Reilly's Men - The Band

**** NEW ALBUM OUT NOW ****

This is the debut album from Wexford based four-piece band, Reilly's Men, playing trad infused songs and tunes from both sides of the Atlantic.

Track Listing:

1) Waterbound (Dirk Powell)
2) The Long Evening (reels)
3) Murphy Can Never Go Home (Mick Curry)
4) When First Unto This Country (Trad.)
5) Paradise (John Prine)
6) The Long Farewell (slip jigs)
7) Island of Australia (Michael Marrinan)
8) Search And Rescue (Stephen O'Leary)
9) Brennan On The Moor (Trad.)
10) Last Of The Starrs (air, reel)
11) The New American (Lyrics by Paul O'Reilly)

Reilly’s Men are:

Martin Sheehan - Vocals, bodhrán.
Paul O’Reilly - Vocals, guitars, banjo-guitar, bouzouki.
Stephen O’Leary - Vocals, mandolin, guitar.
Mick Folan - Flute, whistles, bouzouki.

Lead vocals on the album:

Martin Sheehan tracks 1, 5, 9.
Paul O’Reilly tracks 3, 7, 11.
Stephen O’Leary tracks 4, 8.

All tracks arranged by Reilly’s Men.

Stephen O'Leary | Martin Sheehan | Paul O'Reilly | Mick Folan

Paul O'Reilly on Long in the Making ...

"The band is together about 18 months, formed after a jamming session Paddy's Day 2010. In general, at our shows, we do a wide mix, from trad. to Irish and American folk, sometimes with some Springsteen and Rock n Roll thrown in, depending on the crowd. The album in someway represents this mixture, from Paradise (John Prine) to Search & Rescue to a trad. song - The New American - but we wanted the album to have a fresh sound to those songs, yet a sound that was within the tradition we were all exposed to as younger men. But we didn't want a sound that was overburdened with overdubs, we wanted it to be as alive as possible, without it being a live album for clarity reasons, hence, only acoustic instruments were used throughout.

Planxty would be an common influence to us all, definitely, but the plan going forward is to continue to define our own sound, and to write and resurrect story-songs, not simply come-all-ye's, and not limited to songs of Irish origin or influence, but just songs with a strong story, message, moral, where ever they come from. Songs that mean something to us all. The lyrics are just as important to us as the music, and we hope this comes through in this album."

"FOUR-PIECE Enniscorthy-based traditional folk group Reilly's Men certainly believe in staying close to home. The band – comprising Mick Folan, Stephen O'Leary, Paul O'Reilly and Martin Sheehan – launched their new CD at the Riverside Park hotel in Enniscorthy last Friday. And the album called 'Long in the Making' was recorded in the house of singer and guitar player Paul O'Reilly in Bellefield.

However, they are prepared to venture further afield in the choice of musical material, stopping off in American and Australia along the way.

The list of tracks also includes an upbeat number from mandolin player Stephen O'Leary who, literally, sings the praises of the Slaney search and rescue organisation.

The band has been together for a year and a half, formed after a jamming session on Paddy's Day 2010.

They have a considerable following for their live gig mixture of traditional Irish and American folk, with the odd rock 'n roll track thrown in."