In Cork, a concert venue can also be a place of remembrance. Behind the façade of City Hall, on the banks of the Lee, a chapter of Irish rock history endures: that of Rory Gallagher and Irish Tour ’74. On 25 October 2026, the same building will host Rory Gallagher: The Legend Lives On, a tribute concert forming part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. For travellers who like to discover a city through its music, the event offers a distinctive way into Cork.
Rory Gallagher’s enduring legacy in Cork
A tribute in a venue steeped in history
According to the festival’s official programme, Moonchild and Tres Hombres, with Brian Tambling, will appear on the bill. Barry Barnes of Sinnerboy is announced as a special guest. Doors will open at 2pm local time: this refers to audience admission, not a confirmed concert start time.
The festival also announces the support and presence of the Gallagher family. Thirty-one years after the guitarist’s death, the gathering extends Cork’s connection with him far beyond anniversaries. The choice of City Hall gives the event particular resonance: visitors come to hear a repertoire, but also to return to a place where it first took shape.
In the footsteps of Irish Tour ’74
Released on 19 July 1974, Irish Tour ’74 brings together recordings made at Cork City Hall, Belfast’s Ulster Hall and Dublin’s Carlton Cinema. Alongside Gallagher, Gerry McAvoy played bass, Rod de’Ath drums and Lou Martin keyboards. The record still captures the dialogue between a guitar, a band and its audience.
The city notes that Gallagher performed at City Hall more than 20 times and won a talent competition there at a very young age. The building belongs as much to his early career as to his later recognition. Rebuilt after the fire of 1920 and opened in 1936, it itself bears several layers of Cork’s history.
A weekend of blues and jazz
A city to explore before the concert
To add depth to the trip, the city’s Rory Gallagher Stompin’ Ground trail provides a useful thread to follow. Its stops place the musician within Cork’s geography. Taking time for this walk before heading to City Hall connects the memories, streets and stage, without reducing the city to a mere concert backdrop.
The 48th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival will take place from 22 to 26 October 2026. Its programme extends beyond jazz, with blues, soul, hip-hop and electronic music also finding their place. Berlioz, Yussef Dayes and KOKOROKO are among the announced names. The Gallagher concert can therefore become the focal point of a broader musical break.
What to check before booking
The event is scheduled for Cork City Hall on Anglesea Street, on Sunday 25 October. To buy a ticket, follow the link provided on the festival’s official page and check the current terms: price, availability, seating and any access restrictions. No ticket price or availability is guaranteed here. If you are planning your trip around the concert, confirm ticket availability first, then choose accommodation with cancellation terms that suit your travel plans.
Information checked on 6 October 2026 with the festival, Pure Cork, Cork City Council and Rory Gallagher’s official website. Featured image: Cork City Hall in 2009, KlausFoehl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized and compressed. This is an archive view of the building.
