Watch: Rory Gallagher guitar on display - 'He always wanted to play Rock and Roll'

James Cox

Rory Gallagher's iconic Fender Stratocaster guitar is on display at the National Museum at Collins Barracks.

The musician purchased his famous guitar for £100 at Crowley’s music store in Cork in 1963.

It was purchased for over €1 million at a Bonhams auction in London in October 2024 by Live Nation Gaiety Ltd.

The company then donated the guitar to the National Museum of Ireland.

The guitar is just one of over 250 objects, which will go on display to the public from Thursday.

Gallagher's younger brother Donal was there for the opening of the exhibit.

He said: "Rory got the gene from my father, who was a piano/accordian player, and Ulster champion.

"When Rory was starting, he always wanted to play Rock and Roll, which at the time in 50s Ireland was frowned upon.

"Rory would play on any stage... anywhere he could perform. He'd drag me on for the last couple of numbers.

"Rory and I did very good harmonies until I got fired at the age of 10! I was always trying to get back in my brother's good books so what I would do was offer to carry his guitar in and out of halls."