Rory Gallagher’s Fender Stratocaster bought at auction for €1 million to be donated to Irish State

LAST UPDATE | 15 hrs ago

A GUITAR THAT belonged to legendary blues guitarist Rory Gallagher has sold for a whopping £889,400, or €1,068,956 in London.

The guitar, a 1961 Fender Stratocaster, was originally bought by Gallagher in Cork in 1963 for £100 on credit from the owner of Crowley’s Music Store .

A number of other guitars, amps and musical accessories from his collection sold for £2.3 million combined.

Gallagher was born in Donegal but raised in Cork and was a multi-instrumentalist musician and songwriter who inspired countless musicians in Ireland and across the world.

During a career spanning 30 years, he played both as a solo artist and with his band Taste, and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

Gallagher died unexpectedly in 1995 following complications from a liver transplant.

While people can bid online for most items in the collection, this was not allowed in the case of the famous Fender Stratocaster.

The guitar has been purchased by Live Nation Gaiety Ltd with a view to donation to the National Museum of Ireland under Section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidation Act,1997.

This follows discussions between the Department of Arts and Culture, the National Museum of Ireland and the purchaser before today’s auction.

The purchase agreement ensures the famous Strat will now be preserved in the ownership of the State, and made available to view for the public and Gallagher’s fans.

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The Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum acquired several of the other significant pieces from his collection, including a 1959 Gretsch Chet Atkins PX6121 electric guitar, which Gallagher used on his 1990 album Fresh Evidence for the tracks “Middle Name” and “King Zydeco”.

The Fender was stolen in 1966 but after Gallagher appealed to local TV show ‘Garda Patrol’ for help, it was discovered a few days later in a ditch.

Once reunited with his guitar, it rarely left Gallagher’s side and became his “lucky charm”.

“It’s kind of a lucky charm; the guitar is a part of me,” Gallagher told The Guitar Magazine.

Over the summer, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he would explore ways in which the State might purchase the famous guitar before it went to auction.

Today, Arts and Culture Minister Catherine Martin said she was delighted that the State had acquired the piece of music history.

“The generous donation to the museum will not only allow the famous instrument to be protected for future generations and musicians, but will also attract visitors from far and wide.”

Dónal Gallagher, Rory’s brother and former manager, said “it’s time for other people to cherish Rory’s ‘orphaned’ 1961 Fender Stratocaster and the rest of his incredible instrument collection”.

“So, in what is one of the most difficult and sensitive decisions to reach, I have decided to release of his instruments for sale, so that these emblems of his legacy can be enjoyed by others,” added Dónal.

Money raised from the auction will go towards mental health charity Mind, as well as The Music Venue Trust, a charity which acts to protect, secure and improve grassroots music venues.

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