Rory Gallagher's iconic guitar goes under hammer

The iconic guitar that Irish rock and blues legend Rory Gallagher played throughout his career is to go under the hammer later.

Gallagher, widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, bought the 1961 Fender Stratocaster for £100 in 1963.

It’s one of a number of the Irish musician's instruments and other items being auctioned by the Gallagher estate on Thursday with a reserve price of between £700,000 and £1m.

Auctioneer Claire Tole-Muir, from Bonhams, described the item as “one of the world’s most recognisable guitars".

Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, and spent part of his childhood in Londonderry.

He first made headlines with his band, Taste, in the late 1960s.

When Jimi Hendrix was asked how it felt to be the world's greatest guitarist, he is reported to have said: "I don't know, go ask Rory Gallagher."

Gallagher's albums have sold more than 30 million copies globally.

Ireland’s deputy prime minster has hinted the state could make a move to buy the guitar.

“The national cultural institutions have a role in this, and we will let them engage in the process,” Micheál Martin said.

In 2018, the Central Bank of Ireland marked the 70th anniversary of Gallagher’s birth with the launch of a commemorative coin.

Gallagher died in June 1995 at the age of 47.