Major Philip Lynott Exhibition set for Dublin to mark Rock Legend's life 25 years on

The Philip Lynott Exhibition, the biggest ever collection of memorabilia, song lyrics, exhibits, paintings, tributes and photographs of the late rock legend, is set to be seen by thousands from Ireland and abroad in a very special exhibition in the capital. The initiative is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, Dublin City BIDS, Dublin City Council, Dublin Tourism and RTÉ 2fm.

Today (Tuesday, January 4) is the 25th anniversary of the death of the Thin Lizzy singer, who died in 1986 – and to mark the anniversary year, Hot Press is mounting a major exhibition which will give a unique insight into the background, work and life of Ireland's pioneering rock star.

March 2011 will be designated Philip Lynott Month, with The Philip Lynott Exhibition being hosted on the top floor of Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, right in the heart of Philo's beloved home town.

"Philip loved that part of Dublin," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. "We wanted to hold the exhibition in a place that has special resonance for fans of Philip Lynott and Thin Lizzy and the band's second album Shades of A Blue Orphanage features beautiful shots of Philip Lynott and fellow band members Brian Downey and Eric Bell walking in St. Stephen's Green, in an area directly over-looked from the location of the exhibition. All his favourite haunts were in close proximity – The Bailey, Neary's, the Coffee Inn in Anne Street and Switzer's, which is now Brown Thomas. Harry Street, where the Philip Lynott statue stands, just outside Bruxelles, is just 100 metres away in Grafton Street, so it is a perfect location."

The exhibition, which will run throughout March, and will have a number of other activities around it, is set to bring Philip centre stage as one of the great Dublin – and Irish – heroes. The Thin Lizzy frontman has been an inspiration to subsequent generations of Irish rockers, while an increasing number of international stars have acknowledged his music as a significant influence.

"There will be a strong emphasis on Philip as a songwriter," Niall Stokes added. "He was part of a movement which brought songwriting and poetry closer together. He saw himself as a wordsmith, read at poetry readings in Dublin and published his lyrics in book form – and so the exhibition will be part of the programme for the Dublin UNESCO City of Literature celebrations, which are taking place throughout the year."

Along with guitars, basses and other equipment used by Philip Lynott, there will also be tour jackets worn by the singer, flight cases used by Thin Lizzy, lyric books, school reports and Lynott's shares in Manchester United Football Club on display – as well as personal letters, cards and other unique items collected by his mother Philomena and other friends over the years. It will also feature a huge amount of new material from the Hot Press archives, as well as additional photographs, original paintings and other exclusive artwork. There will also be multi-media & video installations and other audio-visual material. A new Best of Thin Lizzy album is also set for release in March.

"I'm really thrilled that the exhibition has become a reality," Philip's mother, Philomena Lynott, said. "There is a huge feeling of goodwill out there towards Philip and so I think this is going to be an inspiring event for all of the Irish people who loved my son and his music. I'm really loking forward to it."

Philip Lynott and Dublin
Philip Lynott was a hugely successful, internationally recognised songwriter – but he was also one of the ultimate Dublin heroes, the city's first great and most iconic rock star. A hugely loved and respected character in his native city, he is the original Dublin rock'n'roller and arguably a bigger natural star than any of those that followed in his footsteps.

Thin Lizzy released their first album in 1971. The band had their first hit with 'Whiskey In The Jar', which reached No.6 in the UK in February 1973. Their album Live and Dangerous (released in 1978) is widely regarded as one of the finest live albums of all time. His song 'Yellow Pearl', written in conjunction with Midge Ure, and originally released on the Solo In Soho album, was the theme tune for BBC's weekly Top Of The Pops for many years. Philip's name has become synonymous with the city of Dublin – and today, an increasing number of international stars acknowledge the huge influence he had on them, including the likes of Bon Jovi, Metallica, Guns 'N' Roses, Kings of Leon, Belle and Sebastian, Henry Rollins and The Cardigans.

A huge amount of material relating to Ireland's most romantic rock hero has been uncovered from the archives, to form a must see exhibition, which is set to attract visitors in their droves from Ireland and internationally, from March 4, 2011. To get further info please just go here [link]www.philiplynottexhibtion.com[/link]