PHIL Lynott fans can look forward to an exciting year with a rocked up version of Dirty Old Town that could be as big as Lizzy smash Whiskey In The Jar.

Crumlin man Phil passed away 31 years ago this week.

1 2017 marks 30 years since Phil Lynott's death Credit: Getty Images

However 2017 will see a box set of unreleased tunes by Thin Lizzy.

While a unheard version of Phil heard rocking up Ewan MacColl classic Dirty Old Town, made famous by the late Luke Kelly of The Dubliners, is being considered for the reissue of Lynott's second solo album.

Alan Byrne, author of Phil Lynott, Renegade of Thin Lizzy told the Irish Sun: "Everybody knows Phil loved trad music from Thin Lizzy recording Whiskey In The Jar.

"But towards the end of his life, he hoped to do the same with Dirty Old Town and got some traditional musicians to record Dirty Old Town for his second solo album in Windmill Lane."

Pogues musician Terry Woods and Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey also feature on Philo's Dirty Old Town.

However the cover failed to make Phil's second solo album in 1982 and is being considered for a remastered version of the same record due out this year.

The find of new Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott material comes from a pal of Phil's whom he gave over 150 tapes to look after shortly before his death in 1986.

Alan added: "Phil Lynott was a songwriting genius. Thin Lizzy released 12 studio albums in 13 years, along with two live albums and two solo albums.

"It's easy to see why there might be an avalanche of unheard takes, live material and unreleased songs."

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More unheard material from Phil, who passed away in 1986 aged just 35 from heart failure and pneumonia, could also one day see the light of day.

Alan said: "Phil had about 40 songs demoed for his third album in late 1985, just before he died. He would have released them the following year with a tour.

"I'd love this material to see the light of day. To me Phil's musical journey will remain incomplete until the archive and legacy are examined fully."

Phil Lynott's widow Caro Taraskevics , now remarried and living in the UK, returned to Dublin this week for the funeral of Thin Lizzy tour manager Frank Murray.

A release of archive material could also bring Thin Lizzy to a brand new audience.

But American band Kings Of Leon are already major Lizzy fans to the extent that they penned hit single ‘Molly's Chamber’ after hearing the lyrics of Thin Lizzy’s rocked up traditional cover ‘Whiskey In The Jar’.

Another Slane Castle headliner Bon Jovi credited Phil as an influence.

Jon Bon Jovi said: "Our whole electric guitar cowboy theme came from Thin Lizzy. We got away with it because Phil and Thin Lizzy really aren't that well known in America and only had one top ten hit."

The annual Vibe For Philo took place over subsequent nights, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday this week at the Workman's Club.

Alan Byrne is author of 'Are You Ready: Thin Lizzy: Album by Album'.

A new edition of his book 'Philip Lynott, Renegade of Thin Lizzy' is out in March and will be published by Soundcheck Books.