Myles O'Reilly (politician)

Myles William Patrick O'Reilly (13 March 1825 in Balbriggan, Ireland – 6 February 1880 in Dublin, Ireland) was a Catholic soldier, MP and publicist.

Myles O'Reilly
Formal photograph of Myles William Patrick O'Reilly in ceremonial dress.
Member of Parliament for Longford
In office 1862–1879
High Sheriff of Louth
In office 1848-1849
Personal details
Born	(1825-03-13)13 March 1825 Balbriggan, Ireland
Died	6 February 1880(1880-02-06) (aged 54) Dublin, Ireland
Spouse	Ida Jerningham ​ (m. 1859)​
Children	6, including William
Parent	William O'Reilly (father)
Education	Ushaw College London University
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom Pope Pius IX
Rank	Captain
Unit	Louth Rifles Battalion of St Patrick
Battles/wars	Second Italian War of Independence Battle of Castelfidardo

He was the only son of William O'Reilly of Thomastown (Knock Abbey) Castle, County Louth and was educated at Ushaw College in County Durham and at London University. He entered the Middle Temple in 1848.^[1] He succeeded his father to Knock Abbey Castle in 1844 and was selected High Sheriff of Louth for 1848–49.^{[citation needed]}

Career

 

Pontifical Zouave of Major O'Reilly's Papal Battalion, carrying a .71 cal. Model 1842 French smoothbore musket.

He was commissioned a captain in the Louth Rifles in 1854, a British militia unit. When the Roman crisis arose he offered his services to Pope Pius IX against Giuseppe Garibaldi who had launched the Expedition of the Thousand. Raising and leading an Irish battalion of 900 men, known as The Battalion of St Patrick, he fought in the 18-day war until the surrender of Spoleto in September 1860.^[2] On the losing side at the Battle of Castelfidardo, the Papal States were soon reduced to the province of Lazio around Rome.^[3] Some of his men joined the Papal Zouaves after the war.^{[citation needed]}

Subsequently, he was elected a Member of Parliament for the Longford division from 1862 to 1879, when he was appointed the Assistant Commissioner of Intermediate Education, and was one of the founders of the Irish Home Rule League (1873–82). In addition to his historical Sufferings for the Faith in Ireland (1868), his pen was ever active in defence of the Holy See and Catholic interests.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

On his death in 1880 he was buried in the family burial-ground at Philipstown, near Knock Abbey. He had married in 1859 Ida Jerningham and had 4 sons and 2 daughters. He was succeeded by his eldest son William Joseph O'Reilly.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Second Italian War of Independence

Notes

1. Hutchinson, John. A Catalogue of Notable Middle Templars: With Brief Biographical Notices. p. 180.
2. "The pope's Irish battalion, 1860". 5 March 2013.
3. "History Ireland" Sept 2010, vol 18.

References

• 1910
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Myles William Patrick O'Reilly" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Louth County Council
• Genealogy of O'Reilly family

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Myles William Patrick O'Reilly

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Luke White Fulke Greville-Nugent	Member of Parliament for Longford 1862–1879 With: Fulke Greville-Nugent to 1869 Reginald Greville-Nugent 1869–70 George Greville-Nugent 1870–74 George Errington from 1874	Succeeded by Justin McCarthy George Errington