Another Rory tribute, but still no sign of his Strat on Leeside
It’s about two years to the day since Rory Gallagher’s most iconic guitar was bought at auction and donated to the state, yet the instrument has yet to return home to Leeside even once.
There was an overwhelming sense of relief in Cork when the 1961 Fender Stratocaster was acquired by Live Nation Gaiety Ltd in October 2024 amidst concern that it might be bought by a private collector and disappear from the public’s reach.
Instead, and to the relief of many here on Leeside, it was donated to the National Museum of Ireland for public display where it has remained since.
At the time, the hope and expectation amongst music lovers in Cork, was that once the dust had settled, the guitar might be released temporarily from the museum and be allowed to travel south for certain events. This has not happened.
In June 2025, organisers of a celebration marking the 30thy anniversary of Rory’s death, had hoped the guitar might be released for such an important Cork occasion.
Leading the call for the guitar to be brought to Cork was Sheena Crowley, Daughter of Mick Crowley who sold Rory his Strat in 1963 from his store on MacCurtain Street. Leading up to the auction in London, Sheena raised over €75,000 in an effort to keep the guitar in Ireland, which she later used to purchase other items from Rory’s collection for public display in Cork.
At the time, she said she “got a bit of a shock” when she realised the guitar she had fought so hard to keep in the public domain was not going to appear in Cork for the event.
Currently, there are no public plans in place to bring Rory’s Strat back to Cork.
Rory honoured at Jazz Fest
This Sunday, Rory Gallagher: The Legend Lives On returns to Cork City Hall as part of the Cork Jazz Festival, celebrating the music and legacy of one of Ireland’s greatest musicians in the iconic venue where much of his Irish Tour ’74 album was recorded.
Bringing Rory’s tunes to life on the night will be Moonchild & Tres Hombres with Brian Tambling and very special guest Barry Barnes (Sinnerboy).
Ahead of the gig, Rory’s brother Dónal will appear at Cork City Hall for an exclusive reading, Q&A, and book signing for ticket holders.
From 12.30-2pm, Dónal will share stories from his new book, ‘Edged in Blue: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Odyssey with Rory Gallagher’. The intimate session will give fans a unique opportunity to hear Dónal discuss the book, read from its pages, and reflect on a remarkable life spent alongside his younger brother.