Louth County Council has announced that a memorial celebrating the life and legacy of the late Liam Reilly, the renowned singer songwriter and frontman of Bagatelle, will be unveiled on Earl Street in Dundalk on Friday, 20 February.
The memorial takes the form of a stainless steel seat installation, which was conceptualised and designed by local artist, the late Micheál McKeown. The piece features a portrait of Liam Reilly, surrounded by the musical notes from Summer in Dublin, Bagatelle’s iconic 1980 hit.
Liam Reilly was born in Dundalk in 1955 and joined Bagatelle at the age of 23. He went on to front the band for more than 40 years, during which time they released five albums and a number of well known songs including The Streets of New York, Boston Rose, Flight of Earls and Second Violin.
In 1990, Liam represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest with his song Somewhere in Europe, finishing as joint runner up. He later wrote Ireland’s 1991 Eurovision entry Could It Be That I’m in Love, performed by Kim Jackson, which placed joint tenth.
Liam Reilly passed away peacefully on 1 January 2021 at the age of 65.
Speaking on behalf of the Reilly family, Liam’s sister Barbara said: “The whole family are delighted that Liam is to be honoured, in his hometown, in this way. We have received lovely messages from friends and fans to say that they are so happy for him.
We would like to thank all the people who were involved in getting this over the line, in particular Louth County Council’s Arts Officer, Moya Hodgers, and her team. The design was Micheál McKeown’s final piece of work, and there is no doubt his family will be very proud of it.
It will be a great day to remember Liam, and we are really looking forward to it. His songs will live on in the minds and hearts of all his fans and other musicians who continue to play his music.
Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said: This is a fitting tribute that recognises Liam’s immense contribution to Irish music and his special connection to Dundalk, where his songs continue to resonate with people of all ages. Like so many people who grew up in Dundalk, I remember hearing Bagatelle’s music in our house and around the town. Liam’s songs were a soundtrack to everyday life here. To now honour him in the heart of Dundalk is something very special, not just for the Council but for the whole community.
David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said: Bagatelle’s influence and Liam Reilly’s remarkable songwriting talent travelled far beyond Dundalk and County Louth. It left an imprint on people across the country and further afield, and it is a privilege for Louth County Council to mark his legacy in this way.
