Looking for some traditional Irish music for your event? Billy Reidy, whose ancestors came from the South Coast of Ireland, offers an entertaining one-man show that includes traditional and contemporary Irish folk tunes, rebel songs, ballads, pub songs, and Celtic songs.

Billy sings while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. He covers the songs of The Clancy Brothers, The Dublin City Ramblers, The Dubliners, The Fureys, The High Kings, The Irish Rovers, Dolores Keane, Tommy Makem, Jim McCann, Christy Moore, The Pogues, Paddy Reilly, The Wolfe Tones and many more!

In addition to Irish songs, Billy has an extensive repertoire of over 1,000 songs covering a wide range of genres, including Country, Folk, Oldies, Classic Hits, Standards, Blues and Roots music.

His extensive song list offers something for everyone!

Billy Reidy’s solo acoustic act is perfect for St. Patrick Day celebrations, Irish Pubs, Irish-American Organizations, Irish Events & Festivals, and any private party where Irish music, and other types of music, would be appreciated.

In addition to his solo acoustic act, Bill can also offer a duo, Reidy and Higgins, which includes Ellie Higgins on vocals, guitar and percussion, along with Bill on vocals, guitar, percussion, harmonica, and tin whistle.

If you, or your organization, would like more information about the music of Billy Reidy, he can be reached by phone at 508-287-8008 or by email at Bookings@BillReidyMusic.com.

For information about other acts that Bill offers, go to www.BillReidyMusic.com, where you will find more audios and videos and a description of his other solo acts and duos as well as his popular tribute shows.

AUDIOS

Wild Rover

Spancil Hill

Dublin In The Rare Ould Times

Mairi’s Wedding

Brennan On The Moor

Will Ye Go Lassie Go

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VIDEOS

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Click Here For Audio Clips of Other Styles of Music

CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF APPEARANCES AT IRISH VENUES

IRISH SONG LIST

The Proud History of the Reidy Clan

The Reidy family surname  (also Reedy, Riedy, Reid, and O’Reidy) is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó Riada. The family was part of the Dalcassian sept and in early Gaelic times lived in the southwest of Ireland, in the Munster counties of Clare and Kerry. The Ó Riadas can claim lineage to the legendary King Oiloill Olum, who was Monarch of Munster in the third century.

In the late 12th century the Ó Riadas gained control of lands belonging to the O’Donnegans, and an Ó Riada held the title of “King of Ara” (an area in Munster) for over three centuries. Records from the mid-1600s show clusters of Ó Riadas in counties Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary, and as far east as Waterford. Reidy is often claimed as a Scottish or Scotch-Irish name, and in fact, the Irish Ó Riadas are related to Carbri Riada who established kingdoms in ancient Ireland and Scotland.

Perhaps one of the most well known descendants of the Ó Riada clan is Irish composer Seán Ó Riada. Ó Riada, who was born John Reidy in 1931, reintroduced and revolutionized traditional Irish music by combining it with the classical tradition. Ó Riada’s formation of the traditional Irish band, Ceoltóirí Chualann, popularized Irish-language music. Ceoltóirí Chualann played in concert halls and attracted large crowds. It was one of the first modern popular Irish folk bands, and helped give rise to The Chieftains. Ó Riada has been credited with reintroducing the bódhran, which had not been widely used since the 16th century.

Source: Maeve Molly, Irish America Contributor, December / January 2008