Instruments Vocals, drums, guitar Labels Independent | Years active 2003–present Genre Indie rock | |
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Born 3 September 1979 (age 37) ( 1979-09-03 ) Genres Alternative, indie, rock Occupation(s) Musician, producer, actor, police officer Associated acts Doris, White McKenzie & Hail The Ghost Music group Hail The Ghost (Since 2014) Similar Hail The Ghost, Ryan McAllister, Barry Ward, Niamh Cusack, Camille O'Sullivan | ||
Kieran O'Reilly (born 3 September 1979) is an actor, musician and producer. He is also the songwriter and lead vocalist with the Irish alternative rock band, Hail The Ghost. He is best known for his controversial role as Detective Garda Ciaran Madden in RTÉ's hit crime drama, Love/Hate.
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Background
O'Reilly was born Kieran Mark O'Reilly and is a twin. He grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and was educated at St. Kilians National School in Tallaght and Synge Street CBS in Dublin's City Centre. On leaving school, he worked as a clerk in the Special Detective Unit in Dublin and in 2000, he enrolled in An Garda Síochána (Ireland's National Police Force). He was stationed at Pearse Street Garda Station in the city centre where he worked in the District Drug Unit. He was then promoted to Detective to the National Drug Unit based in Dublin Castle, where he worked undercover for many years, infiltrating drug gangs on a national and international level, reportedly working on over 500 investigations.
Acting
In 2013, O'Reilly auditioned for a part in the RTÉ crime drama, Love/Hate, securing the role of Detective Ciaran Madden. He first appeared on Irish television screens on 12 October 2013 as part of the opening sequence to Episode 2 (Love/Hate Season 4) playing the part of an undercover cop posing as a drug addict ("Heggo"). This role caused some controversy amongst top ranking officers, in particular, the then Commissioner, Martin Callinan. He ordered an inquiry into O'Reilly's appearance in the show, despite the fact that O'Reilly had not infringed any regulations of the Police Code of Conduct. O'Reilly featured in Irish newspapers for several months and despite being transferred to The National Immigration Bureau, was cleared of all matters in 2014.
O'Reilly's acting debut was well received by the Irish public and he was credited as a natural talent. His Love/Hate co-star, Hollywood actor, Brían F. O'Byrne, praised O'Reilly's acting, stating, "He has a rare natural talent. As an actor, Kieran possesses an ease, a fluency and creativity on set that belies his novice status". He was also described by Love/Hate creator, Stuart Carolan, as "a pretty amazing actor". The Sunday Times journalist Liam Fay wrote: "...but its initial believability has been enhanced by a strikingly rough-edged performance from Kieran O'Reilly, a real-life undercover Garda". O'Reilly filmed Love/Hate Season 5 in 2014. A sixth season of Love/Hate is in development for broadcast after 2015. He is currently a member of the Bow Street Academy for Screen Acting.
Doris
Kieran O'Reilly began playing music in 2003, teaching himself how to play the drums. That same year, he joined Dublin pop/rock band, Doris. O'Reilly was a central figure in the band's development and assisted in the releasing of the band's first two singles, "Will I Ever Learn" and "Stop". During O'Reilly's time in the band, they were selected by Hot Press Magazine to have a music video shot for "Will I Ever Learn" in conjunction with the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. O'Reilly left the band in 2007.
White McKenzie
O'Reilly formed White McKenzie in 2010 with a group of friends. He was the sole vocalist and songwriter for the band. In 2011, in only the band's third live performance, they played in the final of the Shercock Battle of the Bands competition, competing for a place to play in the Glastonbury Festival in the UK; however they missed out on the top prize to Irish blues band, Crow Black Chicken. O'Reilly and friends later released a 7 track Mini Album/E.P. entitled Absence. The sleeve image for this E.P. was provided by Rob Hann (New York City). In November 2011, Jackie Hayden of Hot Press Magazine chose Absence as his "Pick of the Fortnight". White McKenzie also opened the Kildare leg of the First Music Contact Tour on 9 November 2012, sharing the stage with Squarehead, We Cut Corners and The Lost Brothers. White McKenzie released their single, 'Heatseeker' in late 2012, shortly before the band broke up. Sensing band members were moving in different directions, O'Reilly decided to leave the band. "I just felt that I didn't really want to pursue it any longer, and I wanted to preserve the friendships that were there. Which we did, we're all still great friends. I just felt that we didn't know what we were doing, and I think the lads felt the same". The band were described by Today FM presenter, Ian Dempsey, as "really top quality". In 2016, several White McKenzie tracks were featured in the Irish film, "Coming Home" by Cathal Kenna.
Hail The Ghost
In 2014 O'Reilly formed Hail The Ghost which includes two former White McKenzie members, Ian Corr (piano/keys) and Eamon Young (guitars). O'Reilly spent 2014 writing and producing the band's debut album Forsaken with Corr, Young and Martin Quinn of JAM Studios who co-produced and engineered the album. The album features O'Reilly playing drums, guitar and vocals. He credits The National, The Antlers and Elbow as influences when he was composing the album's songs which would be: "a piece that would have that cohesive feel to it, we would have that thematic thing and we would also have a story, beginning to end. Though it's not necessarily a story [in a book] sense, but like an actual journey."