Tánaiste says it ‘would be lovely’ to keep Rory Gallagher's guitar in Cork
Rory Gallagher bought the electric guitar in 1963 for £100 on credit from the owner of Crowley's Music Store in Cork City and played it throughout his career.
The Tánaiste says he will discuss with the arts minister what can be done by the State to keep Irish rock and blues star Rory Gallagher's legendary 1961 Fender Stratocaster guitar in Ireland.
Micheál Martin, who hosted a civic reception for Gallagher during his year-long term as lord mayor of Cork from June 1992, said it would be great if the iconic guitar could be retained in Ireland and then kept in Cork.
It was announced last week that the guitar, described as "the most recognisable Strat in rock history" because of its worn appearance, is being put up for auction later this year with an estimated price of up to $1.28m (1€.17m).
Gallagher bought the electric guitar in 1963 for £100 on credit from the owner of Crowley's Music Store in Cork City and played it throughout his career.
It is the leading lot for "The Rory Gallagher Collection" auction, which will be held at Bonhams in London on October 17.
Gallagher died in 1995, aged 47, and the items are being offered for sale by his family.
His Stratocaster has featured in exhibitions and has been played by other guitarists such as Joe Bonamassa and Johnny Marr.
When Mr Martin was lord mayor, he hosted a civic reception for Gallagher in City Hall to celebrate his musical achievements.
At the reception, Gallagher was presented with a commemorative piece of Tipperary Crystal on behalf of the city.
During the low-key event, Mr Martin described Gallagher as “a world figure in his field” with a “unique” talent.
He also said the city could be “justifiably proud” of him because he was “one of Cork’s greatest sons and has become part of the city’s folklore”.
Gallagher experts say such recognition came at an important time in the musician’s life when his self-esteem and confidence were low, despite the fact that he had received the Arbiter/Fender Hall of Fame award just two weeks earlier.
Speaking in Cork at the weekend, Mr Martin said he has “very fond memories” of hosting the civic reception for Gallagher.
“He played in the Everyman theatre and Donal [Gallagher’s brother and former manager] was there on the night and I said to Donal would Rory mind being honoured tomorrow [with a civic reception],” Mr Martin said.
“Donal said he is extremely shy, that he shies away from all these kind of public things.
"But he did come in [to City Hall]. We had a small group of about 40 people."
“I remember Joe Philpott of Ballincollig fame, Joe was a musician at the time and I rang him and I said ‘Joe, would you like to come to meet Rory Gallagher’ and he couldn’t believe it. I have very fond memories of that.”
Mr Martin said he would love if the State could secure the guitar and keep it in Cork.
Over €19,000 has been donated to a GoFundMe campaign set up by music store owner, Sheena Crowley, whose late father Michael sold the guitar to Gallagher in 1963.
She said: “This guitar means so much to us in Cork, and we need to become the custodians of that magical guitar.
“Rory has been the idol and inspiration to so many musicians in Ireland for half a century.
“We feel tied to him and the guitar is a symbol of what he represents for us.
“Once the news of the auction was released I would say everyone in Cork and Ireland gasped with shock and surprise, but really Rory's brother Donal has presented us with a fantastic opportunity by making the strat and Rory's instrument collection available to us.”
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