Cork City is celebrating the 30th anniversary of guitar legend Rory Gallagher’s death with a weekend of tributes across the city. Born in Donegal but raised in Cork, Gallagher was a world-renowned blues and rock virtuoso whose influence remains powerful.
The Cork Rocks for Rory festival, backed by city and county councils, includes concerts, exhibitions, and the launch of the Stompin Ground walking trail, which highlights locations tied to his life and music.
A major highlight is the renaming of the main roadway at Cork Airport to ‘Rory Gallagher Road’, officiated by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The Cork Public Museum is featuring The Continental Op, an exhibition with personal instruments and family archives. City Hall hosts a rare photographic display of his career.
Gallagher’s iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster, recently acquired and donated to the National Museum of Ireland, symbolizes his enduring impact. His grave in St. Oliver’s Cemetery remains a pilgrimage site for fans, while his legacy is preserved at the Rory Gallagher Music Library.
This is the city’s largest tribute yet, honouring one of Ireland’s most beloved musicians with fitting reverence and celebration.