No man deserves it more.
Given the fact that Luke Kelly’s music was shaped by Dublin, it’s entirely fitting that the beloved musician is set to be immortalised for future generations to see.
Kelly’s music will live on forever and now, so will his image because the beloved singer and folk musician will be getting two statues in his honour.
A few months ago, we reported that a statue will be erected in Royal Canal, Guild St/Sheriff St, but another statue will also be unveiled on the other side of the Liffey on 30 January to mark the 35th anniversary of his death.
The man who created the statues of Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan in Dublin, sculptor John Coll, is working on a new piece set to be unveiled on South King Street at 2pm on 30 January.
Coll’s life-size bronze statue will depict a seated Luke Kelly singing and playing the banjo. This particular statue has been donated to the city by the late Gerry Hunt.
The second sculpture, a marble portrait of Luke Kelly, has been created by award-winning portrait artist Vera Klute and is set to be unveiled at 3.30pm on Royal Canal, Guild St/Sheriff St.
Klute’s piece, which was commissioned by Dublin City Council, was selected as the winner of an esteemed competition created by the former Lord Mayor, Christy Burke, in 2014.
President Higgins and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Nial Ring, will unveil both statues.
Ring said: “Luke’s presence is still felt on the streets of his birthplace Sheriff St and the pubs and haunts of the literati circles around Grafton St/Baggot St where he frequented. This is a unique celebration for a very unique man. To this day he inspires Irish and international artists through his words, songs and activism. “It is only fitting that we celebrate the man, the music and his immeasurable impact on the Irish music scene and wider Irish culture.”
A fitting tribute to an Irish icon.
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