Following the fantastic news last October that Rory’s beloved Strat would be returning home to Ireland, excitement was already mounting for how Cork might mark the 30^th anniversary of his passing on 14 June 2025. Shortly after the auction, Sheena Crowley reached out to me with the seed of an idea: a festival that would keep Rory’s legacy front and centre in the city. We bounced around possibilities enthusiastically with a few others and, before long, the project had real momentum. As things evolved, the Rory Gallagher Estate and Cork City Council came on board, shaping their own vision for what would become Cork Rocks for Rory.

Back in January, I caught up with Eoin Gallagher, who shared some of the ambitious plans in motion: two full weeks of Rory-themed cultural events leading up to Joe Bonamassa’s three-night residency at the Marquee in July. There would be three exhibitions, a new permanent walking trail, the renaming of the airport road in Rory’s honour and a screening of Taste’s 1970 Isle of Wight performance, among so many other initiatives.

In tandem, Gallagher’s Pub would host its own mini music festival, as well as a photography exhibition, a Q&A with Gerry McAvoy at the Cork Opera House and a guided bus tour led by Rory’s cousin, Pat O’Mahony.

Sheena also developed a parallel Gallagher Fest, with a series of community-events, including a free concert in Fitzgerald Park featuring local musicians to guitar workshops at Cork Public Museum and a Rory-themed pub quiz at The Gables. Altogether, it sounded like Rory’s 30^th anniversary would be marked with the kind of energy and respect his legacy truly deserves.

Over the past few months, I’ve been glad to offer support behind the scenes in various ways, from preparing text for one of the exhibitions to putting together the special Rory-themed pub quiz – and many things in between! I’ve also worked closely with the Estate to develop Rory’s Wikipedia page and ensure that it reflects the depth and complexity of his life and career. This has involved expanding key sections, correcting inaccuracies and adding proper referencing, so that anyone curious about Rory finds a well-researched, balanced account of who he really was. You can check it out here.

I had planned to be in Cork for the anniversary and was very much looking forward to it. Sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances, I wasn’t able to travel in the end. But I’ve put together a little photo diary of the events below, thanks to a number of people who were there, including my good friends Sheena Crowley, Ann O’Kelly and Kicki Söderström. I hope it brings a little of the festival’s spirit to those of you who couldn’t join this year either. And since I couldn’t resist sharing my pub quiz more widely, I’ve also included it in full below for those who would like to have a go. The answers are hidden at the bottom of the page, so no peeking!

10th May 2025 – Photography Exhibition at Gallagher’s, MacCurtain Street

Even before Cork Rocks for Rory officially began, commemorations were already underway with the launch of a special photography exhibition at Gallagher’s on MacCurtain Street. Organised by Ramon Muntjewerff, the exhibition showcases striking images by three iconic Dutch photographers – Govert de Roos, Rob Verhorst and Gijsbert Hanekroo – who photographed Rory throughout the 1970s. It will run until the end of the year.

Photos: Ramon Muntjewerff

13th June 2025 – Opening Reception

On the evening of 13th June, Cork Rocks for Rory officially kicked off with an opening reception at Cork City Hall hosted by Mayor Dan Boyle.

Photos: Alison Miles /OSM PHOTO

14th June 2025 – Unveiling of Rory Gallagher Avenue

The main access road leading to Cork Airport was officially renamed ‘Rory Gallagher Avenue’. The renaming ceremony was led by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and attended by Dónal and Eoin Gallagher. It also featured a short performance by Belgian guitarist Jacques Stotzem, who performed a medley of Rory songs. Lord Mayor of Cork Dan Boyle remarked that the airport would now stand as a lasting reminder of Rory’s global impact: “Rory Gallagher will be forever remembered at the airport that launched his journey across the world — and the one that always brought him back home.”

Photos: Alison Miles /OSM PHOTO

14th June 2025 – Gallagher Fest – Fitzgerald’s Park Concert

Sheena Crowley’s Gallagher Fest concert — a free event held in Fitzgerald Park — took place from 2pm to 6pm, featuring live performances by Tres Hombres, Watermelons, Captain Kangaroo and Moonchild. The concert was live-streamed on the official Rory Gallagher YouTube channel and remains available to watch here.

Photos: Alec Good

14th June 2025 – ‘The Continental Op’: The Global Musician Exhibition, Cork Public Museum

‘The Continental Op: The Global Musician’ exhibition opened at Cork Public Museum, celebrating Rory’s remarkable career as a globetrotting musician. Alongside rare tour memorabilia and original concert posters, the exhibition features a stunning collection of Rory’s instruments and amplifiers, loaned specially to the museum. Highlights include some of Rory’s most iconic guitars, such as his Martin D-35 flat-top acoustic, National Triolian resonator and Airline ‘J.B. Hutto’ style electric guitar. The exhibition will run until December 2025.

Photos: Sheena Crowley

14th June 2025 – ‘Lyrics, Vinyl & Visuals’: Rory Gallagher, the Man and His Interests Exhibition, Cork Central Library

Cork Central Library, home to the Rory Gallagher Music Library, opened its exhibition exploring Rory’s musical influences and literary interests. The exhibition presents handwritten drafts of twelve of Rory’s song lyrics, offering a rare glimpse into the creative process behind iconic tracks such as ‘A Million Miles Away’ and ‘Shadow Play’. These song selections are also displayed in Cork City’s parks as part of Cork City Library’s Poetry in the Park initiative.

Visitors can also view a curated selection of vinyl records from Rory’s extensive personal collection, which comprised over 1,700 albums. A digital visual catalogue of the collection has also been created, allowing the public to browse the rich and varied album artwork from this unique musical archive.

The exhibition also highlights Rory’s passion for literature, particularly crime fiction. Selections from his personal book collection are displayed, alongside the artwork from his Kickback City album. These illustrations, created by DC Comics artist Timothy Truman, were inspired by Rory’s love of noir storytelling and accompanied a specially commissioned novella by bestselling author Ian Rankin. Complementing this, the library is also showcasing Prince Valiant, the long-running American newspaper comic strip illustrated by Thomas Yeates. One of the featured characters, a medieval Celtic warrior named Gallchobar, was modelled on Rory.

The exhibition will run until 24th August.

Photos: Kicki Söderström and Ann O’Kelly

14th June 2025 – ‘Rory’s Early Impact’ Exhibition, Cork City Hall

The third exhibition – ‘Rory’s Early Impact’ – opened at Cork City Hall and ran until 4 July. It traced the formative stages of Rory’s career, charting his musical journey from his earliest days in Cork with the Fontana Showband and The Impact to the formation of Taste in Belfast. It featured never-before-seen images, alongside rare and significant memorabilia, including Rory’s very first guitar and his earliest known recordings.

Photos: Kicki Söderström and Ann O’Kelly

14th June 2025 – Rory Gallagher’s Stompin’ Ground Cork City Walking Trail

14 June also saw the launch of a permanent walking trail dedicated to Rory across Cork City, celebrating the places and streets that formed his stompin’ ground. The trail begins at MacCurtain Street, where Rory grew up, and includes St Kieran’s College on Camden Quay, where he attended school. It also highlights key venues where he performed, such as the Cork Opera House, the Everyman and Cork City Hall. Visitors can access detailed information about Rory’s life and the historical background of each location through QR codes along the route. Leaflets with the same information are also available at the library, museum and tourist information centre.

Photos: Kicki Söderström and Ann O’Kelly

21st and 28th June 2025 – Gallagher Fest – Guitar Workshops at Cork Public Museum

A series of exciting guitar workshops, organised by Sheena Crowley, took place at Cork Public Museum. The programme began on 21st June with a rock and blues guitar session led by Jeremy Nagle from 11 am to 1 pm, followed by an afternoon workshop on guitar setup with Alan Comerford from 2 pm to 4 pm. The following Saturday continued the momentum with an acoustic slide guitar workshop hosted by David Hawkins from 11 am to 1 pm, and wrapped up with a soloing techniques session with Tadg Sheehan from 2 pm to 4 pm.

Photo: Sheena Crowley

23 June 2025 – Surprise Visit to Crowley’s by Joe Bonamassa

American blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, who arrived early in Cork for rehearsals ahead of his special Live at the Marquee gigs, made a surprise visit to Crowley’s and purchased a sunburst Stratocaster—reliving a piece of Rory’s own legacy.

Photos: Vivien Curran

26th June 2025 – Screening of Taste at the Isle of Wight, Triskel Arts Centre

Taste’s iconic 1970 Isle of Wight performance was screened at the Triskel Arts Centre on the evening of 26th June. The performance, directed by Academy Award winner Murray Lerner, also included rare archival material and commentary from Brian May, The Edge, Sir Bob Geldof and Larry Coryell.

Photo: John Minihan

27th and 28th June 2025 – Shinkicker Tribute Concert at Gallagher’s, MacCurtain Street

Over two nights at Gallagher’s Pub on MacCurtain Street, Shinkicker delivered a heartfelt musical tribute to Rory. Gerry McAvoy even joined them on stage for a few special numbers!

Photo: Feedback Promotions

27th and 28th June 2025 – Deuce at Fred Zeppelins

Deuce performed two electrifying nights at Fred Zeppelins on Parliament Street, delivering a powerful homage to Rory’s legendary music.

Photo: Feedback Promotions

28th June 2025 – Q&A with Gerry McAvoy at Cork City Opera House

A very special Q&A session with Gerry McAvoy took place at Cork City Opera House with The Point of Everything live podcast. Hosted by Eoghan O’Sullivan, this live recording offered a rare chance to hear McAvoy’s reflections on life on the road, the highs and lows of the music industry, and what it was really like to share the stage night after night with Rory.

Photo: Feedback Promotions

30th June 2025 – Gallagher Fest – Pub Quiz at The Gables

A special Rory-themed pub quiz took place at The Gables, hosted by the ever-entertaining Stan Notte. Teams went head-to-head across eight challenging rounds of Rory trivia, testing their knowledge of everything from rare recordings to legendary live performances. After a tightly contested evening, victory belonged to the brilliant team of Eoin Jordan, David O’Donovan, Tadg Sheehan and Donncha O’Cuill. Well played! If you weren’t able to attend, keep scrolling to try the full quiz I developed for you to enjoy yourself!

Photo: Vivien Curran

1, 2 and 3 July 2025 – Bus Tour with Rory’s Cousin Pat O’Mahony

A special Rory Gallagher Heritage Bus Tour to Cobh, led by Rory’s cousin Pat O’Mahony, ran over three days, taking participants on a guided journey exploring Rory’s family roots and personal history. The tour concluded with a shuttle to Joe Bonamassa’s Live at the Marquee concerts.

Photos: Feedback Promotions/Kicki Söderström

1st, 2nd and 3rd July 2025 – Joe Bonamassa Live at the Marquee

Cork Rocks for Rory concluded spectacularly with three consecutive nights of live performances by Joe Bonamassa at the Marquee in a special tribute to Rory. The shows centred around Rory’s iconic Irish Tour ’74 album. Highlights included a stirring rendition of ‘As the Crow Flies’, performed by Bonamassa on Rory’s own National guitar generously loaned by the Cork Public Museum, and a guest appearance from Gerry McAvoy, who added a special touch on the classic ‘Bullfrog Blues.’ The concerts were positively reviewed across the music press, with special praise for Bonamassa’s “thumping band,” featuring Jeremy Stacey, Aongus Ralston, Lachy Doley and Conor O’Farrell Brady. Reflecting on the event, Dónal called it “a bittersweet night,” but was delighted that “Rory is still selling tickets all these years later.”

Photos: Hot Press

Lauren’s Rory-themed pub quiz

Test your knowledge of Rory’s music, life and legacy with this special pub quiz! Grab a pen, gather your friends and see how well you know Rory!

Round 1: Picture Round

For each photo below, name the famous musician Rory is pictured with                  
[1 point per correct answer, max. 8]

Round 2: Rory 101

1 point per correct answer
[Maximum points in round: 8]

1. In which Irish town in County Donegal was Rory born in 1948?

2. Which showband did Rory join at the age of 15?

3. What was the name of the iconic venue in Belfast where Taste got their first break with a residency in 1967?

4. On which record label did Rory release his solo work between 1975 and 1982?

5. Rory played on the 1972 London sessions of which legendary blues artist?

6. In 1977, Rory famously scrapped an album on the day it was due to be presented to his record company. In which city was it recorded?

7. In what year did Rory top the Melody Maker Guitarist of the Year readers’ poll?

8. Which band invited Rory to jam with them in Rotterdam in 1975 while searching for a new guitarist?

Round 3: Rory on Tour

1 point per correct answer
[Maximum points in round: 8]

1. At which iconic Los Angeles venue did Rory have a five-night residency with Little Feat in 1972?

2. In which English city was the majority of Live! in Europe recorded?

3. With which famous musician did Rory jam during his 1990 Rockpalast performance?

4. In which Cork venue did Rory play his final Irish concert on 18 November 1993?

5. How many times did Rory play the Montreux Jazz Festival throughout his career?

6, In what year did Rory deliver a guitar masterclass for young musicians at the Guinness Hopstore in Dublin?

7. In 1984, Rory took part in a short ‘Guitarists’ Night’ tour, playing dates in Guildford, Cambridge and London. Name one of the other three guitarists on the bill?

8. A 1981 Rory concert in which European capital ended in a riot after police clashed with spectators inside the packed venue?

Round 4: General Knowledge

1 point per correct answer. All answers have a connection related to Rory. Get this for a bonus 5 points
[Maximum points in round: 13]

1. What tiny bird, known for its ability to hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping its wings, is the only bird that can fly backwards?

2. What nickname is commonly used to refer to the US state of Texas?

3. Which small citrus fruit, similar to a mandarin orange, shares its name with a coastal Moroccan city from which it was originally exported?

4. Which famous London hotel, opened in 1889, was the first in Britain to be lit entirely by electricity?

5. In which Disney animated film from 1992 does the main character use a genie’s magic to win the heart of a princess?

6. What was the name of the ship that transported the Pilgrims from England to the New World in 1620?

7. What was the name of the central public space in ancient Greek city-states that served as a marketplace and gathering area for political and social activity?

8. Which major American film studio, founded in 1912, features a logo with a mountain surrounded by stars?

Round 5: Riding Shotgun

1 point per correct answer
[Maximum points in round: 8]

1. After the break-up of Taste in 1970, Rory went solo and assembled a new band with bassist Gerry McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell. Which band had they played in before joining him?

2. From 1984 onwards, harmonicist Mark Feltham regularly performed with Rory. At which European festival did he make his debut?

3. What is the name of the accordionist who guested on 1990’s ‘King of Zydeco’?

4. Which two Belfast musicians replaced Eric Kitteringham and Norman Damery in Taste?

5. Name one of the three saxophone players who performed with Rory in the early 1980s.

6. Who guested as keyboardist on the 1982 album Jinx?

7. In which year did Ted McKenna replace Rod De’Ath on drums?

8. Who replaced Gerry McAvoy as bassist in 1992 after over 20 years with Rory?

Round 6: All About the Strat

1 point per correct answer
[Maximum points in round: 8]

1. From which iconic Cork shop did Rory buy his Fender Stratocaster in 1963?

2. Who was the Strat’s previous owner?

3. The Strat was stolen in 1967 and later recovered after being featured on which television programme?

4. Who famously asked Rory how he got his distinctive sound after seeing him play at the Marquee Club in London?

5. What two pieces of equipment combined with Rory’s Strat helped create his distinctive sound?

6. What is the Strat’s serial number?

7. In 2011, Dónal brought the Strat out of retirement to be played by whom at the Royal Albert Hall?

8. Who purchased the Strat when it was sold at auction in October 2024?

Round 7: Name That Rory Tune!

1 point for each correctly named song. 1 bonus point for each correctly named album the song appears on
[Maximum points in round: 16]

1. “I’m only living for the hour that I see your face”

2. “My cat don’t scratch or show its claws, it just prowls round the house all day”

3. “In this place there is no law, the river makes all the rules”

4. “Yeah, he’s a death cheater, some kind of central heater”

5. “Stay bright for one day, you might run into this patch of grey cloud too”

6. “The picture on the poster raised an eyebrow or two”

7. “Face looked like marble, my blood burned just like toast”

8. “You used to fly and chase the wind, I don’t know you lately”

Round 8: General Knowledge

1 point per correct answer. All answers have a connection related to Rory. Get this for a bonus 5 points
[Maximum points in round: 13]

1. Which British music magazine, established in 1926, was a key publication for rock and pop music coverage until its merger with NME in 2000?

2. What is the name of the iconic American sports car first introduced by Chevrolet in 1953?

3. Which author created the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, adapted into the TV show Game of Thrones?

4. What is the name of the largest land mammal in North America?

5. Which Belgian beer, first brewed in Leuven in 1926, shares its name with the Latin word for “star”?

6. What marine organism builds reefs in tropical oceans and shares its name with a shade of pink-orange?

7. Which popular 1970s and 80s American TV drama centred around the wealthy Ewing family?

8. What term describes a type of battleship introduced by the British Royal Navy in 1906 that revolutionised naval warfare?

Bonus Round

1 point per correct answer
[Maximum points in round: 8]

1. Which member of Deep Purple produced Rory’s 1976 album Calling Card?

2. In 1986, Rory set up his own record label. What was it called?

3. For which 1981 Scottish crime film did Rory and Frankie Miller create the soundtrack?

4. Which instrument did Rory teach himself to play in the cupboard of his London bedsit to avoid disturbing other residents?

5. . At which London club, run by Terry Murphy, did Gerry McAvoy occasionally play when off the road, taking part in their famous Sunday afternoon jam sessions?

6. In which London hotel did Rory live during the final years of his life?

7. Rory turned down the role of which character in the 1991 Irish movie The Commitments?

8. With which supergroup did Taste tour the US in 1969?

And in case of a tiebreaker, these final tiebreak questions were prepared!

1. Which song on 1987’s Defender album is a tribute to author Dashiell Hammett?

2. Rory’s final ever concert in 1995 was cut short due to illness. In which Dutch city did this occur?

3. After the break-up of Taste, which famous manager helped Rory negotiate his solo deal with Polydor?

4. With which iconic Irish band did Rory record ‘Barley and Grape Rag’ in 1992?

5. Rory’s last TV appearance was on which Northern Irish show in 1994?

6. Which song on Taste’s debut album did Rory record in homage to his uncle Jimmy, whose favourite song it was?

7. What was the name of the scrapped album recorded in the mid-1980s between Jinx and Defender?

8. Complete this lyric from ‘Last of the Independents’: “the moon was laughing at me like it did not have a care…”

ANSWERS:

Round 1:
1. Phil Lynott
2. Slash
3. Christy Moore
4. Debbie Harry
5. Jerry Lee Lewis
6. Bono
7. Ronnie Drew
8. Pat Benatar

Round 2:
1. Ballyshannon
2. The Fontana Showband (later renamed The Impact)
3. Maritime Hotel (accept also: Club Rado)
4. Chrysalis
5. Muddy Waters
6. San Francisco
7. 1972
8. The Rolling Stones

Round 3:
1. Whisky-a-Go-Go
2. Luton
3. Jack Bruce
4. Regional Technical College (Accept also: Cork Institute of Technology)
5. Six (1970, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1985, 1994)
6. 1992
7. David Lindley, Richard Thompson and Juan Martín
8. Athens

Round 4:
1. Hummingbird (Hummingbird Club, Birmingham)
2. Lone Star (Lone Star Café, New York)
3. Tangerine (Tangerine Studios, London)
4. Savoy (Savoy Cinema, Cork)
5. Aladdin (Aladdin Music Hall, Bremen)
6. Mayflower (Mayflower Club, Southampton)
7. Agora (Agora Ballroom, Cleveland)
8. Paramount (Paramount Theatre, Portland)

CONNECTION: All venues or studios where Rory has performed

Round 5:
1. Deep Joy
2. Pistoia Blues Festival
3. Geraint Watkins
4. John Wilson and Richard ‘Charlie’ McCracken
5. Ray Beavis, Dick Parry, Howie Casey
6. Bob Andrews
7. 1978
8. David Levy

Round 6:
1. Crowley’s
2. Jim Conlon of the Royal Showband
3. Garda Patrol
4. Brian May
5. Vox AC30 amplifier and Dallas Rangemaster treble booster
6. 64351
7. Joe Bonamassa
8. Live Nation Gaiety Ltd (accept also: Denis Desmond)

Round 7:
1. I Fall Apart (Rory Gallagher)
2. Off the Handle (Top Priority)
3. Daughter of the Everglades (Blueprint)
4. Tattoo’d Lady (Tattoo)
5. Don’t Know Where I’m Going (Deuce)
6. Brute Force and Ignorance (Photo-Finish)
7. Ghost Blues (Fresh Evidence)
8. Easy Come Easy Go (Jinx)

Round 8:
1. Melody Maker (Gibson Melody Maker)
2. Corvette (Gretsch Corvette)
3. George R.R. Martin (Martin D-35)
4. Bison (Burns Bison)
5. Stella Artois (Stella Harmony)
6. Coral (Coral 3S19)
7. Dallas (Dallas Rangemaster)
8. Dreadnought (Takamine Dreadnought)

CONNECTION: All instruments or equipment owned by Rory

Bonus Round:
1. Roger Glover
2. Capo Records
3. A Sense of Freedom
4. Saxophone
5. Bridge House
6. Conrad Hotel
7. Joey ‘The Lips’ Fagan
8. Blind Faith

Tiebreaker Questions:
1. Continental Op
2. Rotterdam
3. Peter Grant
4. The Dubliners
5. Rock ‘n the North
6. Hank Snow’s ‘I’m Moving On’
7. Torch
8. I just smiled right back and said, ‘You ain’t going anywhere!’

How did you get on? Let me know below!