MRS. ELIZABETH O’REILLY

Irish Press 7 October 1976

OBITUARY

MRS. ELIZABETH O’REILLY

Mrs. Elizabeth O’Reilly, of Aghards, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, who has died, was a member of Cumann na mBan as a young woman and served almost a year in prison for her political activities then.  She was a member of Old IRA intelligence.

Known as Tilla Cregan before her marriage, her home at Tyrconnell Road in Inchicore was the first house in Dublin raided by Auxiliaries, and was subsequently raided on regular occasions by the Black and Tans.

She was friendly with a number of the leading political figures of the time and was particularly close to the mother of the Pearse brothers, Padraig and Willie.  In later years, she was closely associated with the Fianna Fail party.

Mrs. O’Reilly, who was 80, was the widow of Eugene O’Reilly, who served as captain in the 4th Battalion of the Old IRA.  Her brother C. L. Cregan, was shot dead during the Civil War in 1922. She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Owena Stokes, Celbridge, and a number of grandchildren.