All about The Planxty

Matt Molloy

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Matt Molloy is one of Ireland’s most famous traditional musicians. A member of the Chieftains, but also of the...

Christy Moore

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Christy Moore is an Irish folk singer and guitarist. Founder of the Planxty group, he was one of the...

Paul Brady

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Discover Paul Brady, the Irish music icon who has captivated the world with his poignant songs and haunting melodies.



What to expect?

World-renowned for their Irish folk music, the Planxty are an Irish band made up of 4 talented musicians. Formed in the 70s, the band has breathed new life into Irish music, both in Ireland and beyond the island’s borders.
Planxty history
A journey that has propelled them to international status
It all began in 1969, when Christy Moore, an Irish guitarist from County Kildare, wanted to record his first album, “Paddy on the Road”. Wishing to do even better, he decided to record a second album, in the company of 3 friends:

Liam O’Flynn
Andy Irvine
Dónal Lunny

The 4 friends formed the group “CLAD”, the name representing the initials of each member. This name didn’t exist for long, and very quickly the 4 friends adopted the name Planxty, a Gaelic word meaning “to the health of…”.

The 4 musicians wanted to shake up the traditional Irish music of the 70s by mixing new sounds with traditional instruments. They revived the uilleann pipe, the bodhràn and the clique of Irish instruments. They mixed bouzoukis, old wheels and dry guitars with a wonderfully danceable rhythm to create innovative tunes.

Their first concert took place in Donovan (Co. Galway), and was a success on a scale never before imagined. They were soon approached by Polydor Records, who offered them an exclusive £30,000 contract to record 6 albums.

Planxty then set to work, recording “Prosperous”, “Planxty – The Black Album”, “The Well Below the Valley” and finally “Cold Blow & the Rainy Night”. Each album was greeted with the same success as their first live at Donovan.

January 1979 marks the start of the band’s biggest tour. The tour ends on June 11 at Dublin Stadium, after a 54-concert tour of 8 countries.

However, Christy Moore was not seduced by the pace of the tours, too exhausting for her taste, and too profit-oriented. (Christy Moore is an idealist and doesn’t like to“load up on fans and cash“, as he would later say). He decided to leave the group in 1975.

Paul Brady, a talented singer and guitarist, volunteered to replace him. The band went on to record 3 more albums: “After the Break”, “The Woman I Loved So Well” and “Words & Music”. After a brief tour, the band voted to split shortly afterwards in 2004…
Planxty discography

1972: Prosperous
1973: Planxty – The Black Album
1973: The well below the valley
1974: Cold blow and the rainy night
1976: The Planxty Collection
1979: After the break
1980: The woman I loved so well
1983: Words & music
2004: Live 2004

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