Media executive Tony O’Reilly dies at 88
Newspaper executive and champion rugby union player Tony O’Reilly has died in Dublin, aged 88.
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Media executive Sir Anthony O’Reilly, who was also one of Ireland’s greatest rugby players, died in Dublin on the weekend, aged 88.
Sir Anthony spearheaded the global media company Independent News and Media for more than 30 years — he purchased a 28 per cent share in the company in 1973.
He also owned The Independent and Belfast Telegraph.
During his career Sir Anthony battled it out in Australia with fellow media magnates including Kerry Packer and Conrad Black, to try to control rival media company John Fairfax, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.
In 1987, Sir Anthony paid News Limited, publisher of The Australian, $150m for Provincial Newspapers Queenslanders, which became APN News & Media.
His son, Cameron, joined INM as a marketing executive in 1987 but moved to Australia to run APN after the deal with News Limited was completed.
Sir Anthony was a champion rugby union player in Ireland and played for the British and Irish Lions before forging his extremely successful business career.
He was the youngest ever player to be picked to represent the Lions when selected to tour South Africa in 1955.
O’Reilly, who had joint Irish and British nationality, was knighted in the 2001 New Year Honours by the late Queen Elizabeth II “for long and distinguished service to Northern Ireland”.
On the weekend, his family issued a statement.
“In the coming days there will be many worthy tributes made to Tony O’Reilly’s unique and extraordinary achievements in the fields of business and sport,” they said.
“As well as to his extraordinary philanthropic vision which was best evidenced by the establishment of the Ireland Funds at a dark time in this island’s history.
“But, for us, he was a dearly-loved dad and a granddad.
“He lived one of the great lives and we were fortunate to spend time with him in recent weeks as that great life drew to a close.”
Sir Anthony, who was the father of six children, died after a short illness.
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Originally published as Media executive Tony O’Reilly dies at 88