[1] O'Reilly completed his law degree at the University of Canterbury and was admitted to the bar in 1963, at the age of 21.

[2] In 1988, O’Reilly coached the Crusadettes, the University of Canterbury Women's team, and they toured the United States and Europe.

It was a two-week women's rugby festival that featured national teams from the Netherlands, the United States and USSR.

On 22 July 1989, the first official New Zealand women's team played the California Grizzlies, a touring side from the United States, at Lancaster Park in Christchurch.

[3][1] He held a living funeral before his death; Wayne Smith, who was mentored by O’Reilly, spoke at the event.