Mayo community to celebrate life of former RTÉ broadcaster

THE life of the late Brendan O’Reilly, former RTE sports commentator, athlete, actor and singer-songwriter, will be celebrated at Nevin's Newfield Inn, Tiernaur, on Saturday - 18 years after his passing,

A native of Granard, County Longford, he was highly popular with a friendly disposition.

Brendan was instrumental in organising the Friends of Michael Collins Society seminars in Mulranny in the early 1980s.

The seminars drew large crowds, including people from both sides of the border and overseas. He also attended Tiernaur Hall to present medals to the Under-14 Burrishoole football team.

The tribute will begin at 2 p.m., featuring entertainment from local musicians and the plaque will be unveiled to his memory at 3 p.m.

The late Mr. O'Reilly died on April 1, 2001, at the age of 71.

An accomplished athlete in his youth, he won a British AAA title in 1954, achieving the qualifying standard for the 1956 Games in Melbourne, only to discover the Olympic Council of Ireland didn't have the funds to send him to Australia.

He began his broadcasting career in 1962 when RTE launched its television service.

A member of the sports staff at Montrose, he also contributed occasionally to the Light Entertainment department, earning acclamation for the presentation of his variety show, The Life of O'Reilly.

Acknowledged as a gifted man of many talents, he wrote a number of songs, and, as an actor, was rated sufficiently highly to take the lead in a number of plays in his university days.

Away from sport and drama, his abiding passion was the life and times of Michael Collins, an interest that brought him into contact with Mayo members of the Friends of Michael Collins Society, who are organising next Saturday's tribute.