This June Bank Holiday weekend, the community of Ballybough will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the renaming of its historic bridge in honour of Luke Kelly, one of Dublin’s most revered musical figures.
On Saturday, May 31, the bridge, which spans the Tolka River between Fairview and the city, will be at the heart of the celebrations, paying tribute not only to Kelly’s musical legacy but also to the rich historical roots of the area itself.
First officially renamed in 1985, the bridge was rededicated to the beloved folk singer through a campaign led by the late Tony Gregory TD.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Michael O’Halloran officially opens the Luke Kelly Bridge on May 31, 1985. Photo from the Dublin and Irish Collections, Dublin City Library & Archive.
The move recognised Kelly’s deep connection to the Northside and to Dubliners across the city.
The structure, which has stood in some form on the site since the late 1400s, was extensively widened that same year to accommodate modern traffic, yet it has always remained a symbol of local pride and resilience.
The original opening ceremony was a major event in the life of Ballybough.
The Dubliners performing at the opening of the Luke Kelly Bridge on May 31, 1985. Photo from the Dublin and Irish Collections, Dublin City Library & Archive.
Taoiseach Charles Haughey, The Dubliners, Bertie Ahern, Michael D. Higgins, Nial Ring, and actress Deirdre O’Connell were among those in attendance, along with many of Luke’s family and friends.
The occasion was also marked by singer Christy Moore and presided over by the then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Michael O’Halloran, and Dublin City Manager Frank Feely.
But the story of the bridge doesn’t start – or end – there.
The site’s history stretches back to at least 1313, when a bridge built by John Le Decer, a three-time Provost of Dublin, was swept away by floods.
It may even have played a part in the legendary Battle of Clontarf in 1014, according to the 19th-century historian T. O’Gorman, who pointed to it as a key strategic location.
More eerily, the surrounding Ballybough area was once home to an unconsecrated burial site for criminals and suicides, thought by many to have inspired elements of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Further up the road, the Irish Jewish Museum stands as another testament to the area’s layered cultural history, reflecting the long-standing presence of Dublin’s Jewish community on the Northside.
The upcoming commemorations promise to blend this deep sense of heritage with a lively celebration of Luke Kelly’s enduring legacy.
The day will begin at 11:30am beside the Clonliffe House, right at the bridge, with a special live performance from acclaimed Luke Kelly tribute singer Chris Kavanagh.
He will be joined by Niamh Kelly, Luke’s niece, for what is sure to be a moving and memorable musical tribute.
A short history talk will follow, led by local historian Sean Deegan of the Irish Tenement Museum and In the Shadow of Croker walking tours, highlighting some of the area’s lesser-known stories.
The celebrations will then move to Ballybough Community Centre, where prizes will be presented to local children in recognition of their own contributions to commemorating the bridge and Luke Kelly’s memory.
Members of the Kelly family will be in attendance throughout the day, lending their support to an event that is as much about community as it is about history.
For the people of Ballybough, this anniversary is more than a date on the calendar.
It’s a chance to reflect on where they’ve come from, to celebrate the spirit of the Northside, and to honour a man whose voice captured the heart of a city.