An Irish folk band formed after the conclusion of sessions for Christy Moore’s Prosperous LP, Planxty was essentially a supergroup, including solo star Moore on guitar, keyboards and vocals; Donal Lunny, formerly of Emmit Spiceland on bouzouki; Andy Irvine, ex-Sweeney’s Men on mandolin and vocals; and uilleann pipes and tin whistle prodigy Liam O'Flynn.

Their first two albums–Planxty (aka “The Black Album”) and The Well Below The Valley–were immediately hailed as instant classics, merging traditional Irish balladry with the classic jigs and reels of the tradition.

Lunny left before the third album, and was replaced by another ex-Sweeney, Johnny Moynihan on bouzouki and vocals for Cold Blow and the Rainy Night. Moore struggled during the sessions, however, and quit to resume his solo career. The band initially soldiered on, with Paul Brady replacing Moore, but this line up split before committing any songs to wax.

After Lunny had a successful run with The Bothy Band and (with Moore), Moving Hearts, Irvine released several successful albums collaborating with Brady and Dick Gaughan (and briefly joined De Dannan, and Moore revived his solo career, the original quartet reformed in 1978, adding Bothy fiddler Matt Malloy to the lineup and releasing After The Break in 1979. Malloy then left to join The Chieftains, but he nevertheless appeared on the next record, The Woman I Loved So Well.

Now touring as a six-piece band (including keyboardist Bill Whelan, Planxty would record one final album, Words & Music in 1983. The band also recorded a single, “Timedance,” which would later provide the basis for Whelan’s massively successful “Riverdance” show. Planxty split for good in early 1983.

Since then, members of the original quartet have routinely appeared on each other’s records, with the entire group backing Moore on his solo track, “St. Brendan’s Voyage” on 1985’s Ordinary Man. The original quarter also reformed for a brief tour in 2004-05.

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