Tony oreilly biography

Irish businessman and rugby player (1936–2024)

Rugby player

Sir Anthony John^{[n 1]} Francis O'ReillyAO (7 May 1936 – 18 May 2024) was an Irish businessman and international rugby union player.

Tony oreilly biography

He was known for his try scoring in rugby, his involvement in the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009,^[2] and as CEO and chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of Waterford Wedgwood and a founder and major supporter of The Ireland Funds.

A citizen of both Ireland and the United Kingdom, he was knighted as a Knight Bachelor for his services to Northern Ireland.

As a rugby player, he represented Ireland, the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians and is enshrined as a member of the International Rugby Board's Hall of Fame.

In business, he was noted for multiple successful roles, and became a billionaire, but by 2014, was being pursued in the Irish courts for debts amounting to €22 mill