Long Valley Bar, Winthrop Street

The Long Valley Bar on Winthrop Street is a Cork institution and was well known since its establishment in 1842. The building was originally used as a stable for horses belonging to the General Post Office located across the way in Georges Street, now Oliver Plunkett Street. 

It quickly became a favourite drinking spot for soldiers operating in the city. One of its owners Humphrey Moynahan wore his customary white apron, and often played

German military marching music whilst serving its famous doorstep sandwiches, accompanied by a pint of Murphy’s. The bar was bought by the present owners back in 1927, in the care of the Moynihan family to this day.

The relevance of the Long Valley Bar to Rory Gallagher is a simple one.

Upon returning to Ireland, Rory jammed with the local Cork band, The Axills. The bassist Eric Kitteringham and drummer Norman Damery offered Rory the position of guitarist after impressing the band.

Having completed a musical apprenticeship in the showbands and influenced by the increasing popularity of beat groups, Rory decided it was time to form his own band instead and asked Kitteringham and Damery to join.

It was at the Long Valley Bar in the summer of 1966 that Norman Damery, Eric Kitteringham and Rory met for a drink to discuss their new band. Seeing a Beamish beermat they stumbled across the tagline saying, ‘superior taste’ and from that they derived what they were going to name the band! which was later renamed simply Taste, a blues rock and R&B power trio.

Taste made their debut on 10 September 1966 at a school dance held at the Imperial Hotel on Grand Parade in Cork. While Taste performed many covers, they also began developing original material, including an early version of ‘Blister on the Moon’.

Taste’s fanbase quickly grew with the local youth of Cork. Looking to expand their reach further & to play in Belfast’s exciting blues scene, Taste performed at the city’s Sammy Houston’s Jazz Club on Great Victoria Street in December 1966. Their performance caught attention and the visiting group from Cork were offered a residency at the city’s Club Rado in the Maritime Hotel, as well as a management deal.

During their residency at the Maritime Hotel, Taste opened for acts like Cream, Fleetwood Mac and Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds.

This helped secure gigs for Taste at London’s Marquee Club. The band’s raw sound made an immediate impression on critics and spectators, leading to a residency offer at the Marquee and a move to London in the summer of 1968.

Polydor records began showing interest in signing Taste, but the management of the band claimed the label was unhappy with the current rhythm section.

Despite initial resistance from Rory, a change was made amicably. Eric and Norman graciously helped their friend in the next step in his progression, saying goodbye in Belfast for one last photo outside Club Rado.

In August 1968, the new line-up of Taste saw Eric and Norman replaced by bassist Richard McCracken and drummer John Wilson, both experienced musicians from Belfast.

They signed with Polydor records and relocated to Earl’s Court in London. While living there, Gallagher bought a saxophone and taught himself how to play, practicing in the cupboard of his rented accommodation to avoid disturbing the other residents!

Taste soon quickly built a reputation as a live band performing in places such as the legendary Star Club in Hamburg, Germany where the Beatles honed their craft.

As their fanbase grew Taste Mark 2 went on to break the Marquee Club’s all-time box office record at the time, previously held by Jimi Hendrix. The band recorded two albums in this period, the eponymous Taste and On the Boards.

These well received records, along with their live reputation led to many of Rory’s music peers keen on the group. These included Brian May of Smile, later to become Queen.

After a performance at the Marquee Club, May went backstage and asked Gallagher, “How do you get your sound?”

John Lennon, also told a New Musical Express writer, “I heard Taste for the first time the other day and that bloke is going places.”

It was at Eric Clapton’s request that Taste supported Cream at their farewell concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and later toured with Eric’s supergroup, Blind Faith, Rory’s first adventure across America.

Their burgeoning reputation led the 3-piece band to the Isle of Wight Festival before a crowd of 600,000 people. Playing on the opening Friday, Taste delivered a strong performance returning for multiple encores.

However, behind the scenes, tensions were escalating due to creative differences and management issues. Gallagher had intended to disband Taste after the Isle of Wight Festival, feeling that the band had “just came to the end of our natural life”.

Polydor however, had already scheduled several festival dates and a major European tour, so contractual obligations required them to continue. Just three days later, the band performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, marking the beginning of Gallagher’s long relationship with the festival.

Taste’s final concert took place at Queen’s University in Belfast on 24 October 1970. Following the breakup, Rory Gallagher never performed a Taste song on stage again but the Cork man still went on to achieve further acclaim as a solo artist in the decades ahead.

For more information on  The Long Valley Bar