GUITARS belonging to legendary Thin Lizzy musician Gary Moore have fetched almost £150,000 at auction in London.
The vast collection of more than 40 guitars and amps belonging to the late east Belfast-born rocker went under the hammer at Bonhams.
The items had been expected to fetch around £120,000, but the collection proved even more popular among buyers.
Moore is famed for gracing the line-up of the great Irish rockband Thin Lizzy, as well as Collosseum II, and the original Skid Row.
The guitarist's huge talent extended across a breadth of musical styles, from mainstream hard rock for which he was most famous to blues and jazz-rock, genres in which he produced several albums.
Moore, a father-of-four grew up in the Upper Newtownards Road of east Belfast, died in Spain in 2011 after suffering a heart attack.
He was described by Bob Geldof as "without question one of the great Irish bluesmen".
His 46-piece guitar collection, which went under the hammer featured several incredible instruments, including a 1963 Fender Stratocaster, which was sold for £18,750.
The instrument was a gift from Claude Nobs, the founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, which Moore used in live gigs, televised concerts and also on the Blues for Jimi DVD in 2007.
Also sold at auction was a 1964 Gibson Firebird 1 guitar, which was bought for £10,625.
Katherine Schofield from Bonhams last night said they were "delighted" at the sale.
"At this year’s sale we've offered some truly personal lots of entertainment memorabilia, from the private guitar collection of Thin Lizzy guitarist, Gary Moore, to the heartfelt letters of Audrey Hepburn, and of course, the studio songwriting notebook of Freddie Mercury.
"Each item offers fans that personal link to their favourite icon.
"We’re delighted the sale has done so well."
