Colm O'Reilly

Colm O'Reilly (born 11 January 1935) is an Irish prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise from 1983 to 2013.

Early life and education The youngest of seven children, O'Reilly was born to John and Alicia O'Reilly in Colmcille, County Longford.

His eldest brother, Peter (died 1988), was superior general of St. Patrick's Missionary Society for sixteen years, and another brother, Brendan (died 2000), was a member of the Divine Word Missionaries. in Maynooth.

He spent his priesthood in parishes in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, ministering first in Granard for nine years. In 1969 he was appointed curate and later administrator at St. Mel's Cathedral. He was Chairman of the Commission for the Missions and of the Liaison Committee for Child Protection; and a member of the Conference Department of Social Issues and International Affairs, Committee for Family and Children, Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, and Trócaire.

In 2009 he was greatly shocked by the fire at St Mel's Cathedral with which he had such a long association and O'Reilly spearheaded the campaign to rebuild and restore the fire ravaged building.

A 2011 audit into the diocese's handling of child sex abuse allegations stated that Bishop O'Reilly "displays a gentle caring approach but with great wisdom and honesty," and further that he along with the diocese's designated person in the area of child safeguarding, "ensures that allegations are addressed in full."

Resignation On 17 July 2013, Bishop O'Reilly's resignation from the pastoral government of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise was accepted by Pope Francis, in accordance with the 1983 Code of Canon Law.