Dermot O'Reilly

O'Reilly lauded for warmth, humour and talent at funeral

Last Updated: Thursday, February 22, 2007 | 5:40 PM NT

CBC News

Hundreds of people filled a small church north of St. John's Thursday to pay their final respects to a folk music legend.

So many people turned out for the funeral of Dermot O'Reilly that the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary had to issue an advisory that school buses in the Torbay area would be running late.

Folk singer and music producer Dermot O'Reilly died last Saturday of an apparent heart attack.
(CBC)

O'Reilly, 64, a founding member of Ryan's Fancy and a mainstay of the Newfoundland music scene for well over 30 years, died last Saturday of an apparent heart attack.

Friend Roger Lockyer said O'Reilly had a magical quality.

"If you were feeling down in the dumps, [with] one conversation Dermot would do everything he could do to make you feel better," Lockyer said.

"When you walked away from Dermot, you felt like a better person."

O'Reilly formed Ryan's Fancy in 1971 with fellow Irish emigres Denis Ryan and Fergus O'Byrne. The trio found fame across Canada with best-selling albums, concert tours and a CBC Television series.

After Ryan's Fancy broke up in 1983, each member pursued different careers.

Apart from his own singing career, O'Reilly founded his own production company in Torbay, producing dozens of albums.

"He was certainly a great producer, a very patient man," said musician Tom Boland, who recorded an album in O'Reilly's studio.

During the funeral, parish priest David Butler lauded O'Reilly as a man who always presented hope in his music. Butler said O'Reilly's death meant the loss of a great musician to Newfoundland and Labrador, and to Canada.

Almost Any Picture Can Be Saved

A fellow from RP posted this b & w pic of himself and I couldn't tell what he looked like so I thought I'd give him the treatment.

Hutch & Pauline R Gonna Have My Ass For This

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Polaroid FX

No particular reason for this. Just liked the shot and the effect.

To My Wife On Valentine's Day

Scissor Sisters

Hats off to Beez at RP for pushing me to actually do a pic. She wanted something a little cheeky for the girls so I came up with this.

Woody & Viv

The folks, on their 25th Anniversary in 1977. It's a real shame Dad isn't around to see all his grand children. I think he would have been really proud.

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James McMurtry

Just caught a great set from JM on ACL. If you're really tired of all the crap out there and want a good listen, please pick up some of his stuff. You won't be disappointed.

The Real Me

Of course we all know that nothing is real anymore. T.V. reality shows aren't real. The nightly news isn't real (on Fox anyway). Most commercial music is not, nor ever was real and the big daddy of them all? Photography. With the advent of digital photography, the ability to create, enhance, and embellish a photograph has never been easier. Models, who were never quite real to begin with are now touched-up to the point where the consumer would rather see them in their altered state than in the natural form. Sure, we've all heard the battle cry of those who are trying to turn the fashion industry away from the the waifs we now see strolling down the catwalk and promote the fuller figured and more natural woman we see on the street but so far there seems to be little change on the horizon. Little girls strive to be thin like their TV heroins and some even manage to die trying. I, for one, would love see a change back to the classic beauty like Marilyn Monroe and see her make her way down the catwalk. Who knows...maybe someday.

So how easy is it to make the perfect face? With a little blurring here, some sharpening there and brightening in other areas, I was able to covert this lovely girl from the girl on the street to the girl in the magazine. And while fake, how would you prefer your portrait to look?

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You Need That Photo Altered

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HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Encourage Your Teens To Talk

Anniversary #16 ( & Still Going Strong)

Merry Christmas To All...

So once again, we await the clatter of the big man on the roof and the squeals of the wee ones as they reap Santa's bounty. I trust you all had a dandy year. One with little strife and much joy. Maybe? Maybe not? It matters not as soon the New Year will offer a chance for both creation and redemption; temptation and salvation. As last year, I would like to acknowledge all the good people that have contributed to my life...both to the good and to ta udder. Everyone's life touches everyone and though I can't speak for the others on this list, you all have left a lasting impression on me. So, in no particular order.......

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to.....

Holly Au, Lorne Pike, Linda Pike, Johnny Crocker, Rose Fitzgerald, Dawn Davis, Wanda Hoyles, Wanda Hillyard, Sharon Martin, Kitty Cashin, Linda Smith, Camille, Gregg Davis, Ian Hutchinson, Pauline Hutchinson, Keith Abbott, Paul Baron, Dean Martin, Glen Philpott, Ian Grant, Jon Soper, Perry Mathews, Conrad Powell, Jim & Wanda Pond (Jeta and Candy), George Sheppard, Melvina Sheppard, Greg Rumbolt, Peter Alteen, Steve Warren, Dougie Alteen, Barry Sweetland, Don Dingwell, Shane Stark, Ranie Padayachee, Joanne Cantwell, Michelle Grant, Anne Marie Fitzgerald, Paul Mathews, Keith Mathews, Jon Soper, Norah Lee, Chris & Linda Soper and family, Anne Alteen and family, Trudy Campbell, Mary Barry, Bruce Smith, Roland MacDonald, Steve White, Ron Ferguson, Chris Hennessey, (the late)Jack Osmond, Jack’s family, Bill Hunt, Dan Murphy, Corinne McGillvery, Jean Smith, (the late)Fred Rabbits, Chuck Dyke, Don Ryan, Gary Oake, Wayne Oake, Brenda, Alf, Rudy, Kim Thistle, Craig Quinn, Donna Alteen, Donna Mullet, Lynn Barter, Barb Bursey, Teena Morrey, Tim Mayberry, Dick MacDonald, Dave Harnett, Charmaine Easton, Sharon Doody, Steve Poole, Jeff Easton, Janice Legge, Craig Smith and family, Terry Thompson, Judy Vincent, Stacy Vincent, Karen Stephen & Susan Vanderbrand, Janice Hardy, Lori Quinn, Des McGrath, Glenn Alteen, Danny O’Conner, the crowd from the Blomidon Counrty Club and the Corner Brook Curling Club, the boys from the Rideau Curling Club, the crew from Wood Gundy, my staff at H&R Block, the A.U. (Alternate Universe), old band mates from The Academy of Music, Jean Graham, Don, Steve, Martin and me Ma (of course), (the late) E.C. Reid (Pa), cousins, Aunts and Uncles, George Ellsworth, Mary Ellsworth, (the late) Lawrence Ellsworth and most all to Pam, Erica & Jonathan who make every day a happy one.


My apologies to anyone whom I may have inadvertently omitted. Trust me, you are here, but maybe you've gone for a pee.

Love to all,
geed

Gig Posters

Latest posters for the boys and their upcoming gig. Click on pics to enlarge.

From A Poor Photo Comes A Beautiful Portrait

Take a so-so photo and with a few choice clicks of the mouse, create a painting worthy of your subject.

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Dominion Ale

A reminder to all the folks back home in Newfoundland who enjoy me ol' grog.

Brand Names

It's a damn shame I was born when I was. If I were in my twenties now I would be doing print ads. Of all the tweaking I do, ads give me the most pleasure. Here are a couple of recent creations done for friends at Radio Paradise.

CSN : Suite : Judy Blue Eyes

Favorite song? No question.

He Done Me Good

Now normally, I'm the one doing the spoofing but this time, Radio Paradise character- at- large, Phineas (Greg Poole) has done me and done me good. Too funny Phin! I am honoured.