RORY GALLAGHER STATUE AT THE ULSTER HALL

I wrote a blog about the news that there was to be a statue of Rory Gallagher erected at The Ulster Hall in Belfast back in 2016. The good news is that it was unveiled today - January 4, 2025. I am delighted. It is well deserved. His love for Belfast and Belfast's love for him.

The Troubles rarely touched my hometown of Ballymena. Where we were impacted was in the fact that I rarely travelled the thirty miles to Belfast AND… that few rock bands came to Belfast in the 70s. Even our international soccer team played their home matches in England. Belfast was out of bounds.

One man was always dependable though. Rory Gallagher played a stint at the Ulster Hall every turn of the year. Year after year. He was your rock concert anchor when everything was being tossed around in the stormy seas around us.

So… as a seventeen year old in January 1979 Rory Gallagher became my first ever rock concert. The gig was actually delayed for a few days because of some weather issue with the Stranraer to Larne Ferry. In the end it was a Saturday matinee performance. I went up in the bus with my mate Rab McConaghy, Frank Delargy and Michael Hyndman. And it was epic!

Ballyshannon born Cork man, Rory Gallagher is an under rated legend of rock music. A guitar player of astounding genius and dexterity he could finger dance on an acoustic guitar like the very very best but he he is probably remembered visually and sonically for the hard rock blues sounds that he emitted from his well-worn sunburst 1961 Stratocaster. That that guitar was born the same year as me is not lost on me!

Gallagher could make that thing talk and sing and rant and rage. At that first gig in 1979 Rory was touring Photo-Finish and probably for subjective reasons that is by far my favourite Gallagher record. Other albums might be more versatile and technically better in writing and playing. Maybe!

Yet, Photo-Finish was special for me as it was perhaps his more commercial sounding piece. Shadow Play was actually released as a single and For hated the idea of singles, and Shin Kicker just kicks everything in sight. Brute Force and Ignorance and Last Of The Independents also rock along on a catchy train track while Overnight Bag is an autobiographical song on the touring life.

Rory died in 1995 at the, far too young, age of just 47. In the 30 years since his legend has got bigger and bigger.  In my opinion  you can keep your Jimi Hendrix. Rory Gallagher was less flash but I question if even Hendrix could shape the strings of a guitar like Rory, and he sang the blues with a guttural authenticity.

I picked up on a wee Rory eccentricity at that first gig in 1979. He would start or end songs with something unique to himself  - “Hope you like it!” I loved it and again in the other two times I had the privilege to see him.

Quite regularly I'll bring Photo-Finish out and have a good old three piece blow out.

There will be pilgrimage to that statue very soon.