Gardaí probe theft of treasured guitar from Cork recording studio

Footage from a security camera mounted above the front door of the Baile Mhúirne Garda Station is among evidence being examined by gardaí who are investigating the theft of a guitar played by legends Rory Gallagher and David Gilmour, which was stolen from the kitchen of a recording studio located directly in front of the station in the Gaeltacht village.

The guitar, a Martin D-35, is owned by Tadhg Kelleher of Sulán Studios, a recording studio where numerous legends including Rory, who’s mother hailed from Baile Mhúirne, and David Gilmour recorded.

The Pink Floyd guitarist played on a Donovan album Gaelia which was released last year, but portions were recorded in the 90s in the village studio.

Eurovision

Tadhg Kelleher, a musician himself, had been playing the guitar earlier on the day it was stolen. 

“It was the day of the Eurovision, and I left it in the kitchen on a stand,” he said.

“I went to Cork and stayed to watch the song contest — when I returned the next morning, the guitar was gone and nothing else was taken.

“The Martin D-35 was the guitar used all the time by Johnny Cash and the company which makes them is the most famous in the world — the same model of guitar produced today would cost around €5,000 but the older version like I have is far more valuable.”

Mr Kelleher said he had originally purchased the guitar around 1972 from Crowley’s Music Shop when it was on MacCurtain Street in Cork City.

“I had been looking for this guitar for ages and Michael Crowley found it for me and brought it in from Nashville — it cost around £500 as far as I can recall — which was good money back then.”

He said the guitar was probably worth around €10,000 or so in monetary terms but its real value was far more as far as he was concerned.

“It’s been played by some of the greats ... Rory Gallagher and David Gilmour, Declan Sinnott and others, people who came here to record in their day.

“If I had left €15,000 in cash on the table and it was stolen, I’d be kicking myself but this guitar is so much more valuable to me than the money it would cost to buy again.”

Investigation

Following a query from The Echo, gardaí have confirmed that investigations were ongoing into an “alleged burglary at a premises in Baile Mhúirne, Co Cork” that was reported to have occurred between the afternoon of May 11 and the early hours of Sunday, May 12.

People with information regarding the theft are being asked to contact Macroom Garda Station on 026 20590.