Popular Bagatelle frontman Liam Reilly was “destined to dedicate his life to music”, mourners were told during his funeral mass today.
Tributes were paid to the talented 65 year-old who died on New Year’s Day during the poignant service at St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church in Dundalk, Co Louth.
Only immediate family members attended due to the lockdown, but people lined the route for the singer-songwriter as the hearse made its way from his Avenue Road home.
Celebrant Fr Noel Kehoe said Mr Reilly was “a much loved son, brother, uncle and a friend to many”.
“He was an icon, decent, good, kind, witty and remarkably talented” he said, adding that he was a wonderful storyteller and his lyrics gave a voice to people.
“His songs touched people and resonated with them and they lifted them. His genius really captured the experience of emigration” Fr Kehoe said.
Gifts that were brought to the altar to represent his passions in life included his well-worn and signature black hat, a piano accordion, some sheet music.
Fr Kehoe spoke about how Mr Reilly had seen many men and women of his generation travel to the United States to find work and he lived there for a number of years.
The cleric told the mourners he was contacted by Glenn Lynch, the Vice-President of the NYPD Emerald Society, earlier this week to sympathise on the passing of the talented Dundalk musician.
Fr Kehoe recalled how Mr Lynch insisted the song the ‘Streets of New York’ penned by the Louth man was the closest version of an official anthem that the NYPD ever had.
The priest also explained how Mr Reilly, who fronted Bagatelle for over 40 years, who were best known for hits Summer in Dublin and Trump Card, was given a harmonica as a child.
Fr Kehoe added: “The rest is history” and he insisted the popular star was “destined to dedicate his life to music”.
Mr Reilly represented Ireland at the 1990 Eurovision song contest and performed admirably finishing in second place with the song ‘Somewhere In Europe’. Fr Kehoe told mourners the star’s sudden death had shocked and stunned many people.
The singer won numerous medals for his accordion playing and for Irish dancing and he was a member of the Gaelic league.
Mr Reilly’s sister Evelyn said the heartbroken family are reeling from his death but they would cherish the good memories they shared.
