Down The Ivory Stairs

About Padraic O Reilly

Padraic O’Reilly hails from Corofin in County Clare. For someone so young, he has been to the forefront in the development of the piano as a melody instrument in Irish traditional music. The second of three sons, he comes from a musical background – both his parents played music in there teenage years, and hold multiple All-Ireland titles for set-dancing. His two brothers are also accomplished musicians, and indeed his younger brother Damien appears on the final track of this recording.

He has won All-Ireland titles at every level, culminating in the Senior all-Ireland piano title in 1998. He is also a noted accompanist, both with Céili bands and soloists. He is a member of the Ennis Céili Band and has also played with the renowned Kilfenora and Four Courts Céili Bands. A prolific teacher of piano and junior Céili Bands, many of his pupils have been honoured at All-Ireland level.

A founder member of the group Turas, their debut album in 1997 received much critical acclaim for their unique sound with melody piano, flute, fiddle, concertina, bouzouki and bodhrán. The group recorded with the legendary James Keane in 1999 on his album “Sweeter as the Years Go By”. Padraic has also recently appeared on Gary Shannon’s “Loozin’ Air”, where his accompaniment drew much attention for its originality and subtlety. It was the constant requests for more “melody piano music” that spurred him on to record this album, his solo debut.

He appeared at the 1998 Washington Irish Folk Festival with Turas, and has also toured the East Coast of America with the Four Courts Céili Band. Among the many European countries to which his music has taken him are Germany, Belgium, Italy, Holland, Greece and the United Kingdom. He now lives in Galway, where he works as an Electronic Engineer, and he is a regular contributor to Galway’s vibrant session scene.