Phil Lynott was the epitome of cool.

A black man in Dublin when there were no black men in Dublin, he had it all, charisma, talent and a huge mop of afro hair.

Phil Lynott was born on 20 August 1949 in West Bromwich, England but grew up in Dublin with his grandparents.

In 1969 he formed the band ‘Thin Lizzy’ who had several hit songs. ‘The boys are back in town’ and ‘Waiting for an alibi’ being two of their biggest.

However it was as a solo artist in 1982 that Lynott released the classic song and video ‘Old town’. The video captures Lynotts iconic status in Dublin of the early 1980’s as he is seen strolling through Grafton Street amongst adoring onlookers, mostly women.

He died at the tragically young age of 36 from drug related issues and is buried in Sutton, Dublin.

Although Phil Lynott is no more his spirit lives on. There is a statue of him in Harry Street, off Grafton Street. It is at this spot that two of the city’s best buskers, a guitarist and drummer, regularly pull in the crowds.

Phil would approve.