Donor boosts RNLI coffers by €4k after Gallagher auction

An anonymous donor has added to the joy of a seaside community by adding €4,000 to the €7,000 raised from the recent auction of Rory Gallagher’s rehearsal amp.

The Ballycotton RNLI crew was delighted when the late blues guitarist’s brother Donal presented the donation on board the Austin Lidbury vessel near the pier in the East Cork fishing village.

The guitar amp travelled the world with Rory from the mid-1970s to his death in 1995. It was put up for auction by his family in May, along with a replica of his sunburst Fender Stratocaster guitar, to raise funds for the lifeboat.

At Whyte’s rock and pop memorabilia sale, international bidders helped push the price up to €7,000 for the coveted lot, bringing it to the top of the pre-sale guide set by auctioneer Ian Whyte, who waived his fees to boost the value of the donation.

The volunteer work of the local crew will be aided even more after a €4,000 donation was added by an unsuccessful bidder who wanted to support the charity.

Donal told the Irish Examiner in May about Rory’s regular visits to Ballycotton, less than an hour’s drive from Cork City, and how they helped him switch off from the hectic music world. They also inspired him to write lyrics for one of his most famous songs, ‘A Million Miles Away’, as well as Lost at Sea which has been used as a soundtrack to a Ballycotton Lifeboat video on the official Rory Gallagher website. 

Despite the welcome auction proceeds and donation, the fundraising efforts are continuing, and a range of activities are planned at a family fun day in Ballycotton this Sunday and across the bank holiday weekend.

The RNLI says it takes an average of €1,500 to train a volunteer lifeboat crew member each year, and €1,343 for their life-saving kit. Ballycotton is one of just 44 RNLI stations in Ireland.