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Ciarán O’Reilly (1938–2020)

A celebration of the life of fiddle player Ciarán O'Reilly by his friend and fellow musician Mick O'Connor.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Dungarvan 1957 Standing, left to right: Bill Russell, Ciarán and Eoghan O’Reilly. Seated: Máire and Sheila O’Reilly. Photo courtesy of Frances Fleming.
Malachy Sweeney Céilí Band
The Éamonn Ceannt Céilí Band, AOH Hall, Parnell Square, Dublin, late 1950s Standing, left to right: Fiddlers Ciarán O'Reilly and Paddy Lynch. Seated: Danny Merrigan (drums), Jim Dowling (pipes), Viola Preston (piano accordion), Florie Schooling (piano) and Vincent Broderick (piccolo). Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection.
The Abbey Tavern Singers and Musicians Back row, left to right: Pat O’Connell, Áine McCann and Seán Byrne. Front row: Tommy Reck, Micheál Mac Aogáin, Bill Power, Ciarán O’Reilly and P.J. Downes. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection
The Abbey Tavern Singers and Musicians, 1990. Back row, left to right: Eddie McGinley, Micheál Ó Conaill, Ann Carroll and Michael Brooks. Front row: Mick O’Connor, Ciarán O’Reilly and Seán Donnellan. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection.
The Abbey Tavern Singers and Musicians Reunion, Duke Pub, Dublin, 2003. Standing, back row, left to right: Seán Keane, Ciarán O’Reilly, Brian O’Rourke, Micheál Ó Conaill and James Scott-Lennon. Front row: Michael Brooks and Mary Sheehan. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection.
Party in the Abbey Tavern, Howth for Seán McGuire, December 1988. Left to right: Seán McGuire, Frances Fleming, Eoghan O’Reilly, John O’Brien with tape recorder. Note Tommy Reck standing at back of photo. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection
Party for Seán McGuire at the Abbey Tavern, 1988. Eoghan and Ciarán O’Reilly (fiddles) with Donal O’Connor in background. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection.
James Morrison Festival, Riverstown, Sligo, 2009. Left to right: Ciaran O'Reilly, Máire Garvey, Martin Enright and Dan Healy. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection.

Easter Snow, air / Ciarán O'Reilly from: Whispering strains from the past / Cómhra na dTonn (Dan Healy, 2000)

Ciarán O'Reilly and John Sheahan at the Harcourt Hotel for a performance by Seán McGuire’s Trio, June, 1999. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection.
Liam O'Connor's Fiddle Party, 2013 Standing, back row, left to right: Youenn Bothorel, Ciarán O’Reilly, Seán Ó Broin, Seán Keegan, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh and Jessie Smith. Front row: Séamus Glackin and Liam O’Connor, 23 February 2013. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection.
Visit to Charlie Lennon, Tigh Choilí, Galway, June 2014. Session in Tigh Choilí, Galway, with Charlie Lennon and friends Michael Brooks, Ciarán O'Reilly and Mick O'Connor who travelled from Dublin to visit Charlie. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection
A Gathering of Friends The Oak Room, the Mansion House, Dublin, 21 June 2018. Left to right: Mick O’Connor, Michael Tubridy, Ciarán O'Reilly, Antóin Mac Gabhainn, Seán Keane, John Dwyer and Liam O’Connor. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection.
Colm Scully and Ciarán O’Reilly, Dublin Docklands Festival, 9 December 2017. Photo: © Mick O’Connor Collection.

“We were very privileged to know and have Ciarán in our lives. He won’t be forgotten by his many friends and his gentle ways and mannerisms will always bring a smile to my face.”

Mick O'Connor, 2020