President Higgins pays tribute to late tycoon Tony O'Reilly

Chief executive of lobby group Ibec Danny McCoy said Mr O’Reilly’s “impact as a business leader was extraordinary.”

The President as well as philanthropists and business groups are among those who have paid tribute to the late Tony O’Reilly, former Heinz chief executive and rugby legend.

Mr O’Reilly, who was once among the wealthiest people in the Republic, died in a Dublin hospital on Saturday, May 18 at the age of 88.

"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,” said President Michael D Higgins.

"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," he added.

Caitriona Fottrell, president and chief executive of The Ireland Funds, which Mr O’Reilly co-founded, said Mr O’Reilly created an organization that “has gone on to support thousands of non-profits all over the island.” 

Mr O’Reilly established The Ireland Funds with Dan Rooney and Patricia Rooney in 1976, at the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland.

“We will not achieve our goals of peace, culture and charity in our lifetimes, but we will have passed to future generations our visions of a truly noble and inspiring Ireland,” Mr O’Reilly once said on the work of The Ireland Funds.

Chief executive of lobby group Ibec Danny McCoy said Mr O’Reilly’s “impact as a business leader was extraordinary.” 

“His vision and determination in turning Kerrygold into one of Ireland's most well-known global consumer brands remain one of the most incredible Irish business success stories,” said Mr McCoy.

Mr McCoy added that Mr O’Reilly gained international recognition for Irish entrepreneurship through his “ascension as first Irish person to be a CEO of a global corporate giant like the Heinz group, placing him at the helm of one of the most successful global food companies.

During his time at the head of Heinz, Mr O’Reilly also built stakes in one of the largest media companies in Ireland, Independent News & Media (INM) now known as Mediahuis, and crystal maker Waterford Wedgwood.