Rory Gallagher Theatre
Rory Gallagher (born 2nd March 1948)
was an internationally acclaimed musician and blues guitarist.
Raised in Cork he got his first guitar at the age of 9 and was self taught. At 15 he joined the Fontana (a professional 'showband') while still at school. Within two years he became a full time musician. At a time when only small numbers of people in Ireland were beginning to discover blues music, Gallagher went abroad and quickly gained an international reputation as a major blues artist.
He formed Taste in 1967 and then in 1971 he began a solo career which would see him hailed in both Europe and America as one of the great guitarists of his time. He released numerous albums to critical acclaim and commercial success and was invited to record with many of his own heroes, including Muddy Waters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lonnie Donegan, Chris Barber and Albert King.
Admired by fellow musicians for his virtuosity and musical integrity he was revered by audiences for his unparalleled prowess as a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.
Modest and unassuming in person, his incendiary live performances became the stuff of legend in every country where he performed. Although one of the most widely toured artists in the world he never failed to return home to play in Ireland.
He played his final Irish concert in the Cork Institute of Technology (in honour of his late uncle, Principal James Roche, who was an early musical influence) headlining the first ArtsFest on 18th November 1993, before his untimely death at the age 47.
Rory Gallagher played his final Irish gig for ArtsFest 93, in the Atrium. It was a special acoustic set. ArtsFest is the CIT's annual Arts festival which aims to support and develop the artistic and musical interests of CIT students and staff, and to present the best of national and international artists.
Details courtesy of Donal Gallagher
Rory Gallagher (1948 – 1995) Ceoltóir
Bhí clú domhanda ar Gallagher mar cheoltóir agus mar ghiotáraí gormacha.
Tógadh i gCorcaigh é agus fuair sé a chéad ghiotár nuair a bhí sé naoi mbliana d’aois agus d’fhoghlaim sé an uirlis é féin. Bhí sé mar phairt de seóbhanna proifisiúnta, The Fontana, ag aois a cúig déag agus e fós ar scoil. Laistigh de dha bhliain, bhí sé ina cheoltóir lanaimseartha. Ní raibh ach scata beag daoine in Éirinn ag cur spéise i gceol na ngormacha ag an am sin. Nuair a chuaigh Gallagher thar lear d’éirigh leis clú agus cáil a bhaint amach go hidirnáisiúnta mar ealaíontóir gormacha mór le rá.
Bhunaigh sé Taste i 1967 agus i 1971 thosaigh sé ar a ghairmréim aonair a chabhraigh leis cáil a bhaint amach san Eoraip agus i Meiriceá mar cheann de na giotáraithe is fearr lena linn. D’eisigh sé roinnt albam a fuair ard-léirmheasanna, bhí rath air ó thaobh tráchtála de agus tugadh cuirí dó ceol a thaifead lena laochra ceoil féin, daoine ar nós Muddy Waters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lonnie Donegan, Chris Barber agus Albert King.
Bhí meas ag a chomhpháirtithe ceoil air don rimháistreacht a léirigh sé agus bhíodh urraim tugtha ag a lucht féachana de bharr a chuid scileanna mar ghiotáraí, amhránaí, mar ilionstramaí agus mar chumadóir amhrán.
Bhí sé geanúil agus cúthalach go pearsanta ach bhí ard-chlú air faoi na taispeántaisí beo iontacha a chuir sé ar fáil i ngach tír ina ghabh sé. Fiú agus an méid sin tóir air timpeall na cruinne, níor theip riamh air filleadh abhaile chun ceol a sheinm in Éirinn.
