In this third and final part of my interview with Eamonn McCormack, we discuss Rory’s legacy and the profound impact he’s had on musicians and fans alike.

Do you think if Rory had taken a more traditional approach towards labels, he could have achieved global superstardom and recognition like Page or Clapton?

I believe the simple answer to that is yes! But at the end of the day, that was not what he wanted. Remember Clapton said, it was Rory that brought him back to the blues. This was after a period where Clapton did go very bubble gummy popish.

What would you say was the lasting impact of Rory Gallagher on you personally?

Well, first up, I chose to be a blues-rock musician because of Rory. He was my favourite and biggest influence from the time I was around eleven and had been playing the acoustic guitar for a few years. They say never meet your heroes cause you might be disappointed and, of course, this was not the case with Rory. He was a true gentleman. As honest a person and artist you could ever come across. Although he was rather shy and reserved at the best of times, he was wild on stage, where I believe he lived in the so-called ‘zone’ for the full length of his show. Most artists that are lucky enough to even reach and experience that zone are just thrilled to hit it on stage for 10 mins throughout a full concert. Rory had no ego, but by the same token, he had a quiet confidence and he certainly knew he was damn good at his job. I learned so much from him over the years and sometimes it would be just a sentence he would say to me on the phone.

What was the most significant thing you learnt from Rory?

Honesty, being true to your self, and always play from the heart or don’t bother playing at all. He understood guitar wise that technique is important but bad technique with buckets of emotion will move people much more then the other way around. So, balance the two. He found too many people got bogged down with technical talk about scales and modes, instead of just playing what they feel. Just let it flow. Play solos to further enhance the story of the song and not just to show off speed with flashy guitar licks. That was the main thing I learned.

It’s now almost 30 years since Rory passed. What do you think he would make of Ireland today, which is so different from the Ireland he grew up in?

Wow, it sure has changed. I think he would be surprised to see the diversity in Cork, and how cosmopolitan it has become, but I think he would enjoy it. Rory hadn’t a single racist bone in his body. Had things panned out different and he was still with us and semi-retired back living in Cork now, I believe he would have enjoyed jamming with different ethnic musicians from all over the world.

What do you think Rory would have hoped for in terms of how his legacy is remembered by fans and musicians?

I believe he would be very satisfied with his profile and status today and how the internet has brought him so many new and often young fans all over the world. I also think the fans and social media sites and pages keeping his memory alive are amazing and also all the festivals and tribute acts as well and the wonderful job Dónal and his two sons are doing. There is also a lovely closeness and community feel among all the die-hard fans, which is a beautiful thing. I have a theory that people who love Rory and his music, I always find are genuine, honest people and I feel that dishonest, selfish, evil people would not be able to enjoy the emotion and honesty in Rory’s music. It would make them feel uncomfortable.

If Rory was still around and had the opportunity to collaborate with any contemporary artists today, who do you think he would have enjoyed working with, and why?

I believe he would have done something with Bob Dylan and Buddy Guy and maybe Billy Gibbons. I figure he would enjoy the slide playing of Derek Trucks and he would get a great kick out of the authenticity and talent of the young Donegal artist Muireann Bradley in Ireland.

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My huge thanks to Eamonn for such a spectacular three-part interview. I am so grateful for the time he took out of his busy schedule to answer all your questions with such depth and thoughtfulness. To keep up to date with the latest news and projects from Eamonn, be sure to visit his website.