Help The Irish Rock'n'Roll Museum Buy Rory Gallagher Guitar

Irish Rock'n'Roll Museum Experience is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Join us in preserving a piece of our cultural heritage! We are raising funds to purchase Rory Gallagher’s rare and iconic guitar, his 1961 Sunburst Stratocaster, being auctioned by his family in London this October 17. Link to the press release here. This guitar is a symbol of Ireland's rock history, and it deserves to be showcased in the iconic Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Experience where it can inspire future generations. Help us keep this invaluable treasure in Ireland- donate to our GoFundMe today! Let’s not let this “Tattoo’d Lady” slip away!

In 1963, Rory scrounged together £100 to purchase a 1961 used Sunburst Fender Stratocaster. At the time, it was the only Sunburst Stratocaster in Ireland as it had been specially ordered from the USA by Cork musician, Jim Conlon. From the age of 15 until his untimely death in 1995, he favoured that guitar over his many others, stripping the paint away with his sweat from every performance. It has become one of the most iconic and well-known guitars in music history. This legendary piece of rock’n’roll and Irish history would be the jewel in the crown of our museum, and go perfectly in our “Rory Gallagher Corner” that we have been working on to celebrate the musician. We know that this is a lot to ask of the public, so we are also asking current museum patrons and other music industry players to support us on the quest to stop the guitar from leaving these shores.

Following the launch of our campaign, we have been given the blessing by Owen Gallagher, representative of the Gallagher Family.

Nestled in the heart of Dublin, The Irish Rock 'n' Roll Museum Experience is a treasure trove of music history. As a cornerstone of Dublin's cultural scene, our museum is more than just a collection of memorabilia—it's a living, breathing tribute to the power of music. Whether you're a lifelong fan of Rory Gallagher, U2, Thin Lizzy, or the many other iconic artists we've celebrated, your support helps keep their stories alive.