The businessman and newspaper magnate, Dr A.J.F. O'Reilly, has been knighted in the British New Year Honours List for "long and distinguished service to Northern Ireland".
Dr O'Reilly obtained the permission of the Government before accepting the award, which is thought to be the first full knighthood awarded to an Irish citizen. Fianna Fail and PD Ministers gave their approval yesterday after they were contacted individually by civil servants for their opinion.
Dr O'Reilly holds dual Irish and British citizenship and has done so since birth, according to his spokesman in Dublin. He was born in Dublin in 1936. Article 40.2.2 of the Constitution states that "no title of nobility or honour may be accepted by any citizen except with the prior approval of the government".
In the past other Irish people, including the rock singer and charity fund-raiser, Bob Geldof, accepted honorary awards, which do not require the recipient to kneel before Queen Elizabeth. "Sir Bob" did not need government permission for his honorary title, which as a non-British national he is not entitled to use.
Today's New Year Honours List includes an honorary knighthood for comedian Spike Milligan, and an honorary CBE for the Cork actress Fiona Shaw.
Dr O'Reilly's award is largely in recognition of the work carried out by the Ireland Funds, which he founded in 1976. Since then the funds have raised over $100 million for the causes of peace, culture and charity in both parts of Ireland. This year alone more than 55 fund-raising events have been held in 32 cities around the world.
Last night Dr O'Reilly said he was very pleased to be given the honour of a knighthood. "I think it is also a signal recognition of the thousands of people in the Ireland Funds all around the world who have worked for peace and reconciliation in Ireland, North and South," he added.
Dr O'Reilly was educated at Belvedere College and UCD and qualified as a solicitor. He was capped 29 times for the Irish rugby team and played for the British and Irish Lions. After a rapid rise in Irish business, he became chief executive of the food multinational, H.J. Heinz, in the US in 1979. He is executive chairman of Independent News and Media and Waterford Wedgwood.
Other awards in this year's list include a knighthood for the British Olympic oarsman, Steve Redgrave; an honorary knighthood for the American film director, Steven Spielberg; and honorary MBEs for the jockey Frankie Dettori and the former Manchester United goalkeeper. Peter Schmeichel.
