Rory Gallagher’s iconic guitar comes to Dublin
The National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks has welcomed a new highlight to its Changing Ireland Galleries: Rory Gallagher’s beloved Fender Stratocaster, a 1961 model that helped define the blues-rock guitar sound. Gallagher bought the instrument for £100 at Crowley’s music store in Cork in 1963, and it rose to legendary status in Irish and international music circles. In October 2024 the guitar fetched more than €1 million at a Bonhams auction in London, purchased by Live Nation Gaiety Ltd, which then donated the instrument to the National Museum. Its presence in the galleries underscores how personal objects can illuminate broader social and political narratives.
The Changing Ireland Galleries: a transformative expansion
The guitar is part of the largest expansion of the museum’s public galleries in over two decades. The Changing Ireland Galleries offer hundreds of political, social, and cultural objects from the 20th and 21st centuries. The refurbishment, which had been awaiting for decades since the Defence Forces left Collins Barracks, now provides a dynamic space that invites visitors to explore Ireland’s recent past through both extraordinary artefacts and everyday items.
Visitors are greeted with the reflective question, “Cad Is Ann Éire Dar Leat? What Is Ireland to You?” as they engage with objects that witness the last 150 years of Irish life. The galleries are designed to accommodate regular changes in displays, allowing for ongoing rotation of artefacts and lasting conservation. This means many items will be shown to the public for the first time, enriching our collective memory with fresh perspectives.
<h2 A curated selection that captures Ireland’s political and cultural arc
Beyond Gallagher’s guitar, the displays include artefacts connected to Ireland’s recent political past, such as personal belongings tied to figures of the 1916 Rising. A decommissioned RPG7 rocket launcher used by the IRA during The Troubles in the 1970s is also featured, offering a poignant lens on that era. The galleries also present more intimate memorabilia, like a pair of slippers believed to be worn by Michael Collins, and worn at a Donnybrook home during the War of Independence, donated in 1953. A purple suit worn by Mary Robinson for her presidential inauguration, designed by Louise Kennedy, is exhibited for the first time, celebrating Ireland’s evolving identity on the world stage. An Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union badge, thought to be worn by Countess Constance Markievicz, accompanies a 1951 steam press from the Magdalene Laundry in Donnybrook, highlighting social history and labor advocacy.
<h2 Engaging the public with history
Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Culture, Patrick O’Donovan internationalized the project as a legacy of the Decade of Centenaries Programme. Director Lynn Scarff called the opening a “transformational moment” for the National Museum, while Lead Curator Brenda Malone emphasized how the galleries enable regular object rotation to preserve artefacts for future generations while offering fresh perspectives on modern Ireland’s history. The display invites visitors to connect with history on their own terms and reflect on what Ireland means to them today.
What to expect when you visit
As part of the gallery’s mission, most of the hundreds of objects will be shown publicly for the first time. The Rory Gallagher guitar anchors a narrative that blends music with cultural and political change, illustrating how a single instrument can travel from a local Cork shop to a national treasure. The Changing Ireland Galleries encourage dialogue, memory, and discovery—encouraging visitors to question how personal histories intersect with public life, across generations.
<h2 Visitor experience and ongoing conservation
With ongoing object rotation, the gallery spaces will frequently showcase new items and perspectives. The National Museum emphasizes that this approach supports the long-term conservation of delicate artefacts while keeping the experience dynamic and relevant for contemporary audiences. For fans of Rory Gallagher, history enthusiasts, and casual visitors alike, the guitar’s display provides a tangible link to Ireland’s modern cultural landscape.
