Percy O'Reilly facts for kids

Captain Percy Philip O'Reilly (born July 27, 1870 – died July 3, 1942) was an Irish polo player who won a silver medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. He was from a place called Colamber in Westmeath, Ireland.

Meet Percy O'Reilly: Olympic Polo Star

Percy O'Reilly was a talented polo player. Polo is a team sport played on horseback, where players use mallets to hit a small ball into the opposing team's goal. It's often called "the sport of kings" because it requires skill, teamwork, and powerful horses.

Winning Silver in Polo

In 1908, Captain O'Reilly was part of the Irish polo team that competed in the Olympic Games. Even though they were from Ireland, their team was part of the larger Great Britain Olympic team. Percy O'Reilly and his teammates – John Paul McCann, John Hardress Lloyd, and Auston Rotheram – played very well. Their hard work paid off, and they won a silver medal in the team competition. This was a big achievement for them and for Ireland! By 1911, Percy O'Reilly was known as an "8-goal handicap player," which means he was considered a very skilled player in the sport.

Percy's Family Life

Percy O'Reilly was the only son of Philip O'Reilly and Anna Maria Nugent. His mother's father was Sir Percy Nugent. On January 18, 1900, Captain Percy O'Reilly married Alice Eleanor Boyd-Rochfort. She was from Middleton Park. Her brother, Captain Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, was a famous trainer of horses for the royal family.

Important Roles and Family Achievements

In 1919, Percy O'Reilly was given an important job called High Sheriff of Westmeath. A High Sheriff is a special official who helps with law and order in a county. It's a bit like a local government role, making sure things run smoothly in the area.

Captain Percy O'Reilly and Alice Eleanor Boyd-Rochfort had a big family with three sons and three daughters. Their son, Captain Charles Valentine O'Reilly, was born in 1909. He showed great bravery during World War II. In April 1945, he was awarded a special honor called the Military Cross for his courage and determination while crossing a river during a battle.

Their youngest daughter, Viola, was born in 1907. She married a very important military leader, General Sir Miles Dempsey. He was the commander of the British Second Army during the D-Day landings. D-Day was a huge and very important event in World War II when Allied forces landed in Normandy, France, to begin freeing Europe.