Site of Crowley's Music Centre, Merchant's Quay

Located to the river side along the riverside towards the side entrance to the Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre was the original Crowley's Music Shop where Rory Gallagher bought his Fender Stratocaster for 100 pounds in 1963.

The name and business of the Crowley’s Music centre has remained in Cork with shops on MacCurtain Street and now Friar Street this present day.

The foundation of the Crowley's music instrument business began in 1926 with Pipe Major Tadhg Crowley making bagpipes and uilleann pipes.

In 1932 he opened a music shop on Merchants Quay selling his instruments to pipe and marching bands all over the country.

He famously restored a set of uilleann pipes for Henry Ford which are on display in the Ford Museum in Michigan, USA.

He passed away in 1955 and his only son Michael took over the business at the age of 14 in the 1950’s.

Michael Crowley brought the business through the disco and rock era and was renowned for his ability to fix any instrument and also for the time he gave his customers. 

This was something Rory Gallagher recognised and became a constant visitor to Crowley’s for Michael’s invaluable help, instrument loans & purchases and invaluable advice.

The main instrument that Rory played throughout his career was a sunburst 1961 Fender Stratocaster (Serial Number 64351).

This particular Strat was reputedly the first in Ireland and was originally owned by Jim Conlon, lead guitarist in the Irish Royal Showband.

Jim Conlon traded it in after ordering a red coloured model of the guitar & receiving the Sunburst finish in error. Rory Gallagher then bought the Sunburst second-hand from Crowley's Music Shop in August 1963 for £100.

 Speaking about Gallagher's purchase, his brother Dónal recalled: "His dream ambition was to have a guitar like Buddy Holly. This Stratocaster was in the store as a used instrument; it was 100 pounds. In today's money you couldn't even compare; you might as well say it was a million pounds.

My mother was saying we'll be in debt for the rest of our lives and Rory said, 'Well, actually with a guitar like this I can play both parts, rhythm and lead, we won't need a rhythm player so I can earn more money and pay it off.' So, the Stratocaster became his partner for life if you like."

Virtually all of the finish on Gallagher's Stratocaster was stripped away over time, and, while he took care to keep the guitar in playable condition, Gallagher never had it restored, stating "the less paint or varnish on a guitar, acoustic or electric, the better. The wood breathes more. But it’s all psychological. I just like the sound of it".

The guitar was extensively modified by Gallagher. The tuning pegs and the nut were replaced; the latter changed a number of times. The pickguard was also changed during Gallagher's time with Taste. Only the middle pick-up is original. The final modification was the wiring – Gallagher disconnected the bottom tone pot and rewired it so he had just a master tone control along with the master volume control. He installed a five-way selector switch in place of the vintage three-way type.

Speaking of the Stratocaster in a 1993 interview, Gallagher said, "This is the best, it's my life, this is my best friend. It's almost like knowing its weak spots are strong spots. I don't like to get sentimental about these things, but when you spend 30 years of your life with the same instrument, it's like a walking memory bank of your life there in your arms.”

 Rory Gallagher visiting the Crowley's Music Store

For more: Crowley's Music Centre

Thank You to the Merchants Quay Shopping Centre