Homecoming Exhibition, Cork 2006 - a review

The Rory Gallagher 'Homecoming Exhibiton' was a work commisioned and staged in 2006. It appeared in the Triskel Gallery at Leavitt's Quay in Cork, from October 8th to November 10th.

At the invitation of Donal Gallagher, Darren Poyzer made a pilgrimage to Cork, choosing to take an overnight ferry from Holyhead and drive from Dublin, to embrace the spirit of Ireland and most importantly, Cork and the music of Rory Gallagher.

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I could have taken the plane. Step on, step off, walk in, walk out, go home. That's not the way to go though is it - much better to travel with the window wound down and fill the highways and by-ways with great music, sampling the local welcomes with breakfast on the way.

I have to say that tiredeness from an overnight journey at one point made me question this journey and wish I'd taken the plane, however all that was to change when that special magical moment happened. As I arrived in Cork, I turned and took in a view of the river with the city, it's dockside industry and busy streets, it's charm and bounce of life, just as Rory on the car stereo kicked in with 'Daughter Of The Everglades'. Oh yes I thought, we have arrived, this is something.

All very poetic, but nevertheless a nice frame of mind with which to meet Ben Cuddihy, one of the three curators at Triskel Gallery who have made this exhibition happen. My time with Ben is quality - he is a decent and straight talking chap, he has a good eye for an idea and the zest to make things happen. It's always good to get first hand knowledge of how a project has come together, the difficulties, the victories, the hopes and ambitions for future projects. The staging of his exhibition has brought it's frustrations, however a promotional deal with the Cork Evening Echo has helped greatly, and celebrated input from the airport has been a major plus also.

The airport has 19 Rory 'pieces' on display in arrivals to promote the exhibition, this particular area funded by the airport itself, however you need to arrive by plane to view these. Doh! Good news is though that while the Triskel run is now closed, the airport display remains until January 2007.

And so to the exhibition itself, and at first glance it's clear to see that a lot of professional thought has gone into this. The items on display have been carefully chosen from a much larger collection, and therefore what you get here is a quite poetic collection displayed in spacious surroundings, allowing comfortable viewing and consideration. A big mention therefore to the team at Triskel, especially the other curators Emma Johnston and Deidre Finn, who have served this exhibition to around 5,000 visitors during it's run. Ben is happy with this figure, especially for a place the size of Cork. Add to this the 48,000 people who viewed the airport arrivals display during the Jazz Festival week alone, then you start to see the value of such an effort.

And the range of people attending is quite outstanding … in my short visit I see a group of older women step inside for a look around, whilst another group of excitable young musicians make conversation and open their hearts and minds to the world of Rory. And of course, there are a few lone souls like myself, veterans of a thousand gigs maybe, who've come to nod respectfully at one of the great icons of modern rock and blues.

I'd like to give respect and space here to the words of Rory fan Barry McGivern, who provides the following extract from a review of 'Homecoming', originally published at The Meeting Place:

• It's brilliant a whole new slant on the man
• This is different in that its about rory and not the gear
• Fin Costello rock photographer for Sounds mag etc - a cork man too exhibits photos of rory which are just breathtaking just fabulous
• Rorys first guitar is there with the totally intact payment book costing 1 pound 5 shillings and 9 pence in 1957
• Great photo album of the family growing up rory looked like a very happy bubbly kid
• Photo album of the showband days
• Photo album of taste
• Photo album of gallagher bands
• RTE interactive interviews over all the years
• Interactive media player show with Wolverhampton show amongst many
• Some of rorys personal hand luggage, an interactive screen showing some of rorys personal stuff that he took on tour with him in his suitcase
• Books by moore kilme hammett, little tour badges, old back stage passes, a rory doll with fuzzy hair, his diaries, all of this stuff immaculately kept
• A lot of his stuff gave the impression of a man who was meticulous and appreciative and caring of his posessions
  really on older era probably like our parents generation who valued things unlike todays disposable society
• Lots of old passports so rory was between 5ft9 and 5ft11 depending on the passport!
• A payment book in 1960 for the musicians union to allow him to play professionally again totally intact
• The mask painting which would be 3 ft by 4ft approx
• Quotation written on the of events at concerts over the wall
• A brilliant exhibition - a girl was crying whilst watching live footage, all around man made you sad but also really uplifting way to go rory just reinforced everything ive believed in the man

Thanks Barry - couldn't have put it better myself!

On a personal note I will add though that viewing the live footage, as it was displayed on a medium sized screen in a small room-sized theatre with about a dozen chairs, was particularly special. It proved as a worthy reminder that music is at it's best when performed live, and there's nothing better than capturing great moments on film and tape, to re-live again and again and keep the spirit alive and well.

The exhibition has done a lot behind the scenes to keep Rory’s credibility in the city of Cork. These days you have to keep the positive message loud and clear, both in public eyes and within the sightline of business and potential funders. Ben tells me there's an idea kicking around to tour this exhibition, yet it won't be easy. Logistics, funding ... these things take a lot of well co-ordinated effort, hence the best plans and greatest desires don't always come together. One can only hope ...

Whatever happens, 'Homecoming' will always be remembered by those who had the opportunity to take it in, and maybe for those who didn't get the chance, another opportunity will arise and be taken wholeheartedly.

Links:
Triskel Gallery
Cork Evening Echo
Cork International Airport