‘A trailblazer, a titanic figure and a true Irish legend’ – mourners hear heartfelt tributes to Dr Tony O’Reilly

The small group of petite women in flat shoes and neat clothes huddled close as Tony O’Reilly’s coffin was lifted into the hearse. In their hands, clutched tightly like a prized possession, was the late businessman’s mass booklet. Earlier during the funeral service, two of the women, unassuming figures among the crowds of familiar faces from the world of business, sport and politics, had stepped shyly forward to present offertory gifts.

Marie Sheryl Gillamac and Maria Dizza Omboy, both visibly upset, had looked after the 88-year-old business tycoon during his illness. He died last Saturday.

“We were his carers, he was a lovely person,” they said later outside the Sacred Heart Church in Donnybrook, Dublin.

It was perhaps a mark of the man that the women who cared for him before his death had a special role at his funeral mass. As referenced many times during the service, it was his relationships with people that he cherished most.

During a eulogy delivered alongside his brothers Cameron and Gavin, Tony O’Reilly Jr told mourners their father led by example when it came to showing them how to treat people from all walks of life.

“Dad lived life large and we shared in that largesse,” he said. “Not in the obvious sense, but also in the inspirational way he taught us to look at the world – how anything is possible and how to look for the good in people and treat everyone the same, whether they be a prince or pauper.

“These are principles which we try to impart to his 23 grandchildren who he grew increasingly close to in his later years.”

Those in attendance yesterday, including former U2 manager Paul McGuinness, ex-Goal CEO John O’Shea and Peter Vandermeersch, chief executive of Mediahuis Ireland, were told Dr O’Reilly had lived a “dazzlingly full life” that was anything but mundane.

The altar was adorned with white lilies. Next to Dr O’Reilly’s coffin were two framed pictures of the businessman – one of him in formal wear and the other of him during his rugby days.

Born in Dublin in 1936, he made his international debut for Ireland in rugby in 1955 and soon became the youngest player to be selected for the British and Irish Lions.

He later became one of Ireland’s leading business figures, pioneering the dairy brand Kerrygold, as well as becoming chief executive of Heinz and later Independent News and Media.

He was also known for his philanthropy, setting up the Ireland Funds, which gave money from US donors to reconciliation projects around the Irish Border.

During the homily, Fr Bruce Bradley said Dr O’Reilly accomplished so much in his 88 years, but was “never one who took it for granted”.

“Despite the diverse, colourful, often fast-moving and no doubt distracting world he moved in so comfortably for much of the time, he was never ashamed of the religion he was raised in,” Fr Bradley said.

Later, Dr O’Reilly’s daughter Justine was guided to the altar by her brother Tony to read their father’s favourite poem, If, by Rudyard Kipling.

Poignantly, the poem highlights the importance of integrity and self-belief and not letting success or failure define one’s character.

In addition to his six children, including Susan and Caroline, and other family members, the funeral was attended by Tánaiste Micheál Martin and other

“It was a life of highs and lows, of ebbs and flows. Every emotion crammed into those 88 years”

figures from political life, including former ministers Shane Ross and Michael McDowell. President Michael D Higgins was represented by his aide-de-camp, Colonel Stephen Howard. Taoiseach Simon Harris was represented by his aide-de-camp, Commandant Gemma Fagan.

Former Irish rugby international Ollie Campbell was among those to read the prayers of the faithful. Former Wales international Ieuan Evans was among the mourners, as was former Dublin footballer Tony Hanahoe.

Senior figures from what was then known as Independent News and Media, including Anne Harris, Colm MacGinty, Gerard O’Regan and Michael Roche, were also present.

Among those to attend from the business community were developer Paddy Kelly, Barry Maloney and Rory Godson.

Music during the service included Only In God, performed by Belvedere School Choir. Dr O’Reilly had been a Belvedere student.

In tribute to his father, Cameron O’Reilly said: “It was a life of highs and lows, of ebbs and flows. Every emotion crammed into those 88 years.”

He said the family had been overwhelmed by the thousands of messages of tribute in recent days, and

added that the tributes reflected that his father had been “a giant of sport, of business, of media, who left permanent legacies in all three”.

Dr O’Reilly was “a trailblazer who forged a path that others would follow. A titanic figure who lit up every room that he entered. A true Irish legend. He was all of those things and more”, he said.

He added: “For years, people have tried to sum up, to uncover the secret sauce of what made Tony Tony – the rugby sensation, the raconteur extraordinaire, the high-flying business executive, the architect and driver of the literally lifesaving Ireland Funds.

“And what was it like living in his shadow? Very dark. So why was he able to do things that nobody has ever done before? The truth is, as we see it, he saw no limits to what he could achieve.

“Where people saw obstacles, he saw opportunities, and he almost always went for the gap – whether on the rugger field or in the boardroom.

“And when he did achieve these extraordinary feats, he has inspired so many people – not just here in Ireland, but elsewhere in the world – to be bigger, to think bolder and to never have to accept second place.”

He was not concerned “about what everyone thought he couldn’t do”, Cameron O’Reilly said.

Gavin O’Reilly, who spoke next, talked about his father’s public displays of generosity, but also the more personal interest he took in people and the “private gestures that defined him – he treasured every one of these friendships”.

He said his father’s experience of growing up in the Ireland of his childhood, the son of unmarried parents, “with all the stigma that entailed”, contributed to the huge sense of importance he attached to relationships with the friends he made both in business and sport.

Mr O’Reilly recalled his father as having less well-known sides to him, “a collector of art, a voracious reader, particularly of history. Politicians interested him, but, surprisingly, not politics”.

For all his many achievements, his father’s work on the Ireland Funds “may well be his most enduring legacy”.

“While others left Ireland and never came back, Dad never really left Ireland,” Mr O’Reilly said.

Delivering the final part of the joint eulogy, Tony O’Reilly Jr remembered the “three extraordinary women” who supported his father selflessly during his life.

There was Dr O’ Reilly’ s mother, Aileen, one of 13 children from Athlone.

“Dad always attributed his drive to her,” he said. Then there was “our exquisite mother, Susan Cameron”, who gave birth to “six amazing children in three years and 10 months”.

Dr O’Reilly later met the “wonderful Chryss Goulandris”, who died last year.

“Chryss epitomised elegance and grace, and they were so devoted to each other. And now they are back together,” Tony O’Reilly Jr said.

There was rapturous applause as he signed off his heartfelt tribute with a parting anecdote.

“Eighteen months ago, I was sitting with Dad one night, reflecting on life,” he said.

“I asked him, how do you feel?” “He responded, ‘I am happy. I had a great life’.”

A private cremation for Dr O’Reilly will take place today.