Editorial: Tony O’Reilly reached incredible highs and left his mark on the worlds of sport and business

Take Brian O’Driscoll’s ageless skills on the rugby pitch, combine him with the Collison brothers’ entrepreneurialism and throw in philanthropic zeal: you’re still not quite capturing the titan that was Anthony O’Reilly.

President Michael D Higgins referred to the “many aspects of Irish life” that he touched. His seamless transition from sport to business saw him become a hugely successful figure in the US.

His understanding of that world led him to encourage the Irish diaspora to provide positive support to this island during the Troubles with the establishment of the Ireland Funds, which made an enormous contribution on both sides of the Border. At the time, other figures were seeking to divert the Irish-American community towards providing financial assistance to paramilitary activity, so O’Reilly’s intervention was vital to show a peaceful path was available.

His services to Northern Ireland resulted in him being awarded a knighthood.

“A man of great personal charm, he used that gift for delivering a number of significant philanthropic initiatives,” President Higgins said.

Across sport, science, technology, marketing, business and commerce, O’Reilly left his mark. In the world of marketing, he had the real Midas touch, turning the Kerrygold brand into one of Ireland’s most well-known global consumer brands. Becoming chief executive and chairman of the US food giant Heinz propelled him to a level of wealth in America that few Irish businesspeople have ever attained.

In publishing, his four-decade tenure as head of Independent News and Media (INM), which published the Irish Independent, saw it emerge as global player and O’Reilly was viewed as a powerful figure in business and politics – both admired and feared at times.

The tail end of his career showed how fortunes can be made and lost. He was ousted from the Independent Group by fellow business magnate Denis O’Brien. O’Reilly’s losses from INM, combined with pumping millions into Waterford Wedgwood, which went into receivership, would ultimately lead to his bankruptcy. Ireland’s first billionaire realised that the corporate world is truly a roller coaster.

Tony O’Reilly died on Saturday at the age of 88, following a short illness.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “Modern-day Ireland likes to see itself as an island in the centre of the world – Tony O’Reilly was one of the first Irish businesspeople to truly believe that.”

The O’Reilly family said there will be many worthy tributes made to his achievements in business, sport and philanthropy, “but, for us, he was a dearly-loved dad and a granddad. He lived one of the great lives and we were fortunate to spend time with him in recent weeks as that great life drew to a close.”

He lived up to the Irish saying, ní bheidh a leithéid áris ann – there will never be his likes again.