President Michael D Higgins has led tributes following the death of Tony O’Reilly, one of Ireland’s leading business figures, at the age of 88.
Mr O’Reilly died in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin following a short illness.
President Higgins said that Mr O’Reilly was a “man of great personal charm” and that he used “that gift for delivering a number of significant philanthropic initiatives”.
“There were so many aspects of Irish life that Anthony O’Reilly touched in an innovative and changing way that his passing will draw tributes from so many that knew him and worked with him,” he said.
“It is understandable that the positive contribution in terms of utilising the Irish diaspora at a time of Ireland’s difficulties, through the Ireland Funds and the impact which that made on a North/South basis, will be at the top of most people’s list of the contributions that he made.”
President Higgins added that that “leadership he gave in that action was at a time when Ireland needed to draw on all of the contacts and friends that it had”.
“The innovation that was part of all of his life extended from the application of science and technology, sport, the labyrinthine nature of commerce and the ever tumultuous space that constituted newspaper ownership at home and abroad, to what was a personal commitment to staying with what he saw as a symbolic Irish activity in Waterford Crystal.
“His life was, by any measure, a full one and he will be missed by all of those who knew him. I send my sympathies to his family.”
Mr O’Reilly, who was also known as a media magnate and international rugby player for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions, died in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin yesterday.
O’Reilly a ‘trailblazer’ – Taoiseach
Taoiseach Simon Harris described Mr O’Reilly as a “trailblazer” who forged a path that other business leaders from Ireland would follow.
Mr Harris said: “It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of Tony O’Reilly.
“Mr O’Reilly was a giant of sport, business and media and left permanent legacies in all three.
“He was a trailblazer who aimed big on the international business scene.
“Through his work in the UK, US and Ireland he forged a path that many other international business figures from Ireland would follow.
“Modern day Ireland likes to see itself as an island in the centre of the world – Tony O’Reilly was one of the first Irish businesspeople to truly believe that.”
Mr Harris added: “In a life so varied it is hard to focus on one area, however Tony O’Reilly’s founding of the Ireland Funds with the late Dan Rooney had a transformative effect on the island of Ireland.
“The Ireland Funds is an example of peace and reconciliation done brilliantly from the ground up in communities.
“It has been one of the largest donors to our shared island and the cause of peace and is still going strong. I know Mr O’Reilly was enormously proud of the funds.
“Tony O’Reilly was a giant and his passing will be felt by the many people he encountered in his long life.
“My thoughts are especially with his children and grandchildren at this sad time.”
In a statement, Mr O’Reilly’s family said: “In the coming days there will be many worthy tributes made to Tony O’Reilly’s unique and extraordinary achievements in the fields of business and sport.
“As well as to his extraordinary philanthropic vision which was best evidenced by the establishment of the Ireland Funds at a dark time in this island’s history.
“But, for us, he was a dearly-loved dad and a granddad.
“He lived one of the great lives and we were fortunate to spend time with him in recent weeks as that great life drew to a close.”
Martin pays tribute to O’Reilly’s ‘extraordinary impact’
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Mr O’Reilly had an “extraordinary impact on Irish business, sport, media and society”.
Mr Martin said on X: “Saddened to learn of the passing of Tony O’Reilly a pioneering spirit who had an extraordinary impact on Irish business, sport, media and society.
“Through the Ireland Funds, Tony changed the global narrative on peace and reconciliation on this island.
“My deepest sympathies to his children, family and friends.”
Born in Dublin in 1936, Mr O’Reilly made his international debut for Ireland in rugby in 1955 and soon became the youngest player to be selected for the Lions.
He played in two Lions tours and still holds the record for the most tries scored.
In his business career he pioneered the dairy brand Kerrygold, turning it into one of Ireland’s best-known global consumer brands.
Mr O’Reilly later became the chairman of the food giant Heinz and in 1973 took control of Independent Newspapers, publisher of the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and Evening Herald.
He was also known for his philanthropy, setting up The Ireland Funds, which gave money from US donors into reconciliation projects around the Irish border.
Mr O’Reilly was knighted in the 2001 New Year Honours by Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II “for long and distinguished service to Northern Ireland”.
As news of his death emerged, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) posted on X: “A legend of the game has passed.
“Our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”
Fellow businessman Michael Smurfit also paid tribute to Mr O’Reilly and said “while we were contemporaries and, in some respects, competitors, I have profound respect for his many achievements”.
“Such achievements will be well documented and there is little point in my repeating them except to say that they were, quite, literally, without parallel.
“Outstanding characters like Tony don’t come around very often. When they are gone, they are missed all the more,” he added.
The Ireland Funds CEO said Mr O’Reilly had created an organisation “that today has gone on to support thousands of non-profit organisations all over the island. Countless lives have been improved and the extent of Tony’s philanthropic reach may never be fully known.
“His boundless charisma, charm, and joy for life will never be forgotten and created a fellowship within The Ireland Funds that endures today”.
