Culture
11 Jan 23

TG4 tribute programme to Bagatelle’s late Liam Reilly is available to stream now

The programme is the Irish music world's first chance to bid the late musician a proper farewell following his tragic passing on 1st January 2021.

Originally aired on New Year’s Eve on TG4, a special celebration of the talent of the late Liam Reilly and his band Bagatelle is now available to stream via the TG4 player.

Bagatelle - Ómós do Liam Reilly, which features performances of the music from Bagatelle by the likes of Camillle O’Sullivan, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Lucia Evans, Tommy Fleming, The High Kings, Ryan McMullan, Brian Kennedy and Greenshine is a display of the extraordinary talent of the late Dundalk native, but also the musical talent the late musician inspired and that still prevails today.

Reilly’s writing skills are sorely missed following his sudden passing on New Year’s Day in 2021. His repertoire boasts some of the band’s most iconic hits such as ‘Summer in Dublin’, ‘Streets of New York’, and ‘Second Violin’, and now, since the start of the pandemic, friends, fans and peers have had the opportunity to bid him a proper musical farewell since his untimely death at 65 years old.

The programme was filmed in the scenic surroundings of Kilruddery House and features many of Ireland’s favourite singers with interviews from those closest to Liam - friends and family including Colm Ó Snodaigh, Aonghus McAnally and Eileen Dunne.

Reilly’s journey with the Irish rock band began in 1978 when he joined the already-formed group with guitarist John O’Brien, bass player Ken Doyle and drummer Wally McConville. Bagatelle went on to become one of Ireland’s biggest bands in Ireland in the 1980’s with their hit song ‘Summer in Dublin’ becoming the unofficial anthem for those young Irish who emigrated to London, Europe and the United States at that time.

A break from the band came in the mid-1980’s when he moved to the United States. 1990 saw his solo performance of Eurovision song ‘Somewhere in Europe’ place joint second out of 22 entries in that year’s contest held in Zagreb.

Directed by Feilimí O’Connor and produced by Jason Forde, Bagatelle - Ómós do Liam Reilly is available to stream now via TG4 player.