Phil Lynott at 60
“If you’re into hard rock - and you’re not into Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy - you’re not a rocker. Anyone growing up in Dublin, involved in the rock music scene, had to be influenced by Phil Lynott…”
Johnny Lyons, Hot Press Music Journalist, Presenter Dublin’s 98FM
Created to mark what would have been Phil Lynott’s 60th birthday, this radio documentary and multimedia feature celebrate the life, music, and enduring influence of the Thin Lizzy frontman. More than two decades after his death in January 1986, Lynott remained one of the most important and distinctive figures in Irish and British rock music, admired for his songwriting, charisma, and pioneering role as a Black Irish artist in popular culture.
The programme follows Birmingham musician and poet Paul Murphy, who shares a unique bond with Lynott: both were born in August 1949. As Murphy approaches his own 60th birthday, he embarks on a journey from Birmingham to Dublin, retracing key moments in Lynott’s life and meeting the people, places, and communities that helped shape his story.
Through interviews, location recordings, archive material, and personal reflections, the documentary explores Lynott’s remarkable legacy while uncovering a lesser-known aspect of his biography: despite becoming one of Ireland’s most celebrated cultural figures, he was born in Birmingham before spending much of his childhood in Dublin. The result is both a tribute and a journey of rediscovery, connecting two cities through the life of an artist whose influence continues to resonate with successive generations of musicians and fans.
Created in association with the Birmingham Music Archive, the documentary was broadcast on BBC West Midlands, Absolute Radio UK, and Spin FM Dublin in August 2009 as part of the celebrations marking Lynott’s milestone anniversary. The accompanying audio slideshow combined documentary storytelling with original photography captured on location throughout the production.
The project was made possible through the support and collaboration of Paul Murphy, Jez Collins, and the team at the Birmingham Music Archive, together with photographer Ellie Gibbons, whose work helped bring the visual elements of the story to life.
