Brendan O'Reilly
{{Short description|Irish journalist and presenter (1929–2001)}}
{{for|the Australian mixed martial artist|Brendan O'Reilly (fighter)}}
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{{Infobox person
| name = Brendan O'Reilly
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth-date|14 May 1929}}
| birth_place = Granard, County Longford, Ireland
| death_date = {{death-date and age|1 April 2001|1929}}
| death_place = Dublin, Ireland
| education = University of Michigan
| occupation = Sports broadcaster, journalist, actor, singer, songwriter (best known for 'The Ballad of Michael Collins' and the Olympic Song 'Let the Nations Play'
| alias =
| title =
| family =
| spouse = DrJohanna Lowry O'Reilly
| domestic_partner =
| children = Hannah Lowry O'Reilly BL, Kelan (Lowry) O'Reilly, Rossa (Lowry) O'Reilly, Myles O'Reilly
| relatives =
| years_active = 1962–1994
| credits = The Life of O'Reilly
Sports Stadium, 'Flight of the Doves'. First non-political figure to give the annual Michael Collins oration at Beal na mBlath
| module = {{infobox sportsperson
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| sport = Athletics
| event = high jump
| club =
}}
}}
Brendan O'Reilly (14 May 1929 – 1 April 2001) was an Irish Olympic athlete, broadcaster, journalist, actor, singer and songwriter (best known for the 'Ballad of Michael Collins' and the Olympic song, 'Let the Nations Play'.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2001/0401/oreilly.html|title=Brendan O'Reilly dies after long illness
|publisher=RTÉ News|date=2001-04-01|accessdate=2011-01-09}} He is best known as presenter of the long-running Sports Stadium.
Between 1966 and 1968, O'Reilly had the honour of commentating for Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest, as well as presenting the National Song Contest (to select Ireland's Eurovision entry) from 1966 to 1970.
Biography
= Athletics career =
O'Reilly studied in America at the University of Michigan and was a high jumper. He set the Irish high jump record and also set the Irish javelin record. He finished second behind Derek Cox in the high jump event at the British 1953 AAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000653/19530711/092/0005 |title=Record for AAA mile |work=Sports Argus |date=11 July 1953 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=24 April 2025}} The following year he claimed the title at the 1954 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=24 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=24 April 2025}}
He represented Ireland at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/923359 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=24 April 2025}}
= Professional career =
O'Reilly studying drama at the University of Michigan and acted in the 1971 film Flight of the Doves playing Police Inspector Michael Roark, and also played roles in After Midnight (1990) and the television series Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog
He is survived by his wife Dr Johanna Lowry O'Reilly, historian and author, eldest son, musician and film maker Myles O'Reilly, restaurant general manager and musician Kelan (Lowry) O'Reilly, Dublin, Rossa (Lowry) O'Reilly, hospitality investment and Hannah Lowry BL.
References
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{{succession box |
before=Bunny Carr |
title={{nowrap|Eurovision Song Contest Ireland Commentator}}|
after=Gay Byrne
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External links
- {{IMDb name|0642418}}
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Category:RTÉ newsreaders and journalists
Category:RTÉ television presenters
Category:Sportspeople from County Longford
Category:University of Michigan alumni
Category:Broadcasters from County Longford
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