- Music
- 28 Feb 18
Dónal Gallagher, brother and manager of the legendary Irish rocker Rory Gallagher, has issued a statement in relation to the postponement of the activities in the southern capital, timed to coincide with what would have been Rory's 70th birthday.
Firefighting snow and a flurry of activity – that's ‘what’s goin’ on’ today!
My brother Rory never being one for birthdays, is having his way in a sense, for what might have been his 70th, on Friday March 2nd.
To start with, an unveiling of a plaque, at CIT tomorrow Thursday, at the location of his last ever Irish concert (an acoustic show), has had to be postponed, at the directive of the Educational Authorities.
In turn, the City’s Library had to cancel their birthday eve concert too, by classical guitarist Jacques Stotzem, whose album of acoustic instrumentals of Rory’s music has been a hit on the Continent. Poor Jacques arrived into Cork airport from Amsterdam, to the disappointing news.
At our advice, Jacques boarded the returning plane to Amsterdam, fearful of the worsening weather – and potentially not making his connection to China, for his tour there next week. Jacques will be back!
Some other Irish events on Rory’s birthday, had already been deferred, given their 'early warning' (now red) weather status.
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On the birthday tribute front, I was very taken with Fiachna O’Braonain's article on Rory, in the latest issue of Hot Press, where he wrote of meeting my brother at a hotel, in Sydney. Rather ironically, I recall informing Fiachna, the morning that the Hot House Flowers member spoke to my sibling all those years ago, at the Sebel Town House Hotel (now gone), that it was Rory’s birthday also – and that by leaving Sydney that morning en route to the U.S., Rory would end up with a double birthday. We crossed the International dateline, landing in Los Angeles, on the morning of the 2nd March.
"Well, did you ever...?”
Anyway, the best way to celebrate Rory's birthday is by listening to or playing his music.
Stay safe and warm.
Dónal (Gallagher)
28 February 2018