Short ...

PAUL O’REILLY lives with his wife and children in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Ireland. A recorded singer, songwriter and musician, Paul has performed on national radio and TV, and with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. His drama has been shortlisted at Listowel Writers’ Week, his fiction listed for the Seán O’Faoláin Prize, the Bristol Prize, the William Trevor/Elizabeth Bowen International Prize, published online at Necessary Fiction, selected for The Lonely Voice series of readings at the Irish Writers' Centre, and his story I Wish MacGowan Hadn't Written That Song was published in Irish Independent's New Irish Writing, and is currently shortlisted for the 2011 Hennessy Literary Awards. He is also Natural Bridge's nomination for the Pushcart Prize: Best Writing Published in Literary Journals 2012. For more information see www.pauloreilly.ie.

Long ...

Educated in the CBS, Enniscorthy, Paul was awarded a First Class Honours Degree in Software Engineering from Carlow IT in 1994. Today, he works as Chief Architect of Headway Software and Chief Whip of Webplify.

Inspired by his parents, Paul has always been involved in music, winning awards for singing, lilting, guitar and bodhrán. He is a noted songwriter, his songs commended by Christy Moore, Mick Hanly, Niall Toner, Luka Bloom and Kieran Goss, and in the past has attended workshops facilitated by Mike Hanrahan, Pierce Turner and Martin Egan.

Inspired after seeing Andy Doyle's Something About Roses, Martin McDonagh's The Lonesome West, and Billy Roche's Belfry at the Enniscorthy Drama Festival, and after joining Launch Pad, Paul wrote his first play in 2002.

In 2004 he began exploring fiction, and since then has attended workshops facilitated by Claire Keegan, Billy Roche, Darragh Carville and Jim Maguire.

Paul is secretary to the writers' support group, Enniscorthy Launch Pad, and has been involved in organising workshops and, with the support of Wexford County Council, publications of local writing. Launch Pad is a Registered Member of the County Wexford Community Forum. Paul has facilitated the promotion of literary work via Launch Pad readings, radio interviews, press releases, publications and website.

Paul is a registered member of ArtsLinks, Breaking Tunes and IMRO, and a partner in Scallta Media alongside Niall and Eamonn Wall, a new publishing initiative in County Wexford, Ireland. He is also a member of the Fr Murphy branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

Paul is an accomplished guitarist, bouzouki and bodhrán player. Generally he plays a Martin D-16GT guitar (Fishman preamp), a Tanglewood Union Series Banjo Guitar (DADF#AD tuning), and a Fylde Longscale Archtop Bouzouki.

 

Experience & Achievements ...

2012	Short story I Wish MacGowan Hadn't Written That Song will appear in Issue 27 of Natural Bridge (North America) in the Spring, and out of almost 500 submissions will be Natural Bridge's nomination to the Pushcart Prize: Best Writing Published in Literary Journals 2012 Will perform as a guest in An Góilín, a traditional singers' club based in Dublin, Ireland, in April Co-ordinated the launch and publicity of The Scaldy Detail 2011, launched in Enniscorthy library by Colm Tóibín in January
2011	Short story I Wish MacGowan Hadn't Written That Song published in Irish Independent's New Irish Writing on Saturday, March 26th, and shortlisted for the 2011 Hennessy Literary Awards Short story On the Way Home selected for The Lonely Voice: Short Story Introductions January reading, hosted by the Irish Writers' Centre, where Paul read on Wednesday, February 23rd Short story What's Eating Him? prize-winning runner-up for the Bristol Short Story Prize Short story Alzheimer's prize-winning runner-up for the William Trevor/Elizabeth Bowen International Short Story Prize Short story Crosses selected for publication online at Necessary Fiction Short story Discovering Jack selected for publication in the Whitechapel 13 Anthology Gave a traditional song and singing presentation entitled Folk Songs from Wexford to participants of The Wild Bee's Nest, a research project involving a group of traditional singers from throughout Ireland. The project is led by artists Michael Fortune and Aileen Lambert and is supported by The Arts Council in conjunction with The Bealtaine Festival, The National Library of Ireland and the Irish Traditional Music Archive Produced Where Life is a Song, a new album of 13 songs by John Ennis Produced with Reilly's Men, Long in the Making, a new album of 11 trad infused folk songs from both sides of the Atlantic (includes The New American, written and performed by Paul) (article) Administered submissions on behalf of editor Eamonn Wall, and designed, The Scaldy Detail 2011, a new anthology of creative writings Began work on recording the new songs of The Wild Bees' Nest for CD release Began work on two short film projects (one as producer, the other as writer), and research into a documentary project on traditional singers and songs in Co. Wexford. More information to follow in 2012 Headway Software, with Paul as Chief Architect, awarded a JOLT Productivity Award for their product Restructure101 CCÉ County Runner-Up in English Singing, Winner in Newly Composed Ballad CCÉ Leinster Runner-Up in Newly Composed Ballad, Third Place in English Singing CCÉ All-Ireland Finalist in Newly Composed Ballad and Lilting
2010	Short story (3000 words) Tarts shortlisted for the Seán Ó Faoláin Prize (849 entries) Song School of Redundancy shortlisted in Sean McCarthy Ballad Competition (60+ entries) Flash story (500 words) Nightshift shortlisted in Q2 of Flash 500 Competition Flash story (500 words) The Girl Missing from the Window longlisted in Q4 of Flash 500 Competition Poem Exploring the Town published in Enniscorthy Echo (30/06/2010 Edition) Performed at Gala Concert in aid of the MS North Wexford Society, in Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy Performed at Trad Féile Day in Wexford Arts Centre (supported by Arts Council DEIS scheme) Performed in Trad for Trócaire campaign Co-adviser and primary designer of the book Songs and Poems by James Armstrong, a100-page collection of writings from the 1930s-1950s by a Kiltealy man. The Armstrong family researched and produced the book, and it was successfully launched to a full-to-capacity Kiltealy Hall on 18th Sept, where Paul also acted as MC, and books were sold out within three days. The project also involved Paul (and Helen Kirwan) composing or matching airs to six of the ballads, and music notations for these airs were included in the book (see design). Hosted Launch Pad downstairs @ The Bailey. Featuring Mogue Doyle, Andy Doyle, David Medcalf, Paddy Kehoe and Eddie Crean Performed at Gala Concert in aid of the Atheneum Restoration Fund, in St Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy Performed at Enniscorthy 1500 Songs of Praise Celebrations, in St Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy Performed at The Cáca Milis Cabaret - The Cáca Nollag Cabaret - in Wexford Arts Centre CCÉ County Runner-Up in English Singing and Newly Composed Ballad, Winner in Lilting CCÉ Triple Senior Leinster Champion (English Singing, Newly Composed English Song and Lilting) CCÉ All Ireland Senior Lilting Champion, Runner-up in Newly Composed English Song, Third in Senior English Singing
2009	Researched, recorded, mixed, designed and launched a double album of 26 (most previously unreleased) folk songs from Co. Wexford entitled THE POET'S DREAM. With lead vocals by Paul and Helen Kirwan, and performances by Paddy Berry, Padraig Sinnott and Tom Murphy, this album is a document of the past, a recording of hits of their time; hits that never made the charts but brought so much joy, and sometimes controversy, to the people of the day. This project was awarded funding by the Arts Council of Ireland's Deis Scheme in 2008 Performed with Whisht! in Lón Trad, alongside Mary McPartlan, Steve Cooney and Rick Epping, as part of TG4's Gradam Ceoil Performed at The Phil Murphy Festival, and at Ceol Cé Festival, Wexford Performed at Gala Concert in aid of the Atheneum Restoration Fund, in St Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy Performed on two Comhaltas CDs: Echos of Erin (North American Tour), and Good Old Monageer (a compilation album by the Fr Murphy Branch) Toured Newfoundland, Canada, as part of Traditional Singing Group (which included co-facilitating a song-culture workshop, composing a new song in honour of the Festival of the Sea, and a spot at The Crow's Nest) Coordinated, typeset and designed the Scallta publication PAINTING THE VESTIBULE by Betty Thompson (see design) - "The cover depicts a close-up of stained glass, an image that expresses both the vividness of her language and its attention to detail..." - THE IRISH TIMES CCÉ Triple Senior County Wexford Champion (Lilting, English Singing, Newly Composed) CCÉ Senior Leinster Champion (Newly Composed), Runner-Up in Lilting and English Singing CCÉ Senior All-Ireland Runner-Up (Lilting), Third in Newly Composed
2008	Performed solo psalm (Deóra Dé/Father, Into Your Hands - composed by Sue Furlong) in St Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy, for the Good Friday Passion, broadcast live on RTÉ One television Performed traditional vocal solos in the world premiere of Ian Wilson's HARBOURING on June 5th, 2008 (with Fergus Sheil (conductor), Irish Chamber Orchestra, Whisht!, Enniscorthy Choral Society, Wexford Festival Singers and Gorey Choral Group) Performed with Whisht! at The Clancy Brothers Music Festival, Carrick-on-Suir, and at the Clé Club, Cois Life Bar, Liberty Hall, Dublin Awarded funding by the Arts Council of Ireland's Deis Scheme to record and release an album of previously unreleased trad/folk songs from Wexford In November a new album from traditional ballad singer John Ennis, THE TOMHAGGARD MARTYR, was launched. Paul produced the album and designed the booklet for John Completed research, and began pre-production, of a new album of trad/folk songs from Wexford called THE POET'S DREAM Wrote 15-minute play, TIGER CCÉ Triple Senior County Wexford Champion (Lilting, English Singing, Newly Composed) CCÉ Double Senior Leinster Champion (English Singing, Newly Composed), Runner-Up in Lilting CCÉ Double Senior All-Ireland Runner-Up (Lilting, Newly Composed)
2007	A key member involved in the production and design of THE CUCKOO'S NOTE CD by WHISHT! Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland Coordinated and designed the Launch Pad 108-page publication: THE SCALDY DETAIL 2007 (a collection of new writings from County Wexford). Supported by Wexford County Council Performed at Geordie Hanna Traditional Singing Festival, Newfoundland March Hare Festival, and at the Roscommon Singers' Club As part of Whisht! played support to Mary McPartlan and Tullamore Performer and committee member for a Friends of Wexford Hospital Fundraising Concert CCÉ Senior County Wexford Lilting Champion, Runner-Up in English Singing CCÉ Third in Leinster English Singing and Lilting
2006	Founder member of WHISHT! and helped develop a show of traditional Irish singing Toured Newfoundland, Canada, as part of select music and singing group
2005	Coordinated the publication of Launch Pad's THE SCALDY DETAIL (a collection of new original writings). Supported by Wexford County Council Arts Department Short memoir THE LILTER published in Inside the Crocodile. Written shortly after the passing of Paul's father, MJ.
2004	WILD IN THE COUNTRY was shortlisted to the top 3 (out of 80 entries) in Listowel Writers' Week - Eamon Keane Full Length Play Competition Helped organise Launch Pad Writers' Weekend (included workshops facilitated by Mike Hanrahan (Stockton's Wing), Philip Casey (The Bann Trilogy of novels) and Eamonn Wall (Refuge at De-Soto Bend) ). Supported by Wexford County Council Arts Department Recorded CLASHING THE ASH single with Darren Byrne Wrote third play, THE BUTCHER OF FERNS Guest at Launch Pad in December in Riverside Park, Enniscorthy Guest at A Hint of Christmas in Riverside Park, Enniscorthy, in aid of St Aidan's Folk Group, and at 'The Magic of Musicals' also in Riverside Park, Enniscorthy. Guest at the Wexford Song Club hosted by Darren Byrne in Finnegan's, Wexford, with Rory Faithfield and Robbie McDonald Guest on RTE Céilí House recording of Rackard's Elastic Band, at Rackards, Enniscorthy. Aired on RTE Radio 1 at 9pm, Saturday, July 5th AWARE Charity Session, Holohans, Enniscorthy Slaney Search And Rescue Charity Session in Donohoes, Enniscorthy
2003	Produced, released and promoted debut solo album TAKE A WISH. The album includes ten original compositions, and was recorded and mixed by Paul in his home studio Wrote second play, WILD IN THE COUNTRY
2002	Performed Schooldays Over on PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY!, a CD produced by Wexford Arts Centre, and supported by The Arts Council and launched by Eleanor McEvoy Promotional sets for Practically Every Day! performed as part of the Song Rally III Festival - Wexford, Ashdown Park Hotel - Gorey, The Kings Bar - Waterford, Murphy Floods Hotel - Enniscorthy, Finnegan's Bar - Wexford, and Wexford Arts Centre - Wexford Wrote first play, THESE OLD WALLS First attended Enniscorthy Launch Pad
1998	Two compositions recorded on UNDERNEATH THE LIGHTS EP by Reilly's Daughter; Paul performs backing vocals, guitar and bodhrán
1991	Strawberry Fair Award - Best Performer
1990	CCÉ All-Ireland Bodhrán 15-18 Champion
1989	Strawberry Fair Award - Best Group