Irish businessman and rugby international Tony O'Reilly dies aged 88

Irish businessman and rugby international Tony O’Reilly has died aged 88. He passed away at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin on Saturday.

“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,” said his family in a statement.

“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.”

Described by Taoiseach Simon Harris as a “giant of sport, business and media,” O’Reilly was born in Dublin in 1936 and played rugby for Old Belvedere and Leicester while a student, making his international debut at 18 as a centre against France in 1955.

Later that year he became the youngest-ever player selected for the British Lions, scoring a try in a famous 23–22 victory over South Africa.

During a highly successful business career, he helped turn dairy company Kerrygold into an internationally recognised brand. In 1973, he took over Independent Newspapers, the publisher of the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and Evening Herald.

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. (1/2)

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) May 18, 2024

Among those paying tribute was President Michael D Higgins, who praised O’Reilly’s “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.”

“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.

“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.”

O’Reilly had joint Irish and British nationality, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001.