Very sad news for Irish Motorsport

[EvilPumpkin]

I have been asked to post this on behalf of the Motorcycle Marshals Association by their secretary:

"It is with the deepest regret that I inform you that Mrs. Phyllis O'Reilly passed away on Monday afternoon.

Phyllis has been a mainstay of Irish motorsport, in all areas of circuit racing, for over 30 years. In recent years, ill-health prevented her from giving as much active participation as she used to, but she never stinted in the work her health allowed her to do.

This is a terrible loss and our sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with her husband, Tony and with her children, grandchildren, family and friends.

We will be posting details of arrangements as soon as they are available.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam"


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I realise that many outside of Ireland will not be familiar with these names but I felt that this was the correct forum to post in - particularly as many of the UK BSB marshals would be friendly with their daughters, Maeve McDonnell and Orlagh O'Reilly.

Anyone who has dealt with the Leinster Motor Club would probably know Tony O'Reilly and Ultan O'Reilly.

If anyone from the UK would like to send a message to them, you can pm or email it to me and I'll ensure they get it.

Tony and Phyllis were among the founder members of the original Irish Marshals Club back in the 1960s and for many years they ran the club. In recent years, both they and their children were responsible for forming and running the Motorcycle Marshals Association in Ireland.

[KayBee]

My condolences to all who knew her.

[blackx]

It is always a sad day when somebody influencial and very well thought of passes away...

My Condolonces go to all .

[Mark Mitchell]

I echo BlackX's comments

[EvilPumpkin]

The removal is on Thursday 30th June at 6pm at Holy Spirit Church, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham. Funeral is on Friday 1st July at 10am at the same church, followed by the interment at Bohernabreena cemetary.

[Shinners]

Condolences to the O'Reilly family on their very sad loss.

[redone]

Condolences to the O'Reilly family on their loss, and sympathy to all my Irish marshalling friends.

[USA Marshal]

For those who knew Phyllis, her loss comes as a shock and with a sense of sadness and sympathy for her husband Tony and family but also with a great sense of appreciation for her organizational skills and dedication to the MRMCI in its formative years. I was fortunate to be introduced to marshalling by the O'Reillys in the early 1980s and will always be thankful for the untiring effort that Phyllis and Tony invested in Irish motorsport.

One aspect struck me in particular is that Phyllis never restricted herself to one branch of motorsport. During those years under her aegis, I marshaled at car, bike and kart races at Mondello (and even the odd stage of the circuit of Ireland); Enduro motoX races in Wicklow, Autotests at Lepardstown race course, road races at Skerries and Fore, Karts in Malahide, hill climbs at Cruagh, the Park, the Sally Gap and the list goes on.

By chance I was home for her funeral and it was so nice to be able to see her family to express my sympathy, and to reconnect and share reminiscences with so many people who thought so highly of Phyllis.

Recquiscat In Pace.