O'Reilly, Michael
May 12, 2010"He was successful at almost everything he attempted," noted a friend of Michael O'Reilly. Family man, sportsman, singer, panto star - he was all of those things, and more, during his eventful 71 years on this earth.
Michael, of Liogard, Portlaoise, died in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise on Sunday, May 2. Though he had been unwell for some time, his passing brought heartbreak to his family and shocked his many friends.
Reared at Borris Rd, he was a member of a close-nit, long established talented Portlaoise family. After serving as a prison officer for 31 years, he worked for a period as a security officer at Laois Shopping Centre.
In 1964, Michael was on the legendary Portlaoise football team that won the senior county championship after an interval of 57 years. He also played with the accomplished local soccer side of that era.
As a coach, he achieved much success, and he was in charge of the Portlaoise team that had a great run in the FAI Cup, accounting for big scalps along the way. Golf, too, he conquered. A member of The Heath Club, he played off a handicap of four and harvested many a prize.
Meanwhile, he found time to perform with The Portlaoise Singers and to star in the annual Portlaoise pantomimes. When he sang he did so with feeling, and silence reigned, even in crowded pubs.
At his requiem mass, a can of Guinness was among the offertory gifts.
Parish priest Msgr John Byrne quipped; "I take that as a sign of Michael's devotion to St. James". Michael would have enjoyed that. He was sociable, a man with a word for everyone. Religion was also important to him and he had a special affinity with Medjugorje which he visited on numerous occasions.
His soccer team mates from the 60's and Heath Golf Club members formed a guard-of-honour at the removal of Michael's remains from his home to SS Peter and Paul's Church on Tuesday evening, May 4.
The Portlaoise Singers were at the requiem mass on the following morning and as Michael's remains were carried from the church they movingly sang his anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone." The funeral took place to SS Peter and Paul's Cemetery, with prison officers providing the guard-of-honour. The large attendance on both dates testified to the high esteem in which Michael was held.
Mourning him are his wife Teresa; son Emelyn; daughters Sharon, Treacy, Keelin, and Zita; brothers William and Seamus; sister Ailish; mother-in-law and sons-in-law; grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; cousins; nephews and nieces; relatives and friends.
Courtesy of the Leinster Express
May 12th, 2010 Tweet
