For many, Rory Gallagher was the greatest guitarist ever. The Cork musician could play it all: the blues, country, hard rock and the meanest slide this side of Chicago. Rory regularly made his guitar sing: his live performances in particular were nothing short of magical, entering the realm of folklore as the years rolled on.

Five decades ago, Rory released a record which was quickly recognised as one of the great live albums. Irish Tour ‘74 drew on sets from Cork, Dublin and Belfast and captured a moment in time almost to perfection...

– Edwin McFee

Revisit reflections on Rory and Irish Tour '74 from the Hot Press archives...

Slash:

“I would just go for the ones that turned me on [to Rory], they're all good, but Irish Tour ‘74 is awesome. That one alone should inspire you to go and listen to all his records. Both those live records I remember growing up – Live In Europe, I guess it was called? – those were both kick-ass records..."

Johnny Marr:

"You can hear Ireland in his playing... I’m talking about some of his solos. The word is celtic, but it’s particularly Irish, not Scottish: there’s a bit of Céilí in there.

"I'll tell you where you hear it: when he takes the band down on ‘Walk On Hot Coals’ on Irish Tour ‘74. When the band comes down and he’s soloing over the top and he’s vamping – that doesn’t sound like Albert King or B.B. King  or Duane Allman. It sounds like what I’ve said: it could be played on an acoustic in a pub in Cork in 1940."

Pauline McLynn:

"Rory is a genius. The opening of the live '74 tour album with Rory tuning his guitar, and on into the first chords of 'Cradle Rock', still sends shivers up and down my spine because I know the pleasure in store. It is music that will never date. The sheer virtuosity of the man and the joy of the live audiences are unparalleled in the history of Irish rock. This album has everything from blues to rock to acoustic and much more.

"The band gel with a particular magic on 'Walk On Hot Coals', ten minutes of sheer glory that would convert even the worst sceptic. As the crowd sings ‘nice one Rory’ after 'Who’s That Coming?' you’re there in the thick of it with a maestro at the height of his powers. Forget all others, Rory is The Man."

Peter Aiken:

"In that famous film of Irish Tour ‘74, you can see what Belfast was like then. It was a complete warzone, with the bombed-out buildings, and the police and army driving around. Guns everywhere. But Rory came up and played – which was pretty special.

"There was always a big connection between Rory and Belfast. He kept coming back."