Brendan O'Reilly (14 May 1929 – 1 April 2001) was an Irish Olympic athlete, broadcaster, journalist, actor, singer and songwriter (best known for the 'Ballad of Michael Collins' and the Olympic song, 'Let the Nations Play'. He is best known as presenter of the long-running ''
Sports Stadium
A stadium (: stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage completely or partially surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit ...
''.
Between 1966 and 1968, O'Reilly had the honour of commentating for
Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
at the
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...
, as well as presenting the National Song Contest (to select Ireland's Eurovision entry) from 1966 to 1970.
Biography
Athletics career
O'Reilly studied in America at the University of Michigan and was a high jumper. He set the Irish high jump record and also set the Irish javelin record. He finished second behind
Derek Cox in the high jump event at the British
1953 AAA Championships. The following year he claimed the title at the
1954 AAA Championships.
He represented Ireland at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.
Professional career
O'Reilly studying drama at the University of Michigan and acted in the 1971 film ''
Flight of the Doves'' playing Police Inspector Michael Roark, and also played roles in ''After Midnight'' (1990) and the television series ''Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog''
He is survived by his wife Dr Johanna Lowry O'Reilly, historian and author, eldest son, musician and film maker Myles O'Reilly, restaurant general manager and musician Kelan (Lowry) O'Reilly, Dublin, Rossa (Lowry) O'Reilly, hospitality investment and Hannah Lowry BL.
References
External links
*
1929 births
2001 deaths
RTÉ newsreaders and journalists
RTÉ television presenters
Sportspeople from County Longford
University of Michigan alumni
Beauty pageant hosts
People from Granard
Broadcasters from County Longford
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