As I push open the red doors of The Oliver Plunkett, I suddenly feel as if I have been transported to a bygone decade. The whole place is alive and bustling, with pints flowing, despite the fact that it’s only 11am on a Monday morning.

It feels like it could be a lively Saturday night: there’s a queue for the cigarette machine, and every second man I see has feathered hair and a “Rory Gallagher, Irish Tour ‘74” t-shirt. Aiken Promotions knew what they were doing holding the press conference in The Oliver Plunkett – there are guitar frets and instruments fused to the brown wooden walls, old photographs in every nook and cranny – plus, the word is that Rory Gallagher performed here himself.

Hard to believe, but 2025 is the 30th anniversary of Rory’s death. To mark that sad occasion, the news today is that Grammy-nominated American blues and rock guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, will be playing two tribute Live at the Marquee shows next July. Among those here to celebrate the announcement are Rory’s brother and manager Dónal; the latter’s son Daniel; and the man who played bass with Rory, Gerry McAvoy.

Dónal Gallagher describes Bonamassa’s tribute as “momentous.”

Rory Gallagher Celebration launch at The Oliver Plunkett. Copyright Trevor McGrath.

“It’s a real, real honour for the family to have this happen,” he states. “I can’t think of a better 30th anniversary remembrance for Rory and there’s no better man than Joe to play that. If Rory himself was around, he would just be so chuffed.”

The crowd here to celebrate the news is fascinating – there’s a year-old baby in the audience, as well as an elderly gentleman decked out in a full suit and hat. The audience Rory Gallagher’s music created is incredibly diverse: there’s a cacophony of accents in the room. A significant number have travelled to Cork just to hear the announcement.

NATIONAL TREASURE

Bonamassa opens the press conference with the immortal words, “I know this is going to be incredibly challenging for me. I’m not Rory Gallagher. I’m Joe Bonamassa playing Rory’s songs, and that’s important to know.”

Dónal too asserts that he’s really looking forward to next summer’s gig. “Sometimes when [Rory’s music] is played, you’d hear it in the way you’d hear Rory,” he reflects. “But I know Joe is bringing something completely new and different – and sincere – to Rory’s music.”

Copyright Trevor McGrath.

Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions also speaks.

"This is very much a labour of love for everyone involved," he says. "I think the fact that Joe flew into Ireland just to be here today underlines just how much Rory Gallagher and these shows mean to him."

Bonamassa is quick to mention the GoFundMe campaign for Gallagher’s famous sunburst 1961 Stratocaster, which aims to keep the guitar in Cork – where it was bought by Rory – when it goes up for auction in October. A “huge guitar collector”, Bonamassa is resolute on the subject of Rory’s guitar.

“I don’t believe that the guitar should ever leave Ireland,” he says. “I don’t want to own it because it’s not my story, it’s part of Rory’s story, it’s part of Ireland’s story. I think it’s a national treasure that should stay here.” He later adds, “I threw in a couple grand [into the GoFundMe] anonymously.” As of the time I am writing, on 30 September, €64,000 had been raised. But of course, the best purchaser would be a Government department, or a county or city council.

POWERFUL VOCALS

While the final set-list is still to be decided, Bonamassa talks about what an honour it’d be to play Rory’s 1974 setlist, immortalised in the film Irish Tour ‘74, directed by Tony Palmer. He recalls hearing the Cork maestro’s music for the first time as a young child, on the vinyl discs his father owned.

He’s a real champion for the lower middle class,” Bonamassa reflects, “and I grew up lower middle class, so I immediately connected to the music and the image. Rory was my inspiration – and that’s just led me on this lifelong journey and literally, the challenge of a lifetime.”

Copyright Trevor McGrath.

With the audience jostling to the front, Bonamassa straps on his guitar. He and his band go on to play three of Gallagher’s songs, including a magnificent ‘Cradle Rock’, which has every foot tapping within seconds. It’s hard to see the musicians from where I’m standing, but in a way, that makes the experience feel even more surreal as I just focus on the sound erupting from the speakers above me. I catch every slide, every extended solo, and revel in how the powerful vocals have united the crowd in a moment of shared joy.

I can’t help but believe that Rory, in some way, is here with us at this moment. Roll on the Live at the Marquee shows…

Tickets for Joe Bonamassa Plays Rory Gallagher (July 1 & 2, 2025) go on general sale on Friday, October 4, at 10am. See Ticketmaster for more information.