Statue of Luke Kelly vandalised for the fourth time since its unveiling last year

The statue of legendary Irish musician Luke Kelly on Sheriff Street, Dublin has been vandalised for the fourth time in a year. Following its unveiling in January 2019, the statue was targeted by vandals in June. It was then vandalised in January 2020, and again last month.

Taking to social media, Dublin councillor and CEO of the Inner City Helping Homeless charity Anthony Flynn shared images of the defaced statue. "This is really unbelievable," he wrote, before claiming that local people from Sheriff Street were not to blame for the vandalisation.

Following a lengthy campaign to erect a statue of Luke Kelly in Dublin, two statues on either side of the city were unveiled on January 30th last year, to coincide with the 35th anniversary of his death.

"Today, as President, I say it is an important day in the public cultural life of Ireland, " President Michael D. Higgins said at the unveiling ceremony of the statues last year. "The unveiling of his image as part of the public art of Dublin, and the nation, is a public recognition and an affirmation of the great admiration and affection, and I say love, with which Luke Kelly continues to be held across the country."

Made of marble and metal, Vera Klute's sculpture of Luke Kelly is located on Sheriff Street – close to where the legendary Irish singer grew up.