Colin Sheridan: Larger-than-life O’Reilly left his mark in business circles

Colin Sheridan looks back on the incredible career of the Irish rugby star who became the name behind some of the biggest names in business

Businessman Tony O'Reilly Snr, centre, points his fingers at both Gavin O'Reilly and his twin brother Tony O'Reilly Jnr at the 26th annual Ireland Fund's Literary Award held in UCD, back in 1997. Picture: Graham Hughes/RollingNews.ie

There is literally no other biography, Irish or otherwise, that could include Kerrygold, Waterford Crystal, International News and Media, Heinz, and the British and Irish Lions.

Include defining contributions to peace and international investment in this country, North and Republic, through the Ireland Funds, and you can only be talking about one man: Anthony O’Reilly, who died on Saturday aged 88, at St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin.