)

Ride On, with Christy Moore (1984)

Live Hearts, with Moving Hearts (1984)

The Storm, with Moving Hearts (1985)

The Spirit of Freedom, with Christy Moore (1985)

Ordinary Man, with Christy Moore (1985)

Unfinished Revolution, with Christy Moore (1987)

Live in Concert, with the Bothy Band (1994)

Donal Lunny (Gael Linn, 1995)

Coolfin (Metro Blue, 1998)

St. Patrick 2000 (Keltia KMCD105, 2000)

1798 - the First Year of Liberty [Irish Traditional Songs] (Hummingbird HBCD0014, 2000)

This Is My Father (Hummingbird HBCD0019, 2000)

My Name Is Napoleon Bonaparte (Hummingbird HBCD0027, 2001)

Donal Lunny's Definitive Moving Hearts

Journey, the best of (2004)

Live from the Powerhouse, with Mozaik (2004)

Changing Trains, with Mozaik (2007)

Moving Hearts Live in Dublin (2008)