As the 15th anniversary of Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher approaches (June 14th), a group of Corkonian fans are finalising plans to honour the influential musician’s legacy for the fifth year running.

Cork Rocks for Rory was established in 2005 by Ger Kenneally, who initially organised the event to tie in with Cork’s European Capital of Culture celebrations. Although Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal (where a similar celebration was held last weekend), he grew up in Cork and was laid to rest in his adopted city.

Many fans travel to the event each year, says Kenneally, to see where the guitarist lived, played, went to school and bought his first guitar.

Cork Rocks for Rory will take place today and tomorrow in the Cyprus Avenue venue, where there will be open jams and all-ages gigs, as well as ticketed tribute gigs on both nights. There will also be a number of free events happening across Cork city during the day, including photography and art exhibitions, a Gallagher-themed “graffiti jam”, and an acoustic blues session in Cork City library.

“The weekend events are primarily to commemorate Rory’s music, and introduce him to a new generation of fans and young musicians,” says Kenneally. “Rory was a very visual, warm, awe-inspiring person and the graffiti and photo exhibitions form part of that.” corkrocksforrory.com