"It was an enormous part of Rory Gallagher’s life and was with him from the very start of his career right until the end": The Irish bluesman's legendary '61 Strat is going up for auction

Rory Gallagher '61 Strat.

Rory Gallagher's '61 Strat is one of the most iconic guitars of all time; said to be the first on Irish soil and the number one workhorse he made blues-rock history with. Now it's going up for auction for the first time since Rory bought it in 1963.

“Since 1995, I have always felt that there was a mission to be fulfilled to cement Rory's legacy and widen the knowledge of his music,” says the late blues musician's brother, former manager and the guitar's current owner Dónal Gallagher. “So, in what is one of the most difficult and sensitive decisions to reach, I have decided to facilitate the release of his instruments for sale, so that these emblems of his legacy can be enjoyed by others.”