My Parents: a memoir | by Terence O’Reilly

When this booklet was being put together I came across some words that express the intention behind it:

In order to accept who we really are, and how precious we are, we need to accept as part of ourselves the men and women from whom we are descended. They did not simply think about themselves, but passed on to us the treasure of life. We are here thanks to our parents, but also thanks to our grandparents, who helped us feel welcome in the world. Often they were the ones who loved us unconditionally, without expecting anything back. They took us by the hand when we were afraid, reassured us in the dark of night, encouraged us when in the full light of day we faced important life decisions. […]. This is our history, to which we are heirs and which we are called to preserve.*

The first part, about my father, is based on my memories, family tradition, and the few documents that have survived, some of them traced for me by Dr Elizabeth Mullins, to whom I am most grateful. The second part, about my mother and her family, is based on conversations in which I asked her to tell me about her early life. I took notes, wrote them up, and, on her ninetieth birthday in 2005, presented her with the results. She then made some corrections and additions that I have included in the version here.

Terence O’Reilly

Cork, Summer, 2022

*From a homily by Pope Francis at Edmonton in Canada on 26 July 2022.

Michael O'Reilly (1911–1963)

My father was born in Cork in the summer of 1911. He was the youngest son in a family of seven children: four girls (May, Kitty, Lil, Ann) and three boys (Tom, John, Michael). The family home was a small farm in North Cork, at Ballyhest, Castlecor, in the parish of Kilbrin.

Tom O'Reilly17 November 2024

Elizabeth O’Reilly (1915–2006)

My mother was the youngest of four children, two boys and two girls. She was born in India on 11 November 1915, in the town of Shahjehanpore (United Provinces: now Shajehanpora), a place named after the famous prince who built the Taj Mahal.

Tom O'Reilly14 November 2024

The history of Ballyhest, by John O’Reilly

Ballyhest is situated in a part of Ireland that had been fought over for many centuries. It was ruled by the Earls of Desmond before the Plantation of Munster by Queen Elizabeth dating from about 1580.

Tom O'Reilly13 November 2024