Rory Gallagher to be honoured at Cork Person of the Year awards next year

It comes after it emerged that Gallagher's legendary 1961 Fender Stratocaster guitar will be put up for auction later this year

Rory Gallagher will be one of the first to be remembered in a new ‘in memoriam’ section of the Cork Person of the Year ceremony.

The late rock and blues legend Rory Gallagher is to be honoured as part of a poignant new feature which is being introduced for the first time at the next Cork Person of the Year ceremony.

Awards organiser Manus O’Callaghan confirmed that he is adding a new ‘in memoriam’ section to the 2024 gala awards lunch, which will take place in January.

Two people will be chosen each year to be remembered for their contribution while they were alive and Mr O’Callaghan confirmed that Gallagher will be one of the first to be remembered, to mark the 30th anniversary of his death. Details of the second nominee will be announced later.

“As it marks the 30th anniversary of Rory’s passing, I discussed some months ago with Rory’s brother and manager Donal Gallagher about the Lord Mayor and County Mayor honouring Rory’s career at our lunch,” he said.

“Donal is delighted with the concept and will attend the lunch himself and speak about his brother Rory and receive the mayor’s presentation.” 

The news comes a week after it emerged that Gallagher's legendary 1961 Fender Stratocaster guitar, described as "the most recognisable Strat in rock history", is being put up for auction later this year with an estimated price of up to $1.28m.

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.

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.

It is the leading lot for "The Rory Gallagher Collection" auction, which will be held at Bonhams in London on October 17 and features around 150 items, including other guitars, amps, and accessories.

Tanaiste Micheál Martin, who hosted a civic reception for Gallagher during his year-long term as Lord Mayor of Cork from June 1992, said the State is exploring how it might secure the collection and bring it to Cork.

“I will talk to Catherine Martin (the arts minister) and see what’s possible but it would be lovely if we could get that guitar back on Leeside,” he said.

Meanwhile, more than €20,000 has been raised by the GoFundMe campaign set up by music store owner, Sheena Crowley, whose late father Michael sold the guitar to Gallagher in 1963, to help keep the guitar in Cork.