THE mother of legendary Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott was last night described as a "formidable and brilliant woman" committed to keeping her son's memory alive.
Tributes have been paid to Philomena Lynott following her death, aged 88. She passed away early yesterday at her home in north Dublin after battling cancer for a number of years.
Her death was announced by Hot Press magazine, with which she worked on her bestselling book My Boy about her son's life.
Editor Niall Stokes said: "She was a formidable and brilliant woman.
"She was hugely determined and courageous, and absolutely committed to the campaign to ensure that Philip’s memory was kept alive and his legacy celebrated.
"Anyone who knew her will have been aware too of just how youthful she remained right through to the end.
"She will be hugely missed - not just by fans of Thin Lizzy but by fans of Philomena Lynott."
Ms Lynott, who was orginally from the Crumlin area of Dublin, came to prominence when she published her book which told the story of her son's life from his upbringing in Manchester and Dublin, to his success as the frontman of Thin Lizzy.
Phil was born in West Bromwich in 1949, but she sent him to live in Crumlin with his grandparents as she feared he would encounter racial prejudice in the UK.
She opened up about their relationship in her 2011 autobiography, My Boy, which was written with Jackie Hayden.
Regarded as one of Ireland's most revered songwriters and musicians, Phil died in 1986, aged 36, following years of drug abuse.
One of her proudest moments was the unveiling of a statue dedicated to him in Dublin’s city centre.
She had embarked on a campaign to have the bronze statue erected, which was constructed in 2005 and located on Harry Street, just off Grafton Street.
She said it helped keep his legacy alive.
Ms Lynott also used her prominence to warn young people about the risks of drink and drug abuse.
She also made headlines when she criticised US Republican Mitt Romney after he used Thin Lizzy’s 'The Boys Are Back in Town' in his presidential campaign.
"I am really upset at Philip’s music being used in a political way that he himself would not have approved of," she said.
Just last year, the National Wax Plus in Dublin unveiled a new waxwork of Philomena, which stood beside that of her son.
