The death took place at Bath on May 25, of Mr. William Joseph O'Reilly, of Knock Abbey, in whom County Louth loses one of its most prominent and widely-known pubs lie men. Mr. O'Reilly was the son of a distinguished Irish Officer, Major Myles O'Reilly, at one time M.P. for Longford, who commanded the Irish Papal Volunteers at the heroic defence of Spoleto in the Umbrian campaign of 1860. His mother was lda. daughter of Edmund Jerningharn.
Mr. O'Reilly was educated in England, at Ushaw College and at London University. In Ireland he had served as a Commissioner of Education and, since 1930, on the Board of Censorship. For many years he was a Resident Magistrate in County Cavan and Cdunty Meath successively; he was also a magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for county Louth, in 1910 being on the roll for High Sheriff.
In 1926 Mr. O'Reilly was honoured by the Pope with the dignity of Privy Cham berlain of Sword and Cape. Four years ago he was enrolled as a Knight of Malta in the Irish Association of that Order.