“It’s an important item culturally”: The Irish government “exploring possibilities” to purchase Rory Gallagher’s Stratocaster
The Irish government is considering purchasing Rory Gallagher‘s iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster before it is set to go up for auction later this year.
It was announced that the guitar would head to auction last week and will be sold via Bonhams in London on 17 October as part of “The Rory Gallagher Collection”. Other Gallagher-owned gear, including more guitars, amps and accessories, will also be sold. The Strat is the highlight of the collection, and is expected to sell for between £700,000 and £1,000,000.
READ MORE: Guitar Legends: Rory Gallagher – the self-styled ‘working guitarist’ who was touched by genius
Now, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said he is looking into the possibility of the state buying the guitar from Gallagher’s estate. He had previously hosted a civic reception for Gallagher at Cork City Hall when he was lord mayor of Cork in 1992/93, which he says he has “very fond memories” of.
“[Gallagher] played in the Everyman Theatre and his brother Donal was there on the night and I asked Donal, ‘Would Rory mind being honoured tomorrow?’” he tells the Irish Times. “Donal said he was extremely shy and that he shied away from all these kind of public events, but he did come in and we had a small group of about 40 people and I have very fond memories of that day in Cork City Hall,” Mr Martin said.
“I would love if we could [intervene to buy the guitar] – obviously, I will talk to [Minister for Arts and Culture] Catherine Martin and see what’s possible but it would be lovely if we could get that guitar back on Leeside.”
Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle, who saw Gallagher play Cork City Hall several times in the early 1980s, echoed calls on the Government to buy the guitar.
“Rory Gallagher’s guitar is a very distinctive and is probably one of the most recognisable guitars in rock history because of the fact that the varnish wore off because apparently Rory’s sweat was very acidic, and it just stripped off the varnish over time,” he tells the outlet. “But Rory was one of the first to put Irish rock on the international stage so it’s an important item culturally, and I think it’s important that it should be kept in the State so that’s why I’ve made contact with Government departments and State agencies this morning,” Mr Boyle said.
The news follows the launching of a crowdfunder by Sheena Crowley, the daughter of the man who first sold the guitar to Gallagher for £100 in 1963. She is hoping to raise enough money to buy the Strat and bring it back to Cork, Ireland.
At the time of writing, €19,170 has been raised of Crowley’s €1,000,000 target. On her GoFundMe page she states, “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 Dónal has presented us with a fantastic opportunity by making the Strat and Rory’s instrument collection available to us.”
Crowley says the overall aim of bringing the guitar to Cork is to set up a music museum “incorporating traditional and modern music, showcasing the marching bands, Céilí bands, showbands, rock bands, punk bands and so on”.
For more information on the collection of gear heading to auction, visit Bonhams.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
