The Two Rorys – Singer Rory Gallagher presents Rory Gallagher, Assistant Manager of the Donegal Senior Football team, with a cheque of the proceeds made from the song Jimmy’s Winning Matches, for the Donegal GAA Training Fund.
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
LAST summer a simple song recorded on a beach in Lanzarote became the anthem of Donegal’s historic second All-Ireland win.
As Donegal paved their way through to the final, the county’s fans were only singing one song, and that was Jimmy’s Winning Matches.
Former Revs frontman and Kilcar native, who these days resides in the small town of Puerto del Carmen on the island of Lanzarote, decided he would rewrite one of his songs ‘for a laugh’ and show his support for Jim McGuinness and the team.
What was meant to be a bit of fun went completely viral in days as fans all over the county spoke the great song he had written and his hilarious sidekick, Jimmy from Senegal, who knew every village and townland in Donegal, despite never having been here.
With the success of the video Rory went into the studio and recorded a proper version which he sold on iTunes, vowing to give proceeds of the sales and YouTube revenue to the Donegal squad in aid of their training fund.
Last week he was able to make the presentation. Donegal’s assistant manager, the other Rory Gallagher, was recently on the island of Lanzarote for a short break where he met with the songwriter at his bar, The Island Bar.
Following the presentation of the cheque at his bar, Rory said: “He (the other Rory) was in good form and we had good fun chatting about last year’s homecoming, and of course we said it would be nice if it happened again.”
Rory’s bar, which he runs with his wife Cara, was recently voted the No 1 nightlife attraction in Puerto del Carmen. This accolade was announced by the global travel website, tripadvisor, thanks to rave reviews from the hundreds of delighted holidaymakers who attend his live performances every week in the Island Bar.
The Island Bar has only been open for three months and already it is attracting a lot of Donegal visitors, with flights going directly from Knock.