Dirty old town as Luke’s bust vandalised for a second time
GRAFFITI has been removed from a bust erected in honour of singing legend Luke Kelly, which was vandalised for a second time in seven months on Monday.
The bust, designed by artist Vera Klute, was covered with black paint in the shape of sunglasses. Gardaí are examining CCTV images from cameras located around Luke Kelly Park, close to where the Dubliners singer grew up on Sheriff Street in Dublin’s north inner city.
A restoration company is
‘Show some dignity and respect’
carrying out the clean-up work on behalf of Dublin City Council.
A council spokesperson said: ‘Dublin City Council’s public arts officer was informed at 8pm on Monday by Cllr Christy Burke and contacted the artist.
‘He then contacted PMAC [stone cleaning and restoration service] who cleaned the sculpture the last time. It is not a very lengthy or complex job and it is currently under way.’
Former Dublin lord mayor Christy Burke described the vandalism as ‘mindless’, adding: ‘I’m calling the individual who did to this Luke Kelly’s statue to show some dignity and respect to his memory and to his family. Not only has the person or persons insulted them but you’ve done this to the whole community who treasure this statue.’
The marble bust was unveiled in January 2019 by President Michael D Higgins, on the 35th anniversary of Kelly’s death, and cost €80,000. It is 1.8 metres high, with copper wire used for the singer’s trademark beard.