Phil Lynott statue unveiled in Dublin
Thin Lizzy's frontman, Phill Lynott, has been immortalised with the unveiling of a statue in his memory in central Dublin.
As hundreds of fans looked on, Lynott's mother, Philomena, and Dublin's Lord Mayor, Catherine Byrne, unveiled the life-size sculpture on Harry Street, just off Grafton Street.
The statue was commissioned by the Roisín Dubh Trust, which was set up to commemorate the life and work of Lynott.
Among Thin Lizzy's biggest hits were 'The Boys are Back in Town', 'Whiskey in the Jar' and 'Rosalie'. They were widely considered to be the first Irish rock band to achieve success on the international stage.
Lynott also went on to have a successful solo career after Thin Lizzy split up. He died in 1986, aged just 36, after suffering heart failure as a result of a drug overdose.
The Roisín Dubh Trust had approached Dublin City Council in January 2000 in a bid to get a statue erected as a tribute to the rock star. Plans were approved by the council in February 2001.
Sculptor Paul Daly was commissioned to work on the statue after a competition to find an artist who could capture Lynott's charisma. The bronze statue of the rock star was cast by Leo Higgins and the plinth hand-carved by sculptor Tom Glendon.
A tribute concert to Lynott is also due to take place this Saturday night, 20 August, at the Point Theatre in Dublin. Gary Moore, Eric Bell, Brian Downey, Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson, Brush Shiels, Wheatus and Therapy are all set to perform at the event.
- Rattlebag: Phil Lynott Special
