Dermot O'Reilly

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Dermot Anthony O'Reilly (b. 1942, Dublin, Ireland – d. February 17, 2007, St. John's, Newfoundland) was an Irish-born Canadian musician, producer and songwriter.

O'Reilly was a member of Ryan's Fancy and became a solo artist when the band disbanded in 1983. He was educated at Inchicore, County Dublin.[1]

In March 1968, O'Reilly emigrated to Toronto where he met future bandmates Fergus O'Byrne and Denis Ryan. He was one of the founding members of The Sons of Erin and helped form the band Sullivan's Gypsies in 1970.

In 1971, O'Reilly, O'Byrne and Ryan moved to St. John's and began performing as Ryan's Fancy. Ryan's Fancy became a popular Irish group that released 12 albums and hosted a successful television program for several seasons. O'Reilly wrote and produced many Irish songs as a member of Ryan's Fancy, as a solo artist and later as a member of the group Brishney. O'Reilly performed regularly with Fergus O'Byrne.

In 2004, Ryan's Fancy was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the East Cost Music Association. After Ryan's Fancy disbanded, O'Reilly founded Piperstock Productions, a video production and marketing company based in Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Some of Piperstock's video productions are:

  • The Last Run
  • Rigs, Jigs and Songs from the Heart
  • Cain's Legacy

Contents

[edit] Death

O'Reilly died of a heart attack, aged 64, and is survived by his wife, the former Ann Brennan, and their three children (CBC obit).

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador (ISBN 0-9693422-1-7)

[edit] External links

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