Sarah Lynott holds an interesting position in rock folklore. The daughter of one of Ireland’s great artists, Sarah Lynott can call a name known in every rock club worldwide, a name inextricably linked to Thin Lizzy and to one of the voices on the island that has never been surpassed in Irish rock and roll.
But outside the shadow for most of her life, Sarah Lynott has avoided being the centre of attraction in an era where, for all accounts (and it is still an honour for most artists), fame can follow such a name. We discover just who Sarah Lynott is, explore who her family is, how Sarah relates to her father’s work, and some of the rare times that she has stepped into the public eye so far.
Who Is Sarah Lynott?
Sarah Lynott is the older of Phil Lynott and Caroline Crowther’s (later Caroline Taraskevics) two daughters. Caroline was born into a showbiz family herself, the daughter of TV presenter Leslie Crowther, so on both sides, Sarah Lynott was surrounded by creative types. She also has a younger sister, Cathleen Howard-Lynott (née Cathleen Lynott), and over the years, the sisters have stayed close together. Both women have been in the shadow of their legendary rock god father, who died when they were very young.
Sarah and Cathleen Lynott lost their father in January 1986. The father of two died at the age of 36 in hospital due to serious illness exacerbated by pneumonia and heart failure, and due to the tragic loss, Sarah Lynott never got a real opportunity to grow old and create long-lasting memories with him as many children do. So Sarah Lynott has learned most about him through photographs, family albums, recorded interviews, and, importantly, in the form of his music.
The Song “Sarah” and Its Meaning
One of the most touching pieces of the Sarah Lynott story is the Thin Lizzy song dedicated just to her. In 1979, Phil Lynott, with the help of his band’s guitarist, Gary Moore, penned “Sarah” ( sometimes titled My Sarah), an international chart hit from their Black Rose: A Rock Legend album, in honor of his newborn daughter. To Sarah Lynott, the song means so much more than just a classic piece of rock lore; it also represents a deeply intimate link to the man who created it and whom she barely got the chance to know well, as he tragically died in 1986.
Interviews and profiles of her from the year of the documentary on her father, Sarah Lynott has called the song both a comfort and the place where she can often find reassurance of her dad’s love saying that sometimes when she feels like that she can hear her dad talking to her in the words of the song- nearly a way of him articulating a feeling or idea he didn’t have a chance to personally express to her when she had time to get to know him better. Thin Lizzy also produced a second and earlier song entitled “Sarah”.
The song, from their 1972 Shades of a Blue Orphanage album, is said to have been written in tribute to a grandmother by the same name as Phil’s. She raised the young Philip, who moved in with her as she cared for him while she grew up in Crumlin, Dublin. The other, more well-known ballad called “Sarah” by Thin Lizzy is dedicated to Phil’s and ultimately Philomena’s youngest daughter; his well-loved child: Sarah.
Sarah Lynott and the 2020 Documentary
A more public sighting of Sarah Lynott to date: this film, Phil Lynott: Songs for While I’m Away – which was screened in October 2020 by BBC2 – was by Irish director Emer Reynolds. In the 2020 documentary, we trace the life of The Dubliners, “from his working-class roots in the Fifties through to international stardom,” using old news clips of bandmates and the many people whose lives, musical careers or even personal relationships were altered or inspired by Phil Lynott.
Sarah Lynott can be seen in the new film, with Cathleen and their mom Caroline Taraskevics – providing intimate insights into their father – in her first personal public comments about him, having been, according to the film’s director, a generally quiet person whose mother convinced her over years to talk a little more freely about her dad. Both of them agreed to be filmed, he said, as it “felt like a nice, powerful thing” for Sarah Lynott to put “her personal touch on how that story gets told, that somebody else didn’t just write it alone.”
Interviews with prominent people from the world of music can also be seen in the film; the other members of Thin Lizzy, Scott Gorham, Eric Bell, and Darren Wharton, can also be heard, as well as Adam Clayton from U2, Huey Lewis, and James Hetfield from Metallica. In contrast to the “larger-than-life” personalities, the characters of Sarah Lynott and her sister add a down-to-earth quality and give the film the voice of children who grow up in the shadow of a larger-than-life figure who they lost too early.
A Private Life Beyond the Spotlight
Aside from the infrequent public appearances she may attend and be obligated to regarding her father’s estate, Sarah Lynott has kept both the personal and professional ends of her life largely private. She is believed to be located in the United Kingdom and operates in events and festivals. Unlike her other children in music-related fields, many children of rockers have chosen this unique status by not delving as deeply as other children of famous musicians might.
Sarah Lynott evidently chose to maintain her privacy, except when participating in events involving her father’s legacy, or in situations such as interviews for documentaries or tributes to the band, as the legacy has continued since his passing. The choice seems to be one consistent with both Lynott daughters’ ways of managing a peculiar situation-to be linked with a world-renowned rock singer to such an extent did not particularly appeal to Sarah or her other sister. Instead, it seems Sarah chose to tackle the legacy of her famous father independently.
Why Sarah Lynott Still Matters to Thin Lizzy Fans
To longtime fans of Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott, Sarah Lynott is a living bridge to a musician whose legacy has always remained current. Her scarce comments about her father and songs written for her give new emotional resonance to an already beloved discography. Her story offers a grounding truth that beneath these songs were real relationships, real loss, and real life that continues to sustain his memory.
With reissues, documentaries, and retrospectives continually reigniting interest in the life of Phil Lynott, Sarah Lynott stands as a quiet and vital part of that ongoing narrative, an interesting though unobtrusive element-not a celebrity in her own right, but a daughter bearing witness for her father.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Who is Sarah Lynott?
Sarah Lynott, who is Thin Lizzy singer Phil Lynott’s eldest child, together with his long term, ex– girlfriend Caroline Crowther (Caroline Taraskevics), has, in fact, been fairly hardly ever viewed in the open.
Is the Thin Lizzy song “Sarah” written for Sarah Lynott?
Yes, the Thin Lizzy song (also written under the title “My Sarah”), released in 1979, was an original dedication in celebration of the birth of Sarah Lynott – written jointly by Phil Lynott and Gary Moore and appearing on Thin Lizzy’s last studio record, “Black Rose: A Rock Legend”.
Sarah Lynott actually knew her dad much?
Not that very well, since Phil Lynott died in 1986 when his son was just a toddler. Her relationship with Phil comes almost entirely through what she has been told over the years and family photos-and through his music, particularly the song “Sarah.”
Is Sarah Lynott in any documentaries?
The Sarah Lynott documentary did, in fact, exist and was broadcast on BBC Two in 2020 as part of the television event ‘Phil Lynott: Songs for While I’m Away’. She was featured as part of her mother, Caroline Taraskevics, and her father, Cathy.
Did Sarah Lynott have a brother or sister?
Yes, Sarah Lynott is the proud older sister of Cathleen Lynott(Cathleen Howard-Lynott). The Lynott sisters have stayed close throughout the years. They have participated in activities trying to keep his memory alive through time.
