By Business & Finance 
Pictured L-R: Ian Hyland, President Business and Finance, Tony O’Reilly Jnr. and Seamus Hand, Managing Partner KPMG Ireland
Tony O’Reilly was the recipient of the TK Whitaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Life. His son Tony O’Reilly Jnr., spoke at length about his father’s journey from rugby star to global leader who redefined Ireland’s potential, inspiring ambition and unity. His legacy of business, philanthropy, and vision continues to shape generations.
On Thursday December 5th, 2024, the 50th annual Business & Finance Awards took place in The Convention Centre, Dublin.
In association with KPMG, the Business & Finance Awards honoured Tony O’Reilly the TK Whitaker Award for outstanding contribution to public life.
Pictured: Ian Hyland, President Business & Finance
Ian Hyland, President and Publisher of Business & Finance, delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late O’Reilly. “Introducing this year’s honouree is a very personal privilege,” Hyland began, weaving a narrative that highlighted O’Reilly’s transformative impact on Ireland and the world. From a young boy at Belvedere College, warned by his headmaster that he’d “end up selling newspapers,” to becoming a global media magnate and visionary leader, O’Reilly epitomised ambition and perseverance.
Hyland recounted O’Reilly’s role in transforming Independent Newspapers from a local operator into an international media force. He emphasised that O’Reilly’s achievements weren’t simply business milestones but lessons in leadership for an Ireland striving for self-belief during a challenging era.
“Tony had one secret ingredient that couldn’t be bottled—the ability to identify, connect, convene, and mobilise the most influential people to make great things happen,” Hyland noted. This remarkable gift was perhaps best illustrated in O’Reilly’s work with The Ireland Funds. Founded alongside Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the initiative has raised over $600 million to support peace and culture in Ireland, a testament to O’Reilly’s enduring impact.
One of the most poignant examples of his influence was his pivotal role in fostering the Good Friday Agreement. Hyland reflected on how O’Reilly leveraged his network to bring Northern Irish leaders to meet Nelson Mandela in 1997, facilitating meaningful conversations inspired by South Africa’s path to reconciliation. “Tony’s impact was a vitally important ripple in a wave of change,” Hyland remarked, underscoring O’Reilly’s unique ability to align vision with action for the greater good.
Pictured: Tony O’Reilly Jnr. acceptance speech
Taking the stage to accept the award on behalf of his late father, Tony O’Reilly Jnr. spoke with deep admiration and gratitude. Reflecting on his father’s life, he remarked, “Rugby was a pretty good template for life—teamwork, discipline, and passion.” These values, instilled early in O’Reilly’s career on the rugby field, became the bedrock of his business and philanthropic endeavours. From his ground-breaking tenure as the youngest CEO of a Fortune 100 company at HJ Heinz to his relentless investment in Ireland, O’Reilly demonstrated that success and loyalty to one’s roots could go hand in hand. “He gave people the proof, the inspiration, and the self-belief that no Irishman should ever have to accept second place,” his son noted, acknowledging his father’s role in fostering the confidence that helped birth the Celtic Tiger.
But O’Reilly’s legacy extends beyond business and philanthropy. O’Reilly Jnr. celebrated his father’s deep commitment to friendship and family, noting that his global network of friends—rugby teammates, schoolmates, and business colleagues—defined who he was. His dedication to people shone through in every aspect of his life, from the rugby pitch to boardrooms and beyond. “His greatest good fortune was not rugby, business, or philanthropy, but his friends and his family,” O’Reilly Jr. said, reflecting on the relationships that gave his father’s life meaning.
Pictured: L-R Seamus Hand, Managing Partner KPMG Ireland, Tony O’Reilly Jnr. Susan Wildman O’Reilly and Ian Hyland, President of Business and Finance
In closing, O’Reilly Jnr. shared his father’s favourite quote from WB Yeats: “Think where man’s glory begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.” It was a fitting tribute to a man who not only built businesses and networks but also inspired generations of Irish leaders to dream bigger and achieve more. As the audience stood to honour the legacy of Tony O’Reilly, it was clear that his impact—both in Ireland and across the globe—would be felt for decades to come.
The full video of Tony O’Reilly Jnr. can be viewed below;
Read about previous TK Whitaker Award winners
Lord David Puttnam CBE to receive the 2019 TK Whitaker Award
Former President Mary McAleese to receive 2018 TK Whitaker Award
