The 31st Annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk
Festival will take place August 3rd -5th at Bannerman Park in St. john's and
will be dedicated to the memory of Dermot O'Reilly.
From the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Council
website:
The 30th Annual Newfoundland and
Labrador Folk Festival is dedicated to the memory of
Dermot O'Reilly
On
February 17 of this year Newfoundland and Labrador lost one of the pillars
of its folk music community with the passing of Dermot O’Reilly. A stalwart
on the local music scene for over 35 years, Dermot’s incredible body of work
and genial personality made him one of the premiere influences on the modern
traditional scene in this province and beyond.
Born in Dublin, Dermot first visited this province in the late 1960’s as a
member of SULLIVAN'S GYPSIES and in 1971 took up permanent residence here
while a member of RYAN'S FANCY along with Fergus O’Byrne and Denis Ryan. The
trio became a phenomenon on the local music scene and soon became the stars
of their own television series produced by the CBC with which they traveled
the province exposing the culture and musical traditions of Newfoundland and
Labrador to the rest of Canada. Along the way they recorded fourteen albums
of traditional and contemporary material that helped rekindle, for many, an
interest in the music of Newfoundland and Labrador.
It was with RYAN'S FANCY that most of us first discovered the amazing
talents of Dermot O’Reilly, not only as an outstanding singer and musician
with an almost tangible charisma, but as an incredible song-writer
providing material that has become part of the local musical fabric: songs
like Candlelight and Wine, West Country Lady and A Children’s Winter.
When RYAN'S FANCY disbanded in 1983 Dermot continued exploring local culture
through Piper Stock productions, his own video production company and
recording studio that he ran from his home in Torbay. Over the Years he
produced two full-length videos exploring this province and its people; Rigs, Jigs, and Songs From the Heart, and
Cain’s Legacy. In his recording studio Dermot worked with some of
Newfoundland and Labradors best young talent including GREAT BIG SEA, FINE
CROWD and Chris Andrews and Mark Hiscock of SHANNYGANOCK, on his way to
producing more than twenty albums, passing his wealth of knowledge to a new
generation of performers.
Dermot’s passion for performing also never waned over his long career,
performing locally and touring abroad both as a solo act and with good
friend Fergus O’Byrne. Dermot O’Reilly is remembered by those who knew him
as much for his gentle demeanor as his musical prowess. A very personable
man he had a keen interest in people and was always more eager to learn
about them than talk about himself. It has been said that if you only met
Dermot once you felt as though you had a friend for life.
On August 5th during the thirty-first Newfoundland and Labrador Folk
festival, some of our finest talent will be performing a musical tribute to
Dermot O’Reilly. Organized and hosted by Fergus O’Byrne performers will
include, Jim Payne, Denielle Hann, Larry Foley, Pat Moran, and Fergus Brown
O’Byrne.
On
February 17 of this year Newfoundland and Labrador lost one of the pillars
of its folk music community with the passing of Dermot O’Reilly. A stalwart
on the local music scene for over 35 years, Dermot’s incredible body of work
and genial personality made him one of the premiere influences on the modern
traditional scene in this province and beyond.
Fergus
O'Byrne
A
Crowd Of Bold Sharemen