Sir Anthony O’Reilly. May he rest in peace.
We mourn the loss of Sir Anthony, or Tony as he was known to us in Belvedere and we extend our sincere condolences to his family. Tony wrote in the foreword to the book, “Belvedere’s Rugby Heroes” (2006).
“A Belvederian is a Belvederian everywhere. I went to Belvedere when I was six and left when I was eighteen, so my entire school life was influenced and moulded by the standards, sense of purpose, morality, and enthusiasm that are the desired products of a Jesuit education. Winning, though desirable, is not the only thing—playing the game in a sportsmanlike fashion and retaining your friends long after the final whistle has sounded are the hallmarks of a player who has learnt his game at our great school—per vias rectas.”
In 1954, he captained the SCT in a momentous final against Blackrock. Tony often recalled the match because a well-read intercept by Blackrock led to a defeat for Belvedere. Tony chased the player the length of the field and arrived simultaneously with him in the goal area. As the Blackrock player stood up, Tony shook his hand and congratulated him, knowing that it had deprived Belvedere of a Senior Cup and he would not have a Senior Cup medal. Famously, that gesture contributed to his success as CEO of Heinz. His gesture reflected values he cherished, and he quoted Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” on several occasions when he visited Belvedere:
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools.
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!”
There will be many tributes to Sir Anthony as an Irishman who has contributed so much to his country. The Ireland Fund was co-founded by Sir Anthony O’Reilly and Dan Rooney in 1976. It was established to promote peace, culture, education, and community development in Ireland, particularly in Northern Ireland during the turbulent years of The Troubles. It has raised over $600 million since its inception, supporting more than 3,200 organisations across Ireland and around the world. Numerous projects and programmes it has supported, contribute to the social, cultural, and economic development of Ireland. Our USA alumni have contributed significantly to the Ireland Fund. Tony’s generosity helped build the O’Reilly Theatre in Belvedere. The Theatre has had a huge impact on thousands of students, many going on to careers in acting, music, lighting, and sound technology. It contributes significantly to the enrichment of the Arts in the heart of the city. As a leader and philanthropist, he will continue to inspire students to use their talents for the benefit of society.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they mourn.
