TRIBUTES PAID TO BAGATELLE’S LIAM REILLY AT FUNERAL
MOURNERS LINE THE STREETS TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO AN ICON - DECENT, KIND AND WITTY
A light dusting of snow lay on the ground as Liam Reilly, the Dundalk musician who penned ‘ Summer in Dublin’, made his final journey last Thursday morning. Friends, and neighbours braved the winter cold to bade farewell to the Bagatelle frontman, lining the streets as his remains were removed from his family home on the Avenue Road to St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church, giving him a final round of applause as the coffin was removed from the hearse.
They stood in silence outside the church, as Fr Noel Kehoe welcomed Liam’s mother Teresa, sisters Evelyn, Barbara, Darina and Paula, brothers in-law Pat and Eamon, nephews and nieces, who were the only ones able to attend the funeral due to lockdown restrictions,
Speaking from the alter which was still resplendent with red poinsettas and Christmas foliage, Fr Kehoe addressed his words not just to the mourners in Dundalk but those watching the funeral in their homes around the world.
Symbols of Liam’s life, sheet music, a piano accordion, his characteristic black hat, and a copy of National Geographic magazine were brought to the altar at the start of the ceremony.
Fr Kehoe said that ‘for many Liam was an icon, he was decent, he was good, he was kind, he was witty and he was remarkably talented.’
His sudden death on New Year’s Day had stunned many, especially his family, as he was ‘a much loved son, brother, uncle and a friend to many’.
Recalling Liam’s passion for music, Fr Kehoe noted that he came from a musical family and he had given a mouth organ as a child and ‘ the rest became history.’
He was ‘stepped in the world of Irish music’ and travelled the competition circuit, arriving home with trophies after trophies, medals both for his piano accordion playing and indeed he was a nifty Irish dancer.’
While he had a ‘few interesting preludes’ before his musical career, as he studied for a time to be a teacher and then went to study international trade in Rathmines, working for a time in a shipping company.
However , ‘ his heart was in music and that meant having the courage to step out.’
With his friends John, Christy, Kevin and Jim, he formed the band Changes, named after the David Bowie song, and began playing the acoustic guitar.
It was with Bagatelle that most people knew him and Fr Kehoe offered his sympathy to Liam’s colleagues in music. He had made the decision to give up a commercial career and risk it for something greater, and every time he sat at the piano, this was when he was most confident and satisfied.
Fr Kehoe said he was ‘not just a great musician and wonderful storyteller’ but gave voice to people.
‘I too belong to the generation that grew up with the music of Bagatelle, ‘Summer in Dublin’ and ‘Second Violin.’ They spoke of friends, emigration and needing a safe space.’
‘His songs touched people and resonated with them and they lifted them. His genius really captured the experience of emigration.’
He recalled how Liam had lived in the United States and was very aware of the plight of the emmigrants and had also seen the other side of it, as young people left Ireland. He had predicted that the Irish songs and daughters would return home to a more prosperous Ireland, His songs told the story of that generation.
Fr Kehoe said that he had been contacted by the Vice-President of the NYPD Emerald Society, Glenn Lynch, in recent days. He had told him how ‘Streets of New York’ had become as close to an official anthem for the force and was loved by all police officers, and not just those of Irish descent.
Liam was an intelligent man, who loved reading, loved travelling and learning about places he had visited, and loved doing the Crosaire crossword in the Irish Times. ‘He has a thirst for knowledge.’
He was very fond of his parents and four sisters and had been heartbroken when his Dad passed away. Away from the spotlight, he was a son and a brother who was fully of gentleness, a funny person who enjoyed telling stories and having a bit of laugh.
He regularly did charity gigs for so many voluntary organisations without asking for a penny. The Irish diaspora were dear to his heart and he did what he could for them.
His sister Evelyn described Liam as her ‘ little brother and little skitter’.
‘He was a very caring brother,’ she said, describing how he would call in to check on their mother and was ‘always his own man’.
She recalled sneaking into The Cellars to see him in Changes and how she had ‘watched him grow to become a successful songwriter and musician who travelled and performed all over the world.’
They were very proud of him when he excelled himself representing Ireland in he Eurovision Song Contest.’
‘Our lives have been diminished by the loss of our brother.’ They were heartbroken by his passing but they would remember the good times.
Barbara said Liam was ‘ her big brother’ and described how he had treated the younger ones ‘with such tenderness from the very beginning.’
‘Liam had great strength and resilliance,’ she continued. ‘He had survived many setbacks but was a delicate soul, very sensitive, which is why he was such a good songwriter.’
He’d had his demons which he had fought to the end, never giving up, always dealing with them with humour and strength.;
As the Mass ended, Fr Kehoe thanked all those who had taken the time of share their memories of Liam and had offered their condolences, noting this meant so much to Liam’s family. ‘ He will be missed by all of us, especially his mother.’
‘We are heartbroken but his music will live on.’
Bagatelle’s song ‘Johnny set ‘em up’ was played at the end of the Mass.
Burial took place afterwards at St Patrick’s Cemetery Dundalk.