Statement by President Higgins on the death of Anthony O’Reilly

Statement by President Higgins on the death of Anthony O'Reilly

Date: Sun 19th May, 2024 | 12:48

"There were so many aspects of Irish life that Anthony O'Reilly touched in an innovative and changing way that his passing will draw tributes from so many that knew him and worked with him.

It is understandable that the positive contribution in terms of utilising the Irish diaspora at a time of Ireland's difficulties, through the Ireland Funds and the impact which that made on a North/South basis, will be at the top of most people's list of the contributions that he made.

The leadership he gave in that action was at a time when Ireland needed to draw on all of the contacts and friends that it had.

The innovation that was part of all of his life extended from the application of science and technology, sport, the labyrinthine nature of commerce and the ever tumultuous space that constituted newspaper ownership at home and abroad, to what was a personal commitment to staying with what he saw as a symbolic Irish activity in Waterford Crystal.

A man of great personal charm, he used that gift for delivering a number of significant philanthropic initiatives.

His life was, by any measure, a full one and he will be missed by all of those who knew him. I send my sympathies to his family."