Education
He studied for the priesthood in Maynooth College and was ordained in 1969.
He studied for the priesthood in Maynooth College and was ordained in 1969.
A native of Kill, County Cavan, he was ordained a priest in 1969. The family later moved to Kilconny, Belturbet. He received his early education in Drumnatrade and Tullyvin National Schools and later in St. Patrick's College, Cavan.
He served on the staff of the Pontifical Irish College from 1978 until 1980. Having received a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1981 he was appointed chaplain to Bailieboro Community School. There were no cases of a failure to report or address matters when they came to light and all the allegations were reported to the Garda and the Health Service Executive (or health boards), the review found.
There were no examples of “poor practice” since Bishop O’Reilly was appointed in 1998. The board praised the bishop’s approach as an “excellent example” for others to follow. However, a priest at the centre of abuse allegations and complaints continues to live in a parochial house in the Kilmore Diocese
Responding to the Irish Government's decision to introduce legislation and regulations on the abortion issue, Bishop O'Reilly declared it the "first step on the road to a culture of death", echoing a phrase popularised by Pope John Paul II on a World Youth Day tour of the United States in 1993.
He was a member of the staff in St Patrick's College until 1976 when he went to Rome to do further studies.