Sadness at death of one of Tullamore's most prominent sons
One of Tullamore’s most prominent and well-loved sons, Phil O’Reilly, was remembered at his funeral mass yesterday (Thursday) as a "compassionate", "kind" and "reliable" person who lived a life of devotion to his family, sport and business.
Aged in his 93rd year, Mr O’Reilly, of Harbour Street, Tullamore, passed away peacefully on Sunday, in the care of the staff at the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore. His funeral mass was celebrated in front of a large crowd at the Church of the Assumption.
A legendary footballer from the early 1960s, the late Mr O’Reilly was also a leading business figure in Tullamore, initially as a shopkeeper, before establishing an undertaker and funeral parlour business in 1970, which continues in operation to this day.
As a footballer, he will be forever remembered for his role in Offaly's breakthrough team, featuring in both the Leinster Championship winning sides of 1960 and 1961. He made his inter-county debut against Laois in a league game in 1955. He also lined out at right half-back in the All-Ireland final against Down in 1961.
In 1950, he won an Offaly minor hurling medal with Tullamore, and the following year added minor medals in both hurling and football. In 1954 and 1956, he helped Tullamore to win the senior football championship.
In his homily, chief celebrant of the funeral mass, Fr Joseph Gallagher, said Phil formed "wonderful friendships across his life" due to his involvement in sport and business. Paying tribute to his sporting prowess, Fr Gallagher said football "played an important role" in Phil's life.
"Phil was a talented footballer with Tullamore and Offaly and although the medals won were an important part of his journey, it was the friendships he made from his love of sport that remained with him. Many of these friends are here today to celebrate his life. They are here to remember a man whom they were proud to call a friend," the priest said.
A trailblazer in the business world, Phil O’Reilly established one of the first funeral homes in the Midlands, having started his undertaking business in 1970. He also ran successful newsagents and gift shops for various years at Harbour Street and Arden Road.
"Phil was an enterprising businessman and was never afraid to adapt to change. As an undertaker for more than 50 years, he was there to support families at difficult moments in their lives. He was reliable and kind, a familiar and reassuring presence in a time of need," Fr Gallagher added.
Mr O'Reilly received the Tullamore personality of the year award in 1983, and in 2019 he was the fitting recipient of a Tullamore Chamber Business accolade honouring his "lifetime of service" to the town.
For decades, he was the key organiser of the annual Meath Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, and a driving force of the Lourdes Invalid Fund.
"Phil volunteered his time to support sick pilgrims and ensure they made the journey to Lourdes. While on the pilgrimage, he volunteered in a number of roles, serving people in only the best way that he could," Fr Gallagher added.
While sport and business formed a core part of Phil's life, mourners at the funeral Mass were told that it was his family which brought great love to his life.
"Phil was a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather you could rely on, and whose loving presence was a part of the O'Reilly family's everyday life," the celebrant of the Mass stated.
Symbols of Mr O'Reilly's life were brought to the altar at the start of the Mass. His daughter Fiona said a family photograph signified the "happiness and pleasure" which being amongst family members brought him, while a gaelic football and hurley represented his "love of Tullamore and Offaly GAA".
A third symbol, a photograph, represented his trips to Lourdes where he "brought great comfort" to other pilgrims.
An emotional family tribute from his grand-daughter Niamh expressed gratitude for Phil O'Reilly's life and spoke of how, in his absence, "our family is left without its axis" and "Tullamore without an essential part of its core".
Mr O'Reilly will be sadly missed by his loving wife Céline and his family Monica, Fiona, Phil Jnr and Frankie, sons-in-law Tadgh and Steve, Phil's partner Lynne, daughter-in-law Sinéad, his much adored grandchildren David, Mark, Ciara, Darren, Niamh, Ronan, Lauryn, Robyn, Eve and Priya, his cherished great-granddaughters Mariah and Sybil, his sisters Patsy (RIP), Maire, Nuala and Nora, his nieces, nephews, cousins and his wide circle of friends.
Following his funeral Mass, Mr O'Reilly was laid to rest in Clonminch Cemetery, Tullamore.
May he rest in peace.