Education
Born in the County Cavan townland of Lisgrea, O'Reilly was educated at All Hallows College in Dublin, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1882.
Born in the County Cavan townland of Lisgrea, O'Reilly was educated at All Hallows College in Dublin, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1882.
His initial American placement was in Minnesota in the Archdiocese of St. Paul where he served as pastor of the parishes in Goodhue County's Belle Creek and Lake City as well as Washington County's Stillwater. In 1886 he was chosen as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Minneapolis. He served as bishop for the next twenty-four years, until his death just over two months past his 79th birthday.