Thin Az Lizzy bringing Ballina full circle

Thin Az Lizzy Bringing Ballina Full-Circle Gary Kevany Phil Lynott’s great-great-grandfather was born in Ballina so when Thin Az Lizzy, Ireland’s premier Thin Lizzy tribute act play Bar Square’s Times Square this Friday, July 18th, it will have come full-circle.

And it has already come full-circle for the band itself with Phil’s mother, Philomena Lynott, decreeing that Johnny ‘D Fox’ Carolan’s voice was as close to her deceased son’s as one could find in 1992 - three years before the band was formed.

Johnny was told, as a youth finding his way and learning the piano, that he couldn’t sing and ‘should stick to playing the piano and writing songs’ yet Johnny persevered and is now enjoying the fruits of his labour.

The band has played to intimate crowds of as few as 20 and as many as 50,000 performing to crowds in Germany and Holland and later this year will be playing Forest Fest in Co. Laois.

Johnny recently chatted to this reporter and spoke of a much-shared love for Lynott and his music.

‘I first heard Thin Lizzy in 1986 and it was like an explosion of music to my ears.’ Carolyn stated. This feeling was shared by many listeners around Ireland and further afield. Lynott’s career skyrocketed before his untimely passing.

‘We played with John Earl from Live and Dangerous and played with him and Brian Downey in Vicar Street.’ While Whiskey in the Jar is perhaps the most easily recognisable Thin Lizzy hit, Carolan feels the Cowboy Song is his favourite track of Lynott’s to listen to and perform.

The band assert that the crowd can dictate how the gigs go. The more energetic they are, the better the gig will be so hopefully they’ll receive a good reception when they perform this Friday.

Joining the band for the gig this Friday in Times Square will be Michael Kulbaka from Brian Downey’s Alive and Dangerous whom Carolan toured with last summer. The band also plan to tour Holland again in April 2026.

Tickets are available for the gig from eventbrite.ie