Tony Reidy was born near Westport in the village of Aughagower, a historic village where St Patrick is said to have followed the old pagan path on his way to Croagh Patrick.  Tony was reared on a small farm and his words are close to the soil. He still remembers when he first heard Dylan’s “Like a rolling stone” while saving hay on his fathers farm. He saw Liam Clancy sing folk songs on the black and white TV in a country kitchen. These sparks of inspiration never died. He bought a second guitar and has not stopped playing since.

Tony has gained a considerable reputation as a songwriter, his themes include tales of informers, small town romance, dreamers, losers and clowns. Tony is a favourite on Irish radio, not least his local station in Mayo where he is a regular guest delighting audiences with live performances, as well as enjoying regular airplay on RTE radio and BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio Wales. Tony has also appeared in concert on a regular basis throughout his native Mayo and beyond.
                                          

He started songwriting in the late eighties and has released two CDs “The Coldest Day in Winter” and “A Rough Shot of Lipstick” and two earlier cassette recordings “When Will You Ever Get Sense” and “Bertra Beach”

Tony’s fourth album “A Rough Shot of Lipstick” was Mojo Magazine album of the month in May 2007 which described the material as “heartfelt story songs of quality which will never date, shrouded as they are in a compelling, oblique sense of history, mystery and menace that’s invariably offset by a keen ear for melody and chorus.” His work on both CDs won him acclaim in Germany with excellent reviews of both albums carried in the online music magazine folkworld.de

Tony’s fifth album “Hayshed Days” has recently been released he will perform songs from the album at The Insight of Raftery Festival 2010 on Saturday November 13th.  The festival runs in Kiltymagh County Mayo from November 8th to 13th. for more information on the festival visit www.rafteryfestival.com.

In the meatime we are delighted to bring you a podcast of Tony performing some of his early songs and we hope you also enjoy the interview recorded on a beautiful sunny May day while sitting in his garden overlooking Clew Bay.

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Click the play button to listen now or download to listen later.

You can hear more of Tony’s music on his website here