A popular statue of Dublin folk legend Luke Kelly has undergone significant repair work after sections of its distinctive copper hair and beard were repeatedly removed by visitors taking them as souvenirs.
The sculpture, located at the junction of Guild Street and Sheriff Street in Dublin’s North Wall, was temporarily cordoned off this week while artist Vera Klute and Dublin City Council staff carried out restoration work.
Installed in 2019, the striking bust has become a major attraction for both tourists and fans of The Dubliners singer. However, council officials said ongoing damage to the artwork has become a growing concern, with strands of copper wire being cut or snapped from the statue’s beard and curly hair.
Parts of the sculpture required extensive maintenance, including the replacement of damaged copper sections. The statue will now be monitored over the coming weeks as officials assess how best to prevent further vandalism.
In a statement, Dublin City Council confirmed that repairs began on Tuesday.
“Over recent months, parts of the sculpture suffered damage to sections of the moustache copper strands,” the statement said.
“The artist and a conservator were onsite on Tuesday, May 26, to undertake the first stage in maintenance works, including replacing some of the copper strands.”
The North Wall Community Association welcomed the repair work and thanked both Dublin City Council and local councillor Christy Burke for their continued support in maintaining the landmark.
Councillor Burke said efforts were ongoing to tackle the repeated damage.
“I’m very hopeful that the matter can be progressed and we will find a solution to the ongoing snipping of the hair and the beard,” he said.
The statue stands along the Luke Kelly Linear Park, which stretches from Guild Street towards the River Liffey and faces the Samuel Beckett Bridge.
The location was chosen because of Kelly’s deep connection to the area. Born and raised on Sheriff Street, the singer became one of Ireland’s most celebrated folk musicians before his death from a brain tumour in 1984 at the age of 43.
After moving to England as a teenager, Kelly became immersed in the folk revival scene before returning to Dublin in the early 1960s to co-found The Dubliners.
This is not the first time the North Wall sculpture has been targeted. Shortly after its unveiling, the statue was vandalised on several occasions, including incidents where paint was thrown over the artwork and graffiti was added.
In 2024, a vulnerable homeless man with addiction issues received an 18-month prison sentence, with nine months suspended, for damaging the statue during an incident in July 2020.
A second Luke Kelly statue, created by artist John Coll, is located on South King Street near Grafton Street. The bronze sculpture was also unveiled in 2019 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the singer’s death.
