Book Review: Philomena Lynott 'My Boy'

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For any fan of Phil Lynott this is a must read.  ‘My Boy: The Philip Lynott Story’ by his mother, Philomena, was originally published in 1995 but has since been updated and provides a detailed account of Lynott’s early life which is at times overlooked in assessment of his career.

It is, for the first time, a completely honest and unabridged version of the life of a man who has influenced countless people. The reader is given insight into the circumstances of Philip’s birth, and the struggle faced by his mother in the following years. Two chapters have been added in which Philomena reveals the birth of two siblings Philip never met, who Philomena was forced to put up for adoption as infants in the early 1950s. Philomena’s status as the single mother of a mixed race child made it difficult for her to find work and lodgings in England and she makes it clear that regrettably, she had no choice. Such conditions were to lead to Philip moving to Dublin aged 3 to live with his grandparents.

In the years of Philip’s childhood, Philomena discusses the difficulty she had not being with him, but recognised the impossibility of him having a stable upbringing in England with her. Indeed, this detachment is possibly what made the pair so close in later years as Philomena describes them as best friends as much as mother and son.

For anybody seeking a history of Thin Lizzy or Phil Lynott’s career this is not the source (however, a trip to the Philip Lynott Exhibition in Dublin is highly recommended) as the focus is on his relationship with his mother. Her account of his death is dealt with remarkably by Philomena. Her honesty and devotion to Philip is admirable throughout and she avoids making excuses for her son’s addictions.

This is a highly enjoyable and informative read for any fan of Phil Lynott. His mother, in a significantly better position than any biographer to give such an account, deals with his early life and premature death with the utmost integrity. Rather than creating confusion over dates and themes, it is an endearing feature of the book that it is at times similar to a monologue. For anybody who has seen an interview with Philomena or indeed met her, it is impossible to read the book without imagining her voice saying each word, and it is written in this style. Chronology is not strictly adhered to and there are digressions, but these lend themselves well to the storytelling.

 The digressions are often funny anecdotes or little known facts that may have been overlooked in a stricter format. For any fan of the man or the band this is a must have item.