Dermot O'Reilly
Dermot Anthony O'Reilly (1942–2007) was an Irish-born Canadian musician, producer and songwriter. He was born in Dublin and grew up in Inchicore. In March 1968 he moved to Toronto, where he met Fergus O'Byrne and Denis Ryan. He helped start The Sons of Erin and helped form Sullivan's Gypsies in 1970.
In 1971 he moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, and they performed as Ryan's Fancy. The group became very popular, releasing 12 albums and hosting a TV show for several seasons. O'Reilly wrote and produced many Irish songs with Ryan's Fancy, worked as a solo artist, and later joined the group Brishney. He often performed with Fergus O'Byrne.
In 2004 Ryan's Fancy was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the East Coast Music Association. After the group ended, O'Reilly started Piperstock Productions, a video production and marketing company in Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador.
He died of a heart attack in St. John's at age 64. He was survived by his wife Ann and their three daughters.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 03:52 (CET).