Clare Gaels mourn passing of Brian O'Reilly

Clare lost a great footballer and man when former Kilrush shamrocks. Clare and Mayo footballer Brian O'Reilly died on July 23 at the age of 61 years following a short illness.

Brian is survived by his wife, Carmel; sons, Keith and Gavin; daughter, Emear; sister, Pat; brother-in-law, Paddy; daughter-in-law, Caitriona; brother, Michael; sister-in-law, Majella and their respective families, relatives and friends. A former AIB official, Brian was in current employment with Shannon side Building Supplies in Ennis.
Brian was well-regarded in Gaelic football circles and won many accolades on the playing field. He first came to prominence at underage level with the Kilrush Shamrocks and played minor football for Clare at the age of 16 years. Having completed his secondary education at the Kilrush Christian Brothers, Brian secured a postion with Allied Irish Banks in Ballina, Mayo where he was encouraged by the legendary Paddy Mockler to transfer his allegiance to the Ballina Stephenites football club. Clare's loss was Mayo's gain and Brian soon graduated to his adopted county's minor and U-21 sides, winning provincial honours along the way. Brian became a regular feature at wing back for the Mayo senior side that contested National Football League finals in the late sixties and early seventies. He also led AIB to three Inter-Banks All-Ireland titles, one of which was won in his early forties.

In 1973, Brian was transferred back to Clare and immediately togged out for Clare seniors. His impact at Kilrush Shamrocks level cannot be understand. By 1975, Brian had helped bridge a 13-year gap when he captained his beloved Shamrocks to a county senior title that became an unequalled 'five-in-a-row' sequence of honours by 1979. His performers at Munster club level were always of the highest standard and his exploits at inter-county level brought him deserved inter-provincial recognition. Brian achieved a unique distinction in the annals of the Shamrocks when he emulated the feat of his late father and grandfather in captaining the senior team to win senior county titles.
Brian was player-manager of the Clare senior football for a term. When he retired from inter-county fare, he managed, trained and coached hurling and football teams across Clare including associations with Clooney, Kilmaley, Kildysart and his adopted St Joseph's Doora-Barefield. Brian also played soccer with Kilrush Town and rugby with Ennis RFC. He was quite an accomplished sprint and middle-distance athlete. In Latter years, he joined the 250-mile cycle team around Clare to raise funds for the Cancer Patients to Lourdes Fund.

Despite his significant sporting achievements, Brian remained a very reserved, modest and unassuming gentleman. His family was his pride and joy. He was a devoted husband to Carmel and a loving father to Keith, Gavin and Emear.
A measure of Brian's esteem was manifested in the large turn-out at his obsequies in Doora Church where members and players from the St Joseph's Club provided a guard of honour. At Kilrush, the Shamrocks Club and former playing members of the 1975-79 five-in-a-row team marched in single file beside the hearse as it made its way through the town. Brian was laid to rest in the family vault situated in St Senan's Graveyard at Lower Moore Street.

Courtesy of the Clare Champion 30/7/10 Tweet

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