Sun City Center

Deidre Reilly generates a fan base here

Since she performed her first gig as a 15-year-old, Deidre Reilly has grown accustomed to greeting fans and well-wishers after concerts.

Yet there was something different about the couple who greeted her after a performance at Chicago's Gaelic Park in 2000. Gene and Donna Earner, Chicago natives and Sun City Center retirees, left a lasting impression.

"They were just so excited to share with me where they've been and their Irish roots," said Reilly, the daughter of Irish immigrants. "I can't put my finger on it, but they had the friendliest demeanor. There was just a sense of warmth about them. I could tell they had huge hearts, big smiles.

"Whatever was there and is there, I'm very glad about it. We've become great friends."

The Earners welcome their friend to town this week for two special appearances. On Saturday, Reilly will sing Our Lady Of Knock as the communion hymn during the 4:30 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 16650 U.S. 301 S in Wimauma.

On Sunday, Reilly will perform two shows in Brandon at O'Brien's Irish Pub, 701 W. Lumsden Road, beginning at 6 p.m.

Although she grew up in Holyoke, Mass., her Irish parents introduced her to native folk songs and country favorites by Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and Tammy Wynette. She now performs 65 percent country and 35 percent Irish, and has released several compact discs.

Reilly lives in Nashville, but since her chance encounter with the Earners she has performed four times in the Brandon/Sun City Center area and has developed a fan base.

Gene Earner, whose personality is as big as the Sears Tower, has been instrumental in arranging places for Reilly to perform. She has brought her unique blend to audiences at Sun City Center, King's Point, Freedom Plaza and O'Brien's.

Gene and Donna do so much for Reilly because they think of her as one of their own, to go along with their 12 children and 16 grandchildren. In fact, a sign over the door dubs the second bedroom of their Sun City Center home the Deidre Reilly Room.

"We saw her and thought she was a great entertainer," Gene Earner said. "So we asked to come down and perform at the (Sun City Center) community hall and she caught on really well. It's hard to describe why, but it just happened. Now we treat her like another daughter."

The Earners first saw Reilly perform at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall in November 1998 and loved her music. They became even bigger fans after seeing a second Ruth Eckerd performance, and were pleasantly surprised to find her at Gaelic Park in 2000.

When Reilly told the Chicago audience she was having trouble meeting a nice man, Gene and Donna decided to go backstage and introduce themselves. With nine sons (six who are single), they figured they could help Reilly find Mr. Right.

In the end, they helped her find a second mom and dad.

If you go

-- On Saturday, Deidre Reilly will sing Our Lady Of Knock as the communion hymn during the 4:30 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 16650 U.S. 301 S in Wimauma.

-- On Sunday, Reilly will perform two shows in Brandon at O'Brien's Irish Pub, 701 W. Lumsden Road, beginning at 6 p.m.