A new statue of Rory Gallagher sparks mixed reactions

A statue of the Irish guitar icon Rory Gallagher opened in Ireland over the weekend, drawing mixed reactions from fans.

While many rejoiced that it was immortalized in bronze in front of Belfast’s Ulster Hall, others loathed the work itself, created by artists Anto Brennan, Jessica Checkley and David O’Brien. The trio based the statue on a photo from 1972, which shows Gallagher on stage with his arms outstretched to greet the Ulster Hall audience, holding a Fender Telecaster.

The Telecaster was an element that caused confusion: despite having used this instrument, the guitarist was better known for playing the Fender Stratocaster.

Disappointment was also generated by the figure himself, who according to many did not resemble the blues-rock guitarist who died in 1995, at the age of 47 in London but was born in Ballyshannon, Donegal, on 2 March 1948.

Others went further and said he looked like a woman. “Great statue of Bonnie Raitt,” one Facebook follower wrote. “The face looks nothing like him and the upper half of the body looks feminine,” another commented. “Looks more like David Coverdale than Rory, sadly,” another wrote.

Someone else he noted: “I can only conclude that they commissioned artists who were not very familiar with the great man, perhaps due to their age or their musical tastes. I’m not one to criticize artists and I’m sure they made a huge effort, but it seems a shame that they didn’t create a monument that fans could relate to.”

Among the toponymy dedicated to the great guitarist, founder of Taste and then soloist, we also remember the Rory Gallagher Corner which is located in Dublin in the Temple Bar district and where one of his guitars hangs on the wall… Fender Stratocaster.

Revealed to the public on January 4th on the 39th anniversary of the death of Thin Lizzy founder Phil Lynott, the project was overseen by the Rory Gallagher Statue Project Trust, with the support of the guitarist’s brother and manager, Donal. “It’s a project that’s been many years in the making and we’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from fans, fellow musicians and everyone who continues to demonstrate their commitment to keeping Rory’s legacy alive,” said the Trust’s Frank Girvan . “We hope that more people will join us in these efforts as we continue to celebrate the music and spirit of a man who changed so many lives.”