PJ O'Reilly - respected auctioneer

With the death of Mr PJ O'Reilly, auctioneer and valuer, after a short illness, County Cavan has lost one of its most knowledgeable and astute business brains and is definitely the poorer as a result. For half a century PJ was a leading figure in the auctioneering and estate agency business in Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Longford and Meath. He also had a significant business portfolio in the Dublin area that he ran from offices at Parnell Square and Grafton Street during the '70s and '80s and his knowledge of the auctioneering business was much respected by his colleagues in the Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute, of which he was a member for all of his business career. Quiet spoken, yet of firm disposition, PJ had that remarkable gift of good judgement which served well in his job. He was always able to weigh up the situation from both the short term and long term perspective and give clients the best possible advice. Whether it was residential, commercial or agricultural it is not an exaggeration to say that P.J. knew his brief better than most and that is why he was such a respected figure in the business life of Cavan for so long. He had a great attachment to agriculture and took pride in the family beef farm that he built up at Milltown. He was a life long member of the Irish Farmers' Association and was secretary of the Milltown branch of the Association for many years. A regular delegate at the AGMs of County Cavan IFA he always made incisive and valuable contributions, which were listened to with respect by fellow delegates. A native of Gartbratten, Milltown, PJ suffered the loss of his father and a young sister within days of each other when he was aged just seven. However, with the loving care of his mother he went on to grow up to be a young man filled with purpose and determination. He ran the home farm and then embraced the auctioneering business which was to define his life thereafter. As his business gained pace he opened an office at Bridge St, Cavan and extended his profile throughout the greater Co. Cavan area. The acquisition of the auctioneering firm of Taylor and Tweedy was a landmark business expansion. Taylor and Tweedy were a long established Cavan estate agency business at Main St, Cavan and on PJ's purchasing the firm it became O'Reilly, Taylor and Tweedy, the name which it still trades under to this day and which continues under the O'Reilly family ownership. PJ's auctioneering business is very much associated with the growth of Cavan town and the wider Cavan area over the past 40 years. Young couples buying their first home, people making their first furtive steps in business all would have came to PJ seeking his expertise. There are so many people today who made the right decisions when purchasing who have this quiet spoken auctioneer to thank. P.J. had a great interest in antiques long before it became fashionable and ran antique auctions in the late '70s. A charitable man he was an active member of the Cavan branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Association for many years - in fact he was on his way to a meeting of the Association on the evening he took ill. A familiar face during lunch hour in the Farnham Hotel, along with his good friend retired Canon George Miller, his passing is deeply regretted by his colleagues in the auctioneering fraternity and in the wider business life of Cavan town. Always proud of his native heath, one of P.J's most treasured moments was when he was elected honorary president of his local football club, Drumlane GFC. He was a loyal member of the club of which he was a former chairman and the club formed a guard of honour at the removal to the church in Milltown. An equally staunch Cavan supporter he faithfully made the short journey to Clones in those golden years of the 1960s when Cavan always featured in the Ulster finals. While the boys in blue didn't enjoy the same level of success in succeeding decades he was always there to cheer them on in their efforts. In political terms PJ was a committed member of Fine Gael and served on the Cavan County Executive of the party during the 1970s. In those years he actively campaigned for the party at election times, speaking at after Mass meetings and other campaigning events. In particular PJ was a devoted family man and is sadly mourned by his wife, Mai, daughter Mairead, sons Martin and Eamonn; brothers Father Eamonn and Seamus and by his sister, Maureen. He was predeceased by two sisters, one of whom Sister Edith of the religious life died in the 1970s. The standing in which PJ was held as a businessman, neighbour and friend was reflected in the large attendance at his requiem Mass and obsequies in Milltown. PJ's brother, Father Eamonn was the celebrant along with Bishop Leo O'Reilly, Father Gerry Comiskey, PP and other priests. Interment was in the old abbey cemetery.