The festival is running in Smithfield Square this afternoon and includes live music performances, discussion sessions and arts & crafts.

This afternoon, the first Luke Kelly festival has come to Dublin to celebrate the music and life of the singer.

Taking to the stage will be Seán Cannon from The Dubliners, Pauline Scanlon and Damien Dempsey to celebrate the Luke Kelly songbook.

The Inner City Voices will also perform, along with the Discovery Gospel Choir and Niamh Bury and Chris Kavanagh from The Legend of Luke Kelly to showcase Irish talent and music.

The festival will also have a discussion tent on Kelly's life and legacy – Biographer Des Geraghty, Luke’s niece Paula McCann, and Luke’s Brother Paddy Kelly.

RTÉ’s John Kelly sits down with UK folk legend Martin Carthy to discuss the UK folk scene in the early 1960s where Kelly studied with the infamous ‘critics group’ and plied his trade before returning to Ireland to form The Dubliners.

Following this, writer Dermot Bolger sits down with composer, producer and songwriter Phil Coulter to discuss his close friendship and many years working alongside Luke.

In the crafts area, there will be a Luke Kelly statue workshop – where budding artists can use a blank polystyrene replica of the iconic Guild Street statue and fill in the legendary curly hair and beard, using pieces of sustainable fabric, ribbon and linen.

Public interest

Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste said the event has garnered huge support and interest on social media.

"Better late than never – it's about time that we're celebrating and recognising the import of Luke on Dublin," he said.

"His songs and lyrics are sung in pubs and in houses across Dublin and across Ireland every night of the week.

"This is something that I think is going to grow and grow – I think it's gonna get legs and it brings Luke to that new generation of people.

"It's going to be an absolutely fabulous day with all that's going on."