This Saturday I'll be performing at the Pittsburgh Irish Fest on the Celtic Spirit stage at 12pm doing my show singing traditional and original Irish folk songs with guitar, bodhrán and live-looping. I'd love to see you at the show!

I'm also debuting a talk I've been working on, looking at Ireland's Geological Heritage which draws on my BSc. degree in Geology from University College Dublin a long time ago. Really enjoying the process. We'll be looking at the main types of rock that exist (I might have a song about that!) and look at a few examples of those from Ireland.

We'll explore how the north of the island and the south of the island were separated by an ocean at one point, how the rocks show us connections between North America and Europe and we'll discuss the Burren and the Giants Causeway. The photo is of me on Croagh Patrick and we'll be chatting about the extraordinary rock that can be found right on the pilgrim trail.

Rocky Road to Dublin – A journey through the Emerald Isle’s geologic past with Enda Reilly. Enda shares insights and unravels the mysteries of Ireland’s Rocks – Enda Reilly - Cultural Hedge School Stage at 3pm

I had two interviews last Friday before and during the Milwaukee Irish Fest, one with the Irishstar.com (which is partnered with Dublinlive.ie) and one with Ward Irish Music Archives both of which I enjoyed, but found challenging too, delving into the why's and what's of the past. 

Two photos arose, one brand new and one from my busking days in 2006 which are fun to look at.  That photo by Daragh Owens is in front of HMV on Grafton street which was always a favoured spot for The Mongrels, Peter, Griffo and myself. On one occasion Glen Hansard asked us would we mind stopping busking for an hour so they could film a scene from a movie they were making. Little did we know that was the Once movie he was making!  The second photo is from the The Milwaukee Festival by Kenzie Trezise. It was amazing as usual and I enjoyed playing to a wonderful crowd from the Celtic Roots Stage and having the craic as gaeilge with Karen, Ray and an lucht oireachtais in the Ghaeltacht tent with two performances there.

 It been a fun and challenging adventure which continues!  Read the full interview with Fionnuala Boyle here

Enda Reilly Sings The Sullivans We Stick Together at Buffalo Naval ParkI came full circle with The Sullivans (We Stick Together) song on Monday, when I returned to sing on the deck of the 80 year old USS The Sullivans, alongside the Shamrock and the names of the five brothers who died in WW2.

Major repairs are still needed on the ship so if anyone would like to donate to that visit www.savethesullivans.org

The lyrics of the song tell the story

The Sullivans (We Stick Together)

 by Enda Reilly 2022

We Stick Together boys

The Sullivans

The Sullivans

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

Red, Frank, Albert, George and Madison

The Sullivans 

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

At Pearl Harbour 

We lost a friend

‘twas only right

We must avenge

As Brothers 5

We did unite

The Japanese

We had to fight

We Stick Together boys

The Sullivans

The Sullivans

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

Red, Frank, Albert, George and Madison

The Sullivans 

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

We enlisted in the Navy

Five proud Irish brothers

The rules were to split us up

But we said 

We stick together

We Stick Together boys

The Sullivans

The Sullivans

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

Red, Frank, Albert, George and Madison

The Sullivans 

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

We sailed aboard 

the Juneau

At Guadalcanal

took a torpedo

With a Broken Keel 

But we fixed her neat

Stayed afloat

Forced to retreat

We Stick Together boys

The Sullivans

The Sullivans

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

Red, Frank, Albert, George and Madison

The Sullivans 

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

To the New Hebrides

We made our way

But the Japanese

Were waiting

The I-26 

Sunk us quick

at Torpedo 

Junction

We Stick Together boys

The Sullivans

The Sullivans

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

Red, Frank, Albert, George and Madison

The Sullivans 

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

Now we are gone

But remembered

By our dear father and mother 

And the crew of

DD  537

USS The Sullivans!

We Stick Together boys

The Sullivans

The Sullivans

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

Red, Frank, Albert, George and Madison

The Sullivans 

We Stick Together boys

Brothers til the end

 Thanks to all at Buffalo Naval Park for facilitating this video. 

The song is on Spotify, apple etc.

Michigan Irish Music Festival is a wonderful Irish Festival on Lake Michigan. Really looking forward to it again this year. Hopefully see you there. Enda

Hey Detroiters,

I'll be playing at 1.45pm on Saturday in the Dunleavy Tent and again at 1pm on Sunday. I'll be doing a wee set for wee ones in the Wee Folks Tent on Saturday at 4.30pm and on Sunday at 3pm. 

Looking forward to a great Festival. See you there maybe!

Enda

I'm getting exited bout performing at the 21st Annual Penn-Mar Irish Festival in Pennsylvania, along with some great performers, Eileen Ivers, Screaming Orphans Steel City Rovers, Arise & Go and Cas Ceol !
Nice to get a mention for it in the Irish Music Magazine official along with The picture is me in the hidden gem of Glenasmole valley, Tallaght, Dublin.

You can also keep up to date via their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PennMarIrish