What is a planxty? Is it a type of song or a person’s name?
My partner says he really likes the planxties in his music collection, so I thought I would do well to learn those, although most of the ones in his collection seem to not be in the key of D. I think his favorite is called Planxty Catharsis, which I think is beautiful, but probably not an old song.
I beleive it is both, theres a group called Planxty, but theres also a bunch of songs with planxty in front of them, like planxty irwin, and I cant think of anymore, but I know they exist, I hope that answers your question
I was curious about the same thing about found this article regarding Planxty (not the band): http://guitar.1colony.com/custom3.html
A Planxty is a composition dedicated to someone or composed in someone’s honour. Mostly found in connection to O’Carolan’s works. There’s no real consensus about what the word actually means but ‘a health to’ is the most widely accepted guess, a corruption of ‘Slainte’ some say, others say that a bit of a spurious explanation.
I always wondered – and maybe this is a giant leap to nowhere – whether the planxty was related to the troubadour planh, the planh being a lament to honor someone who has died.
That’s also as good an explanation as any other I’ve heard. I can’t even get a consensus on the pronounciation of the word. Some say the ‘x’ is pronounced as planks-tee, others the ‘x’ is an “i” sound as in plan-it-tee.
They tend to disount how the band of that name says it. Go figure.
so is a planxty similar to a lament?
In certain basic ways, I think it is.
Thanks for the answers! I was wondering only because they define Airs, Jigs, Reels, but not “Planxties”. If there is such a thing.
When it comes to Planxties, you could be right! 
A planxty can be anything- a jig, reel, air, polka, slip jig, 5/4 waltz (well, why not? I’d like it if someone wrote a 5/4 waltz in my honor)… it doesn’t refer to the tune itself but the dedication of the tune.
I’d love to write a 5/4 waltz for you, but I have a harder time playing in 5/4 than I do pronouncing Planxty!
I didn’t even know 5/4 was a time signature… 
I’ve decided you can throw any two numbers together and call it a time signature- 12/8, 5/9, 3/4, 4/3, 9/8, ect…
A Planxty can be anything- a jig, reel, air, polka, slip jig, 5/4 waltz
No, not really, a Planxty may take different form, I have yet to see one that either a jig or a reel even though there are plenty in 6/8 or 4/4.
so is a planxty similar to a lament?
Not sure how you mean that, if you mean are they slow and solemn, no they’re not, they’re usually -for want of a better word - quite jolly.
As for the x - pronunciation remark: in the old collections like Bunting’s you’ll actually find them as ‘Plangsty’
perhaps ya should Take Five…and find out 
Maybe that explains it. I’m a not jazz guy!
…Grateful Dead
Planxty George Brabazon comes to mind.
Haha not a chance. Never did get into that whole 70’s rock thing for the most part.