Paddy Reilly

{{other people}}

{{short description|Irish folk singer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| image =

| name = Paddy Reilly

| caption =

| birth_name = Patrick Reilly

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1939|10|18}}

| birth_place = Rathcoole, County Dublin, Ireland{{cite web |url=https://www.irelandsown.ie/paddy-reilly-celebrates-turning-80/ |title=PADDY REILLY CELEBRATES TURNING '80' |work=Ireland's Own |date=October 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612154621/https://www.irelandsown.ie/paddy-reilly-celebrates-turning-80/ |archive-date=12 June 2021 }}

| occupations = Singer

| genre = Celtic
Folk

| years_active = 1966–2005

| label = Dolphin Records

| associated_acts = The Dubliners

| website =

}}

Patrick Reilly (born 18 October 1939) is an Irish folk singer and guitarist. Born in Rathcoole, County Dublin, he is one of Ireland's most famous balladeers and is best known for his renditions of "The Fields of Athenry", "Rose of Allendale" and "The Town I Loved So Well". Reilly released his version of "The Fields of Athenry" as a single in 1983; it was the most successful version of this song, remaining in the Irish charts for 72 weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/facts/longest_in_chart.htm|title= Facts and Figures – Longest in the Charts|work=The Irish Charts|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|access-date=21 September 2008}} He achieved number 1 in Ireland with the Liam Reilly (no relation) written song "Flight of Earls" in 1988."[http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement The Irish Charts – Search Results – Flight of Earls". Irish Singles Chart]. Retrieved 11 May 2022

For years a solo performer, he joined The Dubliners in 1996 as a replacement for long-time member Ronnie Drew. He left the group after nine years to move to New York City (where he owns a number of pubs) in 2005 and was replaced by Patsy Watchorn.http://cgi.ebay.ie/The-Paddy-Reilly-Songbook-Fields-of-Athenry-sheet-music_W0QQitemZ380145940850QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item588276b972&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 {{Dead link|date=May 2022}} After living in New York for several years he moved back to Ireland.