Death of Offaly football great Phil O'Reilly
August 31, 2026
Offaly 1960 Leinster SFC winners. Front l-r: Frank Higgins, Mick Brady, Willie Nolan, Tommy Greene, Donie Hanlon, Sean Brereton, Harry Donnelly, Larry Fox, Tommy Cullen. back l-r: Peter Daly, Patsy Hughes, John Egan, Greg Hughes, Paddy McCormack, Peter Carey, Phil O'Reilly, Mick Casey, Charlie Wrenn, Sean Ryan, Sean Foran
Another link with the great Offaly football team of the early 1960s has been severed with the passing of Phil O’Reilly.
Aged 92, the Tullamore man was wing back on the team that captured the Faithful County’s first Leinster SFC title in 1960. They retained their provincial crown the following year before losing the All-Ireland SFC final to Down before a record attendance of over 90,000 at Croke Park. His passing leaves Willie Nolan, Paddy McCormack, Charlie Wrenn and Tommy Greene as the only surviving members from that trailblazing team.
Phil made just shy of 60 competitive senior appearances for Offaly between 1956 and ’64. He also won three county SFC medals with his beloved Tullamore, who paid the following tribute to the well-known undertaker: “Everyone in Tullamore GAA is deeply saddened to hear the sad news of the passing of Phil O’Reilly Senior on early Sunday morning.
“Phil was a fantastic player, mentor and supporter of all things Tullamore and Offaly GAA.
“In his playing days, Phil was a pioneering figure in the club representing Offaly from 1956-1964 and was on the first Offaly team to win the Leinster SFC in 1960, lining out at right half back.
“Phil won his second Leinster medal the following year and also lined out in Offaly’s first All-Ireland where they lost out to Down by a point in front of a record crowd in Croke Park of 90,556.
“With Tullamore, Phil was a part of the team who won the clubs first ever intermediate football title in 1953 before going on to win three county senior football medals in 1954, 56 and 63, 1954 was the first ever team to lift the Dowling Cup.
“Phil went on to serve various roles in the club over the years along with being an avid and keen supporter of both club and county and was very proud to see his son Phil Junior go on to represent Offaly and Tullamore winning county titles as both captain and manager.
“A well-known, prominent and professional undertaker up until recent Phil was a compassionate, popular and friendly character and always loved to stop and chat all things GAA outside the family business and his home on Harbour Street in the town centre.
“Most importantly, Phil was a great family man and was very proud of all his family’s achievements.
“Tullamore GAA wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Céline, family Monica, Fiona, Phil Jnr and Frankie, sons-in-law Tadgh and Steve, Phil's partner Lynne, daughter-in-law Sinéad, his much-adored grandchildren David, Mark, Ciara, Darren, Niamh, Ronan, Lauryn, Robyn, Eve and Priya, his cherished great-granddaughters Mariah and Sybil, his sisters Patsy (RIP), Maire, Nuala and Nora, his nieces, nephews, cousins and his wide circle of friends.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
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