Musical Gallaghers

Benny Gallagher

Scots born singer/songwriter see more here

Bridie Gallagher, "The Girl from Donegal"  (7 September 1924 – 9 January 2012):

Bridie Gallagher, "The Girl from Donegal", was Ireland's first female superstar. She was born in Ards, Ceesslough, Co Donegal, Ireland, the second youngest of a family of ten. She had her first hit in 1956 with  "A Mother's Love is a Blessing" and in July 1957 "The Boys from the County Armagh" went to No. 1 in Ireland and launched her onto the world stage.

Throughout the 50s & 60s Bridie packed out major concert halls throughout The World, like The Royal Albert Hall, London (with a record 7,500 audience), Carnegie Hall, New York and Sydney Opera House. Her record sales earned her numerous Gold Discs. She has lived most of her life in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Doe Cemetery in her native area became her last resting place. This was an area she made famous with her singing of the song “They’re cutting the corn in Creeslough today”.

 Rory

Commemoraive Stamp Issued in 2003
The first Irish rock'n'roller and a unique blues guitar voice rolled into one. Born in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, on 2 March, 1948. His father was from Derry but the family originated in Ramelton, Co. Donegal. Rory  began his musical career with the Fontana Showband (Cork). Coincidentally or should we say it was a case of the genes will show out, Rory's father's cousin had his own showband - the Ray Gallagher Showband - in the 1950s and early 1960s based in Derry, Northern Ireland. (Another Gallagher - Columba - from Strabane, Co. Tyrone was also involved in the showband scene in the 1960's.)

Rory.toured extensively, sold 30 million records and established a worldwide following of loyal fans. He fell seriously ill late in 1994 and died in London at the early age of 47, on the 14th  June 1995 from complications following a liver transplant.

Obituaries:"Here was a man who managed to combine the gift of being an authentic creative genius with the even rarer gift of being a genuinely decent, honourable human being." (Hotpress July 1995)

"The first Irish rock'n'roller and a unique blues guitar voice rolled into one. Missed by everyone" (The Guitar Magazine, August 1995).

“An uncompromisingly serious musician", "a courageously honest performer [who wrote] his own material, and [who] considered the blues to be the most personal form of musical expression".The Times (16th June 1995).                  More soon

Noel and Liam (Oasis)

Oasis shot from obscurity to stardom in 1994, becoming one of Britain's most popular and critically acclaimed bands of the decade. Led by guitarist/songwriter Noel Gallagher, the Manchester quintet adopts the rough, thuggish image of the Stones and the Who, crosses it with "Beatlesque" melodies and hooks, distinctly British lyrical themes and song structures like the Jam and the Kinks, and ties it all together with a massive, loud guitar roar, as well as a defiant sneer that draws equally from the Sex Pistols' rebelliousness and the Stone Roses' cocksure arrogance. MORE (soon)

 

Rory (The Revs)

The Revs were an indie rock band based in Kilcar, Donegal, Ireland. The band consisted of three childhood friends: Rory Gallagher (named after blues guitarist Rory Gallagher) on bass guitar and vocals, John McIntyre (guitar, vocals) and Michael O'Donnell (drums, percussion). They formed on the eve of the millennium with an aim to change the face of Irish music.

 

Brendan

Brendan Gallagher has been a musician nearly all his life. The youngest of six sons Brendan grew up in the northwestern Sydney (Australia) suburb of Eastwood. In a career spanning over thirty years he has played guitar on recordings for artists like David Bowie, Jimmy Little, Kylie Minogue, Karma County, David McCormack, Lyall Adonis and more. Brendan is best known as singer/guitarist with Karma County. His Gallagher family was originally from Stramore, Gartan, in Donegal. MORE

 

Note: We would be delighted to receive further information, pictures or other memorabilia concerning the above artists or others not mentioned.