Ballyshannon born legendary Blues guitarist Rory Gallagher died today in 1995

Today is the 29th anniversary of the death of legendary Blue guitarist, who died on June 14, 1995. He was born at the Rock Hospital, Ballyshannon on March 2, 1948.

The Erne town in which he was born celebrates their unique connection with the annual Rory Gallagher International Tribute which takes place over the June bank holiday weekend.

Since 2002, it has attracted many thousands of fans to south Donegal from Ireland, Europe and across the world.

And while he once light heartedly mentioned in a television interview that they may one day have a plaque erected in his honour at the hospital, he later had a statue erected in the middle of Ballyshannon and in 2005, the Rory Gallagher Theatre at the Abbey Arts Centre was also named in his honour.

Here journalist Michael McHugh recalls the sad occasion and the article that he penned in the Donegal Democrat in the week that followed Rory's sad passing at the age of just 47 years in June of 1995.

Hard to believe it was 29 years ago. The headline and report read: 

Rory Gallagher rock, rhythm and blues man from Ballyshannon

The death of Rory Gallagher in a London hospital last week at the age of 47 brought back many memories to the young and not so young, who enjoyed his special sound and unique style that ranked him among the world's greats. Here Democrat reporter, Michael McHugh, recalls some memories and traces his connection with Ballyshannon.

Rory Gallagher, R.I.P. Bono called him "one of the top ten guitarists in the world". Many would feel that he was being generous to the other nine. 

ABOVE: A commemeratove coin issued by the Central Bank is now a real treasure trove 

My own memories came flooding back, the classic "Bullfrog Blues", another "Messing with the Kid". It was the mid 1970s. I was just a sprat of a cub, but there was something about this guy I liked. His guitar sang the songs along with him, rock with the emphasis on solid, the long hair, et al . . . I did not have any of his records, so myself and a few of the lads used to go up to "Molar" Kelly's house, where we would listen to Molar's older brother's collection.

But as the years went by, there were many other distractions in life, he became just a distant memory. There was "Stiff Little Fingers", the "Undertones", the "Buzzcocks" and bloody exams.

It was only on the news of his death that I realised where my own love for rock, rhythm and blues had emanated from . . .

Rock Hospital

Born in the local Rock Maternity hospital in the Erne town, he joked fondly that the hospital had yet to create a plaque to his fame, when interviewed by Gay Byrne or the Late Late Show in the late 1980s.

ABOVE: The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival is now a firm Donegal favourite Photo: Thomas Gallagher

His whereabouts until he left the town, a couple of years later, remain somewhat of a mystery, but he is known to have lived in a flat above a shop, which was located directly opposite what is now Heitons hardware store. (*demolished in the years following the origial arrticle) 

That building itself, was however knocked down during the mid seventies.

One local, Bob Gallagher (*now deceased and again no relation) recalled that the guitarist's father Danny, had served in the Free State Army during the emergency , and had come to Ballyshannon to work with the Cementation Company during the construction of the town's hydro electric  station that started in 1946. 

He believed that he came from the north ol Donegal, while Ron's mother. Monica, was a Cork woman.

He recalled that Danny Gallagher worked as an Inspector on the hydro-electric scheme project in the concrete division and was an extremely talented musician in his own right, playing a number of musical instruments.

He said that he remembered him performing during the summer season in the old Marine Ballroom in Bundoran as well as local ceilis and other musical events in the area. 

When work was completed at the new station, he said that the young Rory and his mother moved to Cork, and that his father went to work in Derry, as far as he could recall.

Another local. Tom Gallagher (*again no relation and now deceased) from Cluain Barron recalled playing in Bundoran with Rory's father, whom he said was particularly talented on the accordion.

Respect

Throughout a successful over thirty years, the respect given to the late Rory Gallagher was such that his name was regularly mentioned in the same company as that of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Without doubt, he was one of the greats ol the rock era. He was once voted the world's best guitarist.

In fact his arrival on the Irish scene was to coincide with the decline of the showband era. 

At the height of his career, he was asked to join the legendary "Rolling Stones' band, but with typical modesty refused on the grounds that he wanted to concentrate on the blues.

Jim Aitken, concert promoter, described him as "the St. Paul of Irish music".

At his funeral on Monday, thousands of fans, friends and colleagues paid tribute to the "quiet" man of rock. 

The burial took place in St. Oliver's cemetery, Cork. 

In his homily. Canon Owen Cashman, a friend of the Gallagher family said that despite his fame throughout the world, he was always proud to declare his faith. 

"He was gentle and unassuming and he never lost touch with reality."

A liner accolade could not have been paid to the man that let his guitar do all the talking.

As for Ballyshannon, that plaque may now become more than just a light hearted remark . . .  you cannot have any greater claim to being a Donegal man than being born in the county!