The trademark lumberjack shirt, the faded jeans and the battered '61 Stratocaster guitar of Irish rock musician Rory Gallagher are to be immortalised in film.

The Sunday Tribune has learned that Gallagher's brother Donal is in talks with Irish-American director Declan Quinn, brother of actor Aidan Quinn, on a film project based around the life of the legendary guitarist.

"The guy in the film would be called Rory Gallagher but it's more a story of Rory's life channelled through someone else," Donal said. "As well as being Rory's story, I hope it can be the life and times of Ireland, from the troubles in the North, to the backdrop of rural Ireland."

Born in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal in 1947, Gallagher was Ireland's first rock star. He sold 30 million albums worldwide before his untimely death in 1995 at the age of 47.

Music legends Eric
Clapton, Al Green, Muddy Waters, John Mayall, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison all sent messages of sympathy when Gallagher died after complications set in following a liver transplant.

Award-winning cinematographer Declan Quinn, who is currently working on a film about Bob Marley, is already writing a script for the as yet untitled film. "Obviously there are parallels between Bob Marley and Rory," Donal Gallagher said.

"Declan is having a go at the script. The reality is that everybody has a bit of Rory's story but they don't have the whole story. It becomes in a way my story so it would have been important to consult me."

One problem the film makers have run into already is which actor would be best suited to play Gallagher. While a guitar hero on-stage, off-stage the musician was a shy modest man with little ego.

It's this disconnect which would give any actor difficulties, says his brother Donal.

"It's a very hard pitch. We have discussed this with John and Ros Hubbard of Hubbard Casting who are friends of mine. Perhaps it's for somebody else other than me to select the qualities because I would be looking to have Rory cloned which would be an impossibility."

At the heart of Rory's story, says Donal Gallagher, will be his brother's many struggles with record companies.

"He was taken for granted. He wanted to gig and work so hard. To promote an album he would go out on a 150-date tour but the record company would be only paying attention to the bands who were petulant, having little arguments among themselves. If Rory had been more precious, he would have been better off."