Bagatelle Get A Bray Seat Of Honour

Life in the bus lane…

ith the passing of their lead singer, Liam Reilly, on January 1st 2021, the glory days of Bagatelle came to a very definite close…

Two years earlier, fellow band member John O’Brien had also died.

And now, the band that gave us Summer In Dublin is about to be honoured by their hometown, with a memorial bench set to be unveiled on Bray’s seafront by Cathaoirleach Erica Doyle on September 7th. There are hopes of a Bagatelle gig on the bandstand later that day, plus a visit from a 46A bus.

For Ken Doyle, Liam’s friend, bandmate and “brother from another mother” for 42 years, being recognised by his birthplace is indeed an honour, he says, even if the shock of his soulmate’s passing at 65 still hurts.

“I loved John too, but Liam and I were incredibly close,” he told the Guide when we spoke back on the day of the lead singer’s passing. “Over those 42 years, I spent more time with Liam than I have with my own family. So, to say that I’m going to miss him, well, life will simply never been the same…”

It was back in August 1978, in sunny Bray, that drummer Wally McConville and guitarist John O’Brien hooked up with singer and piano player Liam and bassist Ken to form Bagatelle not long after a memorable meeting in The Mississippi Rooms.

And it was clear from the start that they had something special.

For Elton John’s sly producer Gus Dudgeon, the special was largely down to Liam’s vocals and songwriting skills, and he promptly offered the Dundalk man a solo contract.

For his part, Liam was sticking with his band, and his belief had already begun to pay off with the band scoring a string of chart-topping hits, including Leeson Street Lady, Second Violin and, of course, Summer In Dublin.

Over the ensuing years, the band toured and toured, and then toured some more, sharing the stage with the likes of Don McLean, U2 and Bob Marley, as Summer In Dublin became an unofficial Irish anthem – and a song that, in later years, just kept on giving Bagatelle yet another reunion tour, yet another record deal.

“People would ask us if we were actually sick of playing Summer In Dublin,” smiles Ken, “but, how could we be? That song changed everything. When Liam first played it to us back in 100 Sugarloaf Cresent – John’s then home – we gave the guy a round of applause. And that song took us to China, Hong Kong, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Holland, Belgium, France and most of America…”

Through it all, he says, the foursome were like brothers. So, what does Ken Doyle miss most about his friends, Liam Reilly and John O’Brien…?

“Obviously, I miss getting up on stage with them and just playing those songs. And the joy and the pain that comes with being that close to a person.

“I loved it all – the laughs, the fights, the hugs, everything. Liam will be a part of me forever…”

This interview first appeared on January 2nd 2021.