Experience this special screening of Rory Gallagher Irish Tour 74 at the Ulster Hall in Belfast on 04 January 2025 following the unveiling of a new statue of this musical legend.
Without doubt, Back On My Stomping Ground, a song Rory Gallagher recorded in 1974 shares his love of his spiritual musical home, Belfast. Having come to the city as a young teenager with his band Taste and it wasn't long before he was packing joints to the rafters. The Belfast audience loved his electrifying emotional performances and gave him a stage to nurture and develop his musical wings. The city became the springboard for Rory's international career but he never forgot his spiritual home, consistently playing at The Ulster Hall during the height of troubles when few other acts would. His gigs there became legendary.
Roy Hollingsworth, renowned Melody Maker journalist, wrote in 1972 " I've never seen anything quite so wonderful, so stirring, so uplifting, so joyous as when Gallagher and his band walked on stage. The whole place erupted, they all stood and they cheered and they yelled and screamed and they put up their arms and they embraced. Then as one unit they put their arms into the air and gave peace signs. It meant more than rock n roll, it was something bigger, something more valid than that.”
For many Irish Tour film 74 , filmed extensively in the Ulster Hall by the renowned Tony Palmer, accurately captures the mood of the country at the time. Despite the turmoil across the island, it depicts an odd sense of peace, embodied by Ireland’s first rock star at his brilliant best, live on stage in his home country.
Grab your ticket for this unique screening now and, on your way into the iconic venue, don’t forget to visit the new Rory Gallagher Statue, a development by The Rory Gallagher Statue Project Trust. Details of how to donate available here.
Photo credit Nigel Megahey.
