Legendary Leeside music store Crowleys reborn in heart of the city

Generations of musicians and wannabe musicians got everything they needed at Crowleys

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It was the music store where - famously - Rory Gallagher first saw the 1961 Fender Stratocaster guitar that became (and remains) a potent symbol of the legendary bluesman.

For more than 90 years. from the 1930s to August 2013, Crowley's music store and three generations of the Crowley family were at the heart of music in Cork, from traditional and jazz through the showband era, into the great days of Gallagher in the 70s and up through the times of more recent Leeside acts like the Frank & Walters and the Sultans of Ping.

When a guitarist needed strings or an amp, when a drummer needed sticks or skins, the place to go was Crowley's Music Centre on MacCurtain Street, where the pros went for the latest equipment and generations of music mad teens s spent their Saturday afternoons drooling over the Fender and Gibson Guitars, the Pearl drumkits or pricey amplifiers and effects pedals.

The original store closed in August 2013 and is now the site of popular burger joint Son of a Bun. But this evening, on the southside, close by Barrack Street, Crowley's has been reborn, in what was a corner shop on historic Friar Street, between Barracka and Douglas Street, adding to the growing cultural clout of a historic, city centre neighbourhood that is showing new signs of life.

Ten years on from her dad Mick Crowley's store on MacCurtain Street closing and nearly a century since her granddad Tadhg first started the family musical instrument business in Blackpool, Sheena Crowley this evening opens the doors to No. 1 Friar Street.

It will be a place for musicians and music lovers - open initially from Thursday to Saturday for sales of strings, accessories, guitars, mandolins and more, it will also be a hub for music lessons, for special events, little performances and even podcasts and recording in a tiny studio in the back.

It will be part of a revitalised Barrack Street-Douglas Street community, with the likes of famous live venue Coughlans and acclaimed luthiers (stringed instrument repairers) JMS Instruments a stone's throw away.

Locals also hope that the arrival of a quality music store in the area will be the first of many new small businesses in an area that has plenty of shop space and a young, culturally connected population.

As she got ready for the official opening this evening Sheena Crowley told CorkBeo that it's been 'a bit crazy, a bit of a mad rush, we weren't even going to have an official opening but then I mentioned it on Neil Prendeville's show on RedFM and the next minute, we're getting messages from loads of people saying they can't wait to see us at the big opening!"

"We not really ready but we're just going to go for it now."

Music mad Leesiders will remember her father Mick, who ran the store on MacCurtain street with infinite enthusiasm, kindness and patience (putting up with teen wannabes murdering Stairway to Heaven for hours every Saturday afternoon).

The store - up until recently, the HQ for Badly Drawn Books - has been fitted out by former Crowley's employees and friends of the family and it's been a labour of love, with reclaimed wooden planks and panels being used to give it a Sweet Home Alabama feel.

Dozens came to support Sheena in her new venture, with an opening night of music and craic with performances from local musicians including Cork legend John Spillane.

It's very early days yet, and Sheena says there will be an element of making it up as they go along, as they want to make Crowley's on Friar Street a hub for musicians and music lovers, and they want to hear what people would like to see there.

There will a special gig to remember her late father Mick, in the Triskel on Friday, August 4th with duo Munnelly & McGowan and it will be the first in a series of gigs put on by Crowleys.

And from this weekend - all who love music are invited to visit No. 1 Friar Street - and maybe have a look around an old neighbourhood that's coming back to life.