The Waterboys' Mike Scott: Dónal Lunny is "Ireland's greatest musician"

As part of his new Mixed Grill interview with Hot Press, Mike Scott of The Waterboys has declared that Dónal Lunny is "Ireland's greatest musician" – referring to him as one of the "most influential" figures in Irish music.

The interview – published in full in the current issue of Hot Press – coincides with the release of The Waterboys' star-studded new album Life, Death And Dennis Hopper, which is out now.

Hot Press invited readers to submit questions as part of the feature – with one asking: You did a beautiful cover of Van Morrison’s ‘Sweet Thing’ on Fisherman’s Blues. Who do you think is Ireland’s greatest musical artist and why?

Reflecting on Lunny's impact on Irish music, the Waterboys legend notes that he "blazed the trail in the ‘60s and ‘70s with Emmet Spiceland, Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts."

"What a musician... and so unsung," he continues. "Of course, a lot of people know how great he is, but in a media sense, he’s got an incredibly low profile for someone so great. He’s like the great druid of Irish music. So I would put up my hand for the great Dónal Lunny."

Dónal Lunny (L) and Christy Moore (R) during the former's acceptance of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

In a previous tribute to Lunny, shared on The Waterboys' social media back in 2021, the band noted that the legendary Irish musician "played on + mixed some of the Fisherman's Blues sessions, guested live with The Waterboys & gave Mike good advice when he needed it..."

Lunny recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards – with Peter Woods, head of RTÉ Radio 1, stating that he "defined much of the music of a generation at a time when traditional music was not mainstream and almost subversive."

Elsewhere in the Mixed Grill interview, Mike Scott discusses Donald Trump, Yeats, Father Ted, his ultimate Waterboys line-up, and how the collaboration with Bruce Springsteen on the new album came about...

Read the full Mixed Grill interview with The Waterboys' Mike Scott in the current issue of Hot Press, out now: