Short Version
Enda Reilly Bio
Dublin singer-songwriter Enda Reilly writes in both English and Irish, and his Irish songs can be heard regularly on RTÉ Radio na Gaeltachta.
2010 saw Enda facilitating workshops with The Monaghan Song and Poetry Writers Group, culminating in production of their album “Hands Together”.
Enda also reaches out to younger generations through his Climate Change Songs Workshops initiative, introducing the art of songwriting and environmental issues into schools and other groups.Enda performs “Spoken Word Sung Verse” with hard-working Glór poet Stephen James Smith, which is a unique mix of song and poetry performance featuring the poetry of the likes of Yeats and Kavanagh, as well as original works. Enda can often be found at gigs, open mikes and sessions around Dublin. He also plays regularly with the fun-loving collective known as The Lazy Band.
His debut album “Oxygen 21″ is available on iTunes and can be heard and live tracks downloaded for free from www.endareilly.com. From there you can join the mailing list and also follow Enda on Facebook and Twitter if you like.
The Long Story
Like many musicians, Enda’s love of songs & singing goes way back – to primary school days, filling notebooks with songs from school and learning the tin whistle. Unlike most musicians, Enda got his first taste of performance during Christmas visits to Mayo, the county of his parentage. Enda was a “Wren Boy” taking part in a traditional outing by children on St. Stephen’s Day – visiting pubs & local houses in costume & make-up to sing or play a tune on the tin whistle or fiddle. A silly song saw a few pence in the hat – an early lesson that entertainment has its benefits!
Later Enda honed his trad skills on violin and performed at the National Concert Hall, Dublin in secondary school musical groups. Then a Hohner guitar at age 16 “from Santa” (via O’Neill’s on Capel Street, Dublin) started Enda on a lifelong relationship with guitar music. But it was as an active Gaelic footballer at local GAA club Thomas Davis, that Enda made his greatest musical discovery in fellow athlete & neighbour Peter Keogh. Off the pitch the two started a musical collaboration that would unlock a treasure chest of talent, energy and adventure for years to come.
The Middle Bit
From humble beginnings, working security and wiling away the hours practicing cover songs, then taking to the streets busking, Enda & Peter, with their winning harmonies and fun style were a hit. Unable to clearly define their cross-bred sound, Enda & Peter took the name The Mongrels and focused on writing songs and getting to grips with basic recording techniques on a BR-8.
They became a 4-piece when joined by Alan White on lead electric guitar and Shane McCormack on drums and enjoyed a successful run of gigs in and around Tallaght & Dublin city centre, cranking out a great mix of 60s & 70s hits. When life got in the way and Alan & Shane took different paths, The Mongrels adapted. Enda took up the electric guitar and the band became a 3-piece in 2005 with the addition of hard working all-rounder Dave “Griffo” Griffin on drums. A weekly 3hr slot at Temple Bar’s favourite, The Foggy Dew, brought The Mongrels to a new level. The Instant Chronicles of The Mongrels album is a testament to the talent and character of these three crackin Tallaght lads.
But by 2007 The Mongrels were moving in different directions. Enda’s focus shifted to his solo song-writing efforts and more traditional leanings (the tinnitus didn’t help either!). Casual trad Sunday night session in The International Bar proved fruitful for Enda’s acoustic talents, and from there he teamed up with fiddler Christophe Capewell and subsequently recorded Sallymount Avenue featuring Irish folk songs and new arrangements in the trad vein (www.myspace.com/sallymountavenue).
Through his membership in IMRO (Irish Musicians Rights Organisation), Enda got to take a course online with Berkeley College of Music and chose Recording and Producing in the Home Studio. IMRO also provided Enda with opportunities to meet and work with a variety of talented song-writers at their annual songwriters retreat in Rosnowlagh, Co. Donegal, which he has attended twice. He successfully pitched country song “Strangers on a Train”to Nashville and NBT Records added to their Compilation Ride The Train Volume 22.
Flying Solo
In August 2007 Enda and fellow singer/songwriter Shane Regan filled Bewley’s Café Theatre, and Enda’s first solo gig was a rounding success. Since then, Enda’s focus has been on recording, producing and mastering his solo album, Oxygen 21while entertaining audiences at The Mezz, Thomas Reade’s, and even in-store, performing in the Oxfam shop on Georges Street Lower as part of Oxjam October 2007. He established Endaderoad Records and started hosting as Gaeilge, a radio programme the Idir linn Show once a fortnight, on Sundays 6-7pm on Dublin South 93.9FM. Through his membership in MoveExtras.ie as ‘musician for hire’ Enda organised musicians to perform with him as extras in the upcoming film Dorothy Mills and BBC TV drama George Gently.
Enda Reilly is still a work in progress – both artist and songwriter, both trad and rock & roll. He’s behind the scenes, on the airwaves and in the spotlight. For the next chapter in Enda History, all we can say is WATCH THIS SPACE!
