John was born in 1929, joined the Dominicans in 1957 and ordained a priest in July 1963.
Before coming to the Dominicans he was a primary school teacher. His skills in teaching came to his aid when he was later teaching in Newbridge College.
John was a brilliant teacher. He had that great gift of being genuinely interested in his pupils which complemented his art and skills in his subject. And Irish was his 'thing'. He was the perfect Irish teacher. Always thoroughly prepared and always totally on top of his subject.
In my first year teaching in Newbridge College I was given a first year German class and John taught that same class Irish. The boys loved him but they also knew that they were there to learn. Yes, good fun in class but never a hint of a second of indiscipline. And they knew that too.
After their Junior Cert we compared results. Top grades in Irish.
The previous year, academic year 1979/1980, I was a probationary teacher in Newbridge College, doing my H.Dip in Maynooth. It had been 13 years since I had looked at a word of Irish.
In order to qualify as a registered post-primary school teacher it was necessary to pass an oral examination in Irish, the Ceard Teastas.
John was my tutor/mentor. It meant a few walks around the bog. Job done. I passed. Entirely due to John's assistance. And the laughs we had walking around the bog.
In the 1970s John was a memebr of the Dominican community at St Mary's Priory, Tallaght. While there he spotted those who were interested in music and he set about teaching them how to play the organ.
According to a well-respected musician, John O'Reilly was the finest organist with whom he ever worked and the most outstanding organist of his generation in the Irish Dominicans.
According to a well-respected musician, John O'Reilly was the finest organist with whom he ever worked and the most outstanding organist of his generation in the Irish Dominicans.
He was always there for people.
His funeral Mass is at midday on Wednesday, May 18 at the Dominican Church, The Claddagh, Galway. Burial at Rahoon cemetery.
A good priest. A great school teacher. A kind man.
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