Cork will rock like never before for Rory Gallagher's 30th anniversary
15/05/2025
From June 14 this year, the 30th anniversary of Rory’s untimely passing, the Rory Gallagher estate, in collaboration with Cork City Council and Cork City Libraries are putting on a massive citywide tribute to the guitar legend, ‘Cork Rocks for Rory’.
Simultaneous photographic and original memorabilia exhibitions at Cork City Hall, Central Library and Public Museum will coincide with a city-wide walking trail commemorating the life and legacy of the blues and rock icon.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle said: “Rory Gallagher has been Cork's finest cultural export across the world. As we mark the 30th anniversary of his passing we must celebrate his genius. As ‘Cork Rocks for Rory’ let us let him go to his hometown once again for the first of many occasions into the future”.
Rory’s nephew, Eoin Gallagher said: “The Gallagher family are honoured and proud to endorse this initiative led by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle and Cork City Council celebrating Rory Gallagher in his hometown. The popularity and interest in Rory’s music and life has only continued to grow and grow here in Ireland and throughout the world.
We are delighted to support these simultaneous exhibitions and the establishment of the permanent ‘Rory Gallagher’s ‘Stompin’ Ground’ Cork City Walking Trail.
It will help in providing visitors to Cork, many who are Rory Gallagher fans, with information of many of the places when and where Rory Gallagher lived, learnt and performed in Cork City. The Rory Gallagher estate is committed to continue to share the magic of Rory Gallagher's music and look forward to building together with the Cork City Council and future partners in continuing to honour Rory’s legacy and Cork roots”.
Cork City Librarian, David O'Brien said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to honour the incredible legacy of Rory and especially pleasing for us given the City Library's music library is named after him. Now that link will grow ever stronger”.
- Rory Gallagher’s first guitar and first recordings will be on display at a photographic exhibition which will include never-before-seen images of Rory.
- In addition to a display of some of Rory Gallagher’s handwritten lyrics, explore Rory’s musical and literary influences with selections from his personal Vinyl & book collections, as well as graphic novel work by DC Comic Artists incorporating Rory Gallagher at Cork City’s Central Library.
- Rory Gallagher tour memorabilia, instruments and amps loaned to the Cork Public Museum including some of Rory's main guitars used during his career on record and on stage.
‘Rory’s Early Impact’ - Rory Gallagher's Early Years in Cork up to Taste MK2
Photographic exhibition:
This exhibition, which will include never seen photos, will bring together images of Rory Gallagher's early years marking the progression of his music career in Cork to establishing his Taste act in Belfast. Beginning with his first inklings to play guitar, his time of music apprenticeship in the Fontana Showband & The Impact, it will visually showcase his group Taste up to 1970. In addition, unique memorabilia will also be on display such as Rory Gallagher’s first guitar & first recordings.
- Atrium at Cork City Council’s New Civic Offices.
- Opening Reception- Evening of Friday 13th of June
- Opens to public- Saturday June 14 - Friday July 4
‘The Continental Op’ - The Global Musician
This exhibition documents Rory’s work as a musician who travelled the world.
As well as unique Rory Gallagher tour memorabilia & concert posters, the instruments and amps loaned to the museum include some of Rory's main guitars; his Martin D-35 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, the National Triolian Resonator Guitar & Airline 'J.B. Hutto' Style Electric Guitar.
- Cork Public Museum
- June 14 - December 2025
Lyrics, Vinyl & Visuals’ - Rory Gallagher; the man and his interests
The home of the Rory Gallagher Music Library, Cork City Libraries’ Central Library, will host a closer look at Rory’s writings, influences and samples of the music that influenced him.
- A selection of 12 songs of Rory’s handwritten lyrics will be on show, documenting some of the drafts that developed some of his famous songs including ‘A Million Miles Away’ and ‘Shadowplay’. These song selections will also be displayed in Cork City’s parks as part of the Cork City Library’s ‘Poetry in the Park’ initiative.
- Parks: Fitzgerald’s Park, Tramore Valley Park, Blarney Sanctuary Walkway, Ballincollig Regional Park, Gerry O’Sullivan Park, the Marina Park
- Also, at the ‘Lyrics, Vinyl & Visuals’ exhibition will be a selection of vinyl records from Rory Gallagher's personal collection including albums by Buddy Holly, Ornette Coleman & Muddy Waters for example. Rory had amassed over 1700 albums. A digital visual catalogue of this collection is also being created so the public can view the many wonderful album covers from this unique library of music.
- Cork City’s Central Library will also host a display of some of Rory Gallagher’s book collection and his love of crime fiction. To compliment this, the artwork from the ‘Kickback City’ Rory Gallagher album will be shown. These illustrations by the DC Comics graphic artist, Timothy Truman drew on his love of crime stories and this appeared in tandem to an exclusive novella written by the author Ian Rankin.
- A complimentary graphic novel work, Hal Foster’s ‘Prince Valiant’ will also be on show at the library. Prince Valiant is a long running US Sunday newspaper comic strip. Drawn by Thomas Yeates, it illustrates a medieval Celtic Warrior ‘Gallchobar’ that was based on Rory and his unmistakable likeness. The comic strip has appeared once a week since 1937.
- Cork City Library
- Opens to public: 14th of June- 24th of August 2025
Rory Gallagher’s ‘Stompin’ Ground’ Cork City Walking Trail
A permanent legacy highlighting the places and streets that were Rory’s stompin’ ground, the public will be able to discover Rory’s life in Cork and the city’s fascinating history. From MacCurtain Street where Rory Gallagher grew up and St Kieran’s College on Camden Quay where he went to school, the walking trail will include the sights of venues where he performed including the Cork Opera House, the Everyman and Cork City Hall. The trail will contain text and imagery about Rory’s life plus background history of these locations that can be accessed via QR code.
- Cork city centre & beyond
- Active via QR code: June 14 onwards
Evening Screening @ Triskel Arts Centre, Tobin Street
Taste at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970- Concert Film & inc. short taste documentary-
Academy Award winning Director, Murray Lerner explores Ireland's seminal rock band 'Taste' with unseen footage from the trio's now legendary performance at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970.
An introductory film featuring rare archive material, personal accounts and contributions from Brian May, The Edge, Sir Bob Geldof and Larry Coryell takes us on a journey from Rory Gallagher's musical beginnings through to the band's implosion just before they hit the stage in front of several thousand people. Taste and enjoy as Rory Gallagher on guitar, John Wilson on drums and Richard McCracken on bass unleash one of the festival's finest performances.
Triskel Arts Centre, Tobin Street on Thursday the 26th of June @ 7pm
Gallagher's Music Festival, Gallagher's Bar, Mac Curtain Street.
- Friday 27th & Saturday 28th of June
- Shinkicker Tribute Band Concerts at Gallaghers, MacCurtain Street 27 & 28.6.25
- New exhibition of Govert De Roos Rory Gallagher photography at Gallagher's from 10.5.25
- Q&A with Gerry McAvoy sponsored by Murphy's, Cork City Opera House-28.6.25
- Walking & Bus Rory Gallagher tour 1,2,3rd of July
Deuce
Rory Gallagher Tribute band, Fred Zeppelins, Parliament St - 27 & 28.6.25
Aiken Promotions presents ‘Rory Gallagher Celebration, Joe Bonamassa Live at the Marquee
Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd & Thursday 3rd of July
An influx of international visitors will be coming to Cork for what will be x3 sell out concerts at the Marquee for a special Rory Gallagher concert by the American Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa: