Reagle Music Theatre Dedicates LITTLE BIT OF IRELAND to Larry Reynolds, Now thru 3/17

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston is once again serving up its warm Irish brew, "A Little Bit of Ireland," today, March 15-17 in the Robinson Theater, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham. Now in its 15th season, this annual musical celebration of St. Patrick's Day is dedicated this year to the memory of the late Larry Reynolds.

Reynolds, who died on October 3, 2012, was a world-renowned Celtic fiddler who performed in each of Reagle's 14 productions of "A Little Bit of Ireland." Born in Ireland in County Galway in 1932, he emigrated to Boston in 1953. He and his family lived in Waltham for many years.

"Larry was a consummate performer and mentor who worked as a carpenter by day and brought music and light to countless audiences and friends by night," says Robert Eagle, producing artistic director of Reagle Music Theatre. "He was a quiet man who shunned the spotlight, letting his music communicate his joy and passion for life. He was completely dedicated to sharing his love of Irish music with the world. At his memorial service last October, nearly 100 colleagues and friends broke into a spontaneous Irish jig in celebration of his remarkable life. He is greatly missed."

At the performance on Friday, March 15 at 7:30 pm, Reynolds will be presented posthumously with the Golden Eagle Award, only the second ever given to an artist by Reagle Music Theatre. His wife, Phyllis, will accept the award on behalf of her husband and family. Dozens of musicians and invited guests will also pay tribute to Reynolds through stories, Irish music and dance. Long-time friend and Comhaltas accordion player Tara Lynch is coordinating the tribute portion of the program.

"A Little Bit of Ireland" is a sumptuous feast of Irish music, folk dancing, and light-hearted comic blarney. This year Gaelic fiddler Sean Clohessy leads Comhaltas, which also features Reynolds's son Larry, Jr. Clohessy is a native of Fedamore, County Limerick, Ireland, and has been playing fiddle for the past 20 years. He has won several All-Ireland titles and currently plays regularly throughout Boston and New York.