Brendan O’ Reilly KC*HS was born on June 26th 1947, the second son to John & Gertrude O’ Reilly. In 1979 he married his wife, Dame Áine Fitzgerald O’ Reilly and they went on to have two wonderful children, Bláithín & Oisín.

He enjoys morning walks, Calvados Brandy and a glass or two of the Beaujolais Nouveau accompanied by fine cheeses. He is an avid collector of Irish stamps, Waterford Crystal decanters and {bad} jokes. When he is not travelling the world he lives with his wife in Co. Meath, Ireland.

In 2008 he was awarded the Medal of Leo XIII for his involvement in the Holy Land. Also in 2008 Brendan became Chevalier Brendan O’ Reilly KHS, in 2011 he was promoted to Knight Commander {KCHS} and in 2014 to Knight Commander with Star {KC*HS}.

Brendan holds a:

• Masters in Religious Education from Dublin City University
• Higher Diploma in Education from Trinity College, Dublin
• Bachelor of Divinity from The Pontifical University Maynooth
• Diploma in Religious Education from Lumen Vitae, Brussels
• Primary Teaching  Diploma from Marino, Dublin

His career spans some forty years and includes:

2012 -2014   Member of the Council of Catholic Schools Partnership {CSP}, Member of the International Eucharistic Congress Committee and International Speaker on Religious Education.

2005 – 2012    Executive Secretary of the Irish Catechetics Council and Coordinator of the National { Ireland} Religious Education Congress

2005 – 2012    National {Ireland} Director for Catechetics

2002 – 2005    Writer, Irish Language Translator, Coordinator & Administrator of the National Religious Education Programme for Primary Schools of Ireland and Scotland.

1999 – 2002    Diocesan Adviser

1979- 1999    Secondary School Teacher and Head of Catechetics Department, Primary School Teacher and Part-time Lecturer.

1967 – 1978    Primary School Teacher and Principal.