Fr Matthew (‘Mattie’) Reilly (1934-2018) was born in Bellair, Moynalty, Kells, Co Meath on 5 April 1934.
Educated in Moynalty NS and St Finian’s College, Mullingar, he came to Dalgan in September 1952.
He was ordained priest 21 December 1958. He was a younger brother of the late Columban Patrick Reilly who died in 1998.
Mattie’s first appointment was to Korea where he would spend the next twelve years. After language studies he worked in the Kwangju area, spent some time as secretary to the Papal Nuncio, completed a course in catechetics at the East Asian Pastoral Institute, and served as pastor of Youngsanpo, Kwangju, before doing pastoral work in Seoul.
From 1972 to 1978 Mattie did pastoral work in the Diocese of Meath, serving as chaplain to Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, and as spiritual director to various presidia of the Legion of Mary, and to the St Vincent de Paul.
From 1978 to 1984 he served at St Bede’s Columban Parish in Widnes, Liverpool where he is still fondly remembered.
After a brief period in office work at the Columban House, Solihull, Bermingham, he was involved as a pastor and counsellor to alcohol and drug addicts in Clouds House, Wiltshire in 1985. From 1986 to 1992 he returned to Solihull where he served as office manager and was responsible for extending the offices.
He returned to Ireland in 1992 and pastoral work in the Diocese of Meath along with part-time chaplaincy in Dublin’s Mater Hospital.
From 1995 to 2003 he served as chaplain to St Francis Private Hospital, Mullingar.
Due to his own many illnesses, he got great fulfillment from chaplaincy work and the care of the sick. As his health deteriorated, he could do less work, but he loved to help in the Meath parishes whenever he could.
During his years in the Dalgan Nursing Home he developed the cultivation of flowers as a hobby. He created magnificent seasonal displays of flowers in the corridors, chapels and out of doors especially for Cemetery Sunday, Jubilee days, Easter and Christmas.
May he rest in peace.
