'Ireland’s Version of the Queen' - Philomena Lynott Unveils Her Waxwork

“Will I kiss myself?” she teases, as she lifts the cloth covering. Dressed in a grey lace dress and golden pendant adorned with an image of Phil Lynott, the work for the wax figure began in late August and was undertaken by Irish sculptor PJ Heraty, a close friend of Philomena. Situated next to Phil Lynott’s own wax form, it makes for a surprisingly emotional affair, as mother and son stand together again. Gazing over at the two figures, Philomena proclaims “I can’t believe it. I’m shaking with happiness."

The whole process was conducted with the Thin Lizzy frontman in mind also. Phil Lynott passed away in 1986 at the age of 36. The 3D mould of Philomena was measured in the Apollo Studios where Phil had last recorded, a space also attached to the Irish Rock ’n’ Roll museum where Lynott is featured heavily. “Everybody loves Phillo, don’t they. Because he really was a lovely guy. He was a great son and we loved each other.” Philomena recalls a time where she and Phil were travelling together and Phil noted how nice her perfume smelt. “When I grow up, I’ll buy you loads of perfume” he declared - “And he did. I had oceans of perfume ,” Philomena chuckles.

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“Philomena is a rebel,” states Paddy Dunning, director of the National Wax museum. Having known Philomena since his youth, he feels honoured to be able to give Philomena another well-deserved form of recognition. “It is relevant that at this time with women striving for equality, I think it’s a relevant time to celebrate Philomena’s struggle through life. As a woman, with all the challenges that she has come across”. Philomena gave to birth to Phil at the age of seventeen and was disgraced for doing so out of wedlock.

“For a woman to have a baby without being married, it was sin.” Philomena recalls. “The fact that I had a coloured baby - the nurses in the hospital called me a prostitute. It was horrendous. And now, the melting pot is here.”

A friend to many at the Wax Museum, sculptor PJ Heraty has known Philomena since he worked on Phil Lynott’s statue years ago. “She’s very easy to get along with, despite life cutting corners off her,” Heraty says. “She’s almost like Ireland’s version of the queen, no?”

The National Wax Museum Plus is open from 10:00am to 10:00pm Monday through to Sunday. Find out more information here:

www.waxmuseumplus.ie