Planxty’s role in reviving and shaping Irish traditional music has ensured the band’s place as one of Ireland’s legendary acts.Some 44 years since their debut, their legacy will be celebrated through a new CD, Between The Jigs and Reels: A Retrospective.

Compiled by the band, the release contains a definitive catalogue of their ground-breaking music, along with a bonus DVD featuring over two hours of previously unreleased performances from the RTÉ archives.

Founding member of the group, Dónal Lunny, says compiling the CD with Planxty was an enjoyable process. “Universal Ireland played a major part in keeping the project together and growing, and the guys kind of chimed in every now and then, as I did myself. I think it was generally a very positive process,” he says.

“It is interesting, because it’s such a broad cross-section. It’s anything and everything. We were surprised with the quality of the visuals from RTÉ. You kind of get used to seeing fuzzy pictures on YouTube, but in fact it looks rather good and sounds fairly alright too.”

Planxty was formed in 1972, when Christy Moore picked a band of musicians to accompany him on the recordings for his second album, Prosperous.

The original line-up included Christy’s childhood friend Dónal along with Andy Irvine and Liam O’Flynn. Together, they pioneered the use of stringed instruments – such as guitar, bouzouki and mandolin – with traditional instruments – such as the uilleann pipes.

Did they have any idea of the influence they would have on Irish music?

“No. We were just enjoying the music and having the craic. We did take the music very seriously: we lived for it, you know, but we were just doing our thing,” says Dónal.

“We knew it was different, and we were delighted about that. It stood up and gelled into something meaningful. That was hardly coincidence or serendipity.

“It was a combination of Andy and myself being two sort-of musical scouts on the outside, with our mandolin and bouzouki, and Christy being the main engine room with his guitar and bodhrán, and Liam being the instrumental spearhead, playing very authentic and beautiful old tunes that we could all get behind,” he explains.

Indeed, traditional Irish music has endured and will continue to do so, says Dónal.

“I think the fact is that the DNA of Irish music has filtered into the music of half of the world, via the diaspora. Irish music was in the background of the evolution of America, and they way rock music evolved was informed by Irish, as well as African, music,” he says. “Irish music can actually travel the world over, and I think it’s just going to keep on happening.

“With the traditional music, we didn’t obscure it or treat it with disrespect. It kept its character and identity. The care we took with what we were doing kind of paid off, in that it has lasted. Some of the things we did were definitive, with a good few arrangements that have stood the test of time.”

The original Planxty set has reunited a number of times over the years, most recently in the early noughties. Despite the new record, Dónal says there are no plans for a reunion – though it isn’t completely beyond the realm of possibility.

“There is no immediate plan, but we’ll take things as they come. The last couple of times we got together didn’t look very likely beforehand, and things just fell together the right way. It may happen again. I’d be delighted if it did – on the other hand, I can’t make it happen,” he says.

“It’s really difficult. We would have to want to do it, and we would also want it to be good and spend the time on it that it needs, but we have succeeded in doing that in the past. You never know.”

As for Dónal himself, he has also been involved in acts such as the Bothy Band and Moving Hearts. Considered one of Ireland’s most important musicians, Dónal now produces music, and gigs with former Planxty member Andy Irvine, among other things.

“I’m putting my time to good use, playing with lots of different people. I’ve a good bit going on and I’m working on a few albums at the same time and have three or four bands going,” he says, before pausing. “Do you really want to know?” he laughs.

Surprisingly, Dónal – who seems to have boundless energy – never intended to become a musician.

“When I finished in secondary, I went to art college for five years, and I was playing music right through that. When I came out of that, I did jewellery for a little while. I was a silversmith for a couple of years. Planxty then kicked off, and I discovered that I hadn’t time to do anything else, so I never looked back.”

Having enjoyed a rich career in music, is he ever tempted to look back? “I try not to be sentimental, but one can’t help thinking about the good old days. Generally it’s better to look forward, but Planxty was a great experience. I loved it. I loved the musical challenges that it presented, and the opportunities that it gave us,” he says. “It’s been a very eventful road to date, and we are still going.”

Released by Universal Music Ireland, Between The Jigs and Reels: A Retrospective is available now.