The life of Reilly

Living the dream, that’s Ian Reilly from Skryne in the county of Meath. A dog-lover all his days, born and bred into the world of greyhound racing, in February 2002 Ian took a plunge, ventured into the precarious career of full-time trainer.

It’s a gamble that has paid off in spades. Initially his sole focus was on the track and almost immediately he enjoyed success, classic success; a few years ago he then turned his hand to coursing and again, almost immediate success.

It’s not just the business, however. Compounding the pleasure and the satisfaction Ian so obviously derives from his new career is the fact that this is a family affair, a family love-affair. His wife and life-partner, Joan, is also his business partner, as are his two children, Leaving Cert student Shannon (18) and Billy (10); all four are equally in thrall to the dogs they train, a fact that becomes obvious within minutes of sitting down to talk at their generous and welcoming kitchen table.