Planxty was an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting of Christy Moore (vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhran), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitars), Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, hurdy-gurdy, harmonica) and Liam O'Flynn (uilleann pipes, tin whistle).

The name Planxty comes from a word used by the classic harper Turlough O'Carolan in many of his works, and is thought to mean a tribute to a particular person ("Planxty Irwin", for example, being a tribute to Colonel John Irwin of Sligo). "Planxty" is believed to be a corruption of the Irish word and popular toast "sláinte", meaning "good health". Others claim that the word is not Irish in origin but comes from the Latin "plangere," meaning to strike or beat. It is also believed that its origin may stem from the Irish phrase "phlean on ti" meaning "from the house of". During the penal law era of Ireland's history songs sung through Irish were outlawed and it is believed that the use of the phrase Planxty fo