The Irish singer and songwriter Liam Reilly, who finished 2nd in 1990 Eurovision Song Contest, has died at age 65. He is mentioned to have passed away suddenly, but peacefully.
Reilly formed the band Bagatelle back in 1978 with drummer Wally McConville, bass player Ken Doyle and guitarist John O’Brien. In 1980 they released the song Summer in Dublin, which probably was their biggest hit ever. At one stage the song was selling 10,000 copies a week, turning Bagatelle into such local superstars who were asked to support Bob Marley in Dalymount Park and later invited to perform at Self Aid with U2 and Van Morrison. In the mid-1980’s, Reilly left the band to start a solo career.
With sad hearts, the family of Liam Reilly, musician, songwriter and frontman of Bagatelle, wish to confirm that he passed away suddenly but peacefully at his home on January 1st.
Liam Reilly in the Eurovision Song Contest
In 1988, Reilly took part in the Irish national selection for Eurovision Song Contest and finished second. In 1990, he went back to the national final and won. His song Somewhere In Europe finished 2nd in the Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Zagreb that year. Reilly returned to Eurovision as a composer in 1991 where his song Could It Be That I’m In Love, performed by Kim Jackson, finished 10th.
In the video embedded, you can watch Reilly’s performance at 1990 Eurovision Song Contest:
