Rory Gallagher's 1961 Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar is among a number of items having belonged to the Irish rocker that will go under the hammer at Bonhams Auction House in London this week.
Gallagher, who was born in Co Donegal and raised in Co Cork, is remembered as one of the best blues guitar players in the world. He died in June 1995 at the age of 47.
When the auction was announced back in July, Ireland's Tánaiste Micheál Martin that it would be "lovely" to get Gallagher's guitar "back on Leeside" in Co Cork, though he hasn't confirmed nor denied any solid plans for the State to purchase the musical instrument.
“There are processes and approaches that have to be pursued here and it’s not all done by megaphone either," the Tánaiste told The Irish Times this week ahead of the auction that's due to take place on Thursday, October 17.
"The national cultural institutions have a role in this, and we will let them engage in the process,” he said.
Asked by The Irish Times if people were to take from his reply that moves were afoot to make a bid for the guitar this week, the Tánaiste replied: “I wouldn’t overstate anything, but you are a good man to deduce things at times.”
Bidding is now open at Bonhams for The Rory Gallagher Collection, which the auction house says features "an exceptional selection of guitars, amps and accessories from Rory Gallagher's life and career, including his iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster, which is arguably the most recognisable Strat in rock history."
The collection is offered directly by the Gallagher family, Bonhams noted.
The highest-priced item in the collection, Gallagher's 1961 Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar is expected to sell for £700k to £1 million (US$910k to US$1.3 million.)
Rory Gallagher's 1961 Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar. (Bonhams)
Bonhams says that in 1966, the guitar was stolen, along with a Fender Telecaster that Gallagher had borrowed from a friend.
Gallagher contacted the local TV show "Garda Patrol" to ask for the viewers' help in locating the guitars and, after a few days, the guitars were recovered from a ditch.
Once reunited with the guitar, it rarely left Gallagher's side.
He later told Guitar Magazine: "It's also a good luck thing. It was stolen one time and it came back, it's kind of a lucky charm; the guitar is a part of me. BB King might have several Lucilles, but I've only got the one Strat. I don't even call it a woman's name. It's what it is. I still play it every day, I just love playing it."
Other notable items in The Rory Gallagher Collection at Bonhams are a 1959 Fender Esquire Electric Guitar, a 1968 Martin D-35 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, and a 1930 National Triolian Resonator Guitar.
Also running this week at Bonhams is The Rory Gallagher Online Sale, which features instruments, pedals, flight cases, and accessories used throughout Gallagher's career for live shows, studio work, and experimentation at home.
In July, the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle called on the Irish Government to purchase the guitar because of its cultural value.
"Rory was one of the first to put Irish rock on the international stage so it’s an important item culturally, and I think it’s important that it should be kept in the State so that’s why I’ve made contact with Government departments and State agencies," Boyle told the Irish Times.
That same month, TD Ged Nash asked TD Catherine Martin, Ireland’s Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, if the State would consider purchasing a guitar and any other important items associated with Gallagher.
Replying, Martin said Ireland’s National Cultural Institutions [NCIs] were “aware of the proposed sale" but that they "do not comment on their consideration of any acquisition interest as it could adversely impact on the outcome."
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe entitled “Help Bring Rory Gallagher's Strat Back to his Home Town” has raised just over €72k since being launched in July. It has a hefty goal of €1 million.
The fundraiser was launched by Cork woman Sheena Crowley, who says her father Michael sold Gallagher the famous iconic Strat over 60 years ago.
"This guitar means so much to us in Cork, and we need to become the custodians of that magical guitar," Crowley wrote. She aims to set up a music museum with the main attraction being a "dedicated Rory Gallagher section."
Crowley wrote: "If 20,000 of us pledge €50, or if 5000 pledge €200 we will meet the target.
"We can approach the department of heritage, the City Council, and wealthy benefactors to match the €1000,000.
"If we don't make it to the target to buy the Strat, we can go after other instruments in Rory's collection. If we are not successful in our mission to build a museum with Rory's Strat or other instruments all pledges will be refunded."
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