Cork music shop owner '99% positive' Rory Gallagher's guitar can be brought home

The organiser of a fundraising concert to try to bring Rory Gallagher’s guitar back to Cork has said she is “99% positive” that the 1961 Fender Strat can be brought home.

In 1963, a 15-year-old Rory persuaded his mother to buy for £100 from Michael Crowley the guitar that would later shape his career.

Six decades on, with the late rock legend’s guitar up for auction, Michael’s daughter Sheena, proprietor of Crowley’s Music Centre on Friar Street, has launched a GoFundMe campaign entitled ‘Help Bring Rory Gallagher’s Strat Back to his Home Town’.

Ms Crowley’s hope is to raise enough money to buy the guitar – expected to sell for as much as £1 million (€1.18m) - and bring it permanently home to Leeside.

Two months into the fundraiser, Ms Crowley already raised over €37,000 and she has organised a concert night in Rory’s honour in Cork City Hall on Sunday evening.

Rory Gallagher, who was arguably Ireland’s first rock star, was born in Ballyshannon in 1948, and he moved to Cork with his mother Monica and his younger brother Donal in 1956.

Rory passed away in 1995 at the age of 47, three decades into a career that saw release 14 solo albums and become one of the world’s most influential musicians.

Ms Crowley was in Cork Airport on Friday afternoon to welcome Rory’s former bass player, Gerry McAvoy, who had flown in from France to be part of Sunday evening’s concert.

“I’m really excited, I’m on a high, because I think this is going to be a very special gig,” Ms Crowley told The Echo.

“I’m 99% positive that we will achieve our goal and bring Rory’s guitar back to Cork, because I really believe someone is going to step in. I really believe the concert is going to move positive energy and make things happen.”

She added that a number of acts will cover a range of tracks from across Rory’s albums on the night, all of them playing for free.

“It’ll be a fantastic night, and we are urging people not to miss out on this opportunity to pay tribute to one of Ireland’s greatest musical talents,” Ms Crowley said.

Rory Gallagher Night is at 7pm on Sunday, September 15, in Cork City Hall, with doors opening at 6pm.

Some tickets, which are €25, are still available at Crowley’s Music Centre. Email sheenacrowley@yahoo.co.uk.