Paddy Reilly
Paddy Reilly
Paddy Reilly was born in Feugh Bishop, Milltown, County Cavan, in Ireland, to parents
Katie and Thomas. He is the third of eleven children, six girls and five boys. Paddy left
school at the young age of fourteen to help his father and older brother Mickey on the
farm. He toiled the fields with his horses, for which he had a great love, and walked many
a herd of cattle to-and-from the fairs of Killeshandra, Belturbet, Ballyconnell, Arva, and
Cavan Town.
On January 21st 1958 Paddy immigrated to New York, and found employment in building
and elevator maintenance. At the end of that year he met Helen Murphy who introduced
him to John Tully, who, in 1963 became his first business partner in Reilly and Tully's on
Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. This was to be the first of many bars and restaurants for Paddy in Queens, which included The Tower View Catering Hall in Woodside,
where he was a partner with Peter Murphy.
Paddy married Helen in 1966, and they had two children, Kathleen and Colm. Kathleen
graduated from New York Institute of Technology with a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management, and, following in her father's footsteps is now a partner with him in The Coliseum Restaurant and Bar. She is married to Gerard McCrink. Colm graduated from
Hofstra University. He enjoys singing and acting, and lives with his partner Shane
Matthews. Helen, unfortunately, was killed in an accident on October 25, 1987.
Paddy is now married to Angela, and together they own and manage The Molly Wee Pub
and Restaurant. Paddy also has partnerships with Matt Connell and Eugene Rooney in
The Old Castle and The Irish Pub, Pete Fitzpatrick and Matt Connell in McGee's Pub,
Damian Dolan in The Emerald Pub, his nephew Tommy O'Reilly in O'Reilly's Pub in Oakdale, Long Island, his niece Kelli at Blue Topaz in Florida, and now his most recent venture with Sean and Brendan Straw and his daughter Kathleen in Vertigo on 26th Street and
Third Avenue, New York City..
Paddy has worked tirelessly helping people, and has been a member of several organizations, including Irish Northern Aid, NY Camogie Team, The Armagh Association of New
York, The Cavan P&B Association, IBO, and the U.R.T.O., and has been honored by all of
them for his hard work and commitment. His most recent and noble accomplishment was
helping to acquire the Irish Center for Fr. Colm Campbell and his Committee. The Center
is now a vibrant place of welcome for the Irish Community, and people of all ages participate in the many and varied activities taking place. Paddy takes great pride in the Molly
Wee Pub as it was first established by his brother Eugene (Owen) now deceased, and is
named after his home place in Feugh, County Cavan. Paddy and Angela reside in Queens,
but enjoy traveling to their home in Ireland every year.
We are proud and privileged to pay tribute to Paddy Reilly, our 2011 Gael of the Year, and
salute him for his accomplishments. We thank him for his caring and generosity to the
Irish Community, and wish him and Angela and his family many more years of good health
and prosperity.
Paddy Reilly was born in Feugh Bishop, Milltown, County Cavan, in Ireland, to parents
Katie and Thomas. He is the third of eleven children, six girls and five boys. Paddy left
school at the young age of fourteen to help his father and older brother Mickey on the
farm. He toiled the fields with his horses, for which he had a great love, and walked many
a herd of cattle to-and-from the fairs of Killeshandra, Belturbet, Ballyconnell, Arva, and
Cavan Town.
On January 21st 1958 Paddy immigrated to New York, and found employment in building
and elevator maintenance. At the end of that year he met Helen Murphy who introduced
him to John Tully, who, in 1963 became his first business partner in Reilly and Tully's on
Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. This was to be the first of many bars and restaurants for Paddy in Queens, which included The Tower View Catering Hall in Woodside,
where he was a partner with Peter Murphy.
Paddy married Helen in 1966, and they had two children, Kathleen and Colm. Kathleen
graduated from New York Institute of Technology with a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management, and, following in her father's footsteps is now a partner with him in The Coliseum Restaurant and Bar. She is married to Gerard McCrink. Colm graduated from
Hofstra University. He enjoys singing and acting, and lives with his partner Shane
Matthews. Helen, unfortunately, was killed in an accident on October 25, 1987.
Paddy is now married to Angela, and together they own and manage The Molly Wee Pub
and Restaurant. Paddy also has partnerships with Matt Connell and Eugene Rooney in
The Old Castle and The Irish Pub, Pete Fitzpatrick and Matt Connell in McGee's Pub,
Damian Dolan in The Emerald Pub, his nephew Tommy O'Reilly in O'Reilly's Pub in Oakdale, Long Island, his niece Kelli at Blue Topaz in Florida, and now his most recent venture with Sean and Brendan Straw and his daughter Kathleen in Vertigo on 26th Street and
Third Avenue, New York City..
Paddy has worked tirelessly helping people, and has been a member of several organizations, including Irish Northern Aid, NY Camogie Team, The Armagh Association of New
York, The Cavan P&B Association, IBO, and the U.R.T.O., and has been honored by all of
them for his hard work and commitment. His most recent and noble accomplishment was
helping to acquire the Irish Center for Fr. Colm Campbell and his Committee. The Center
is now a vibrant place of welcome for the Irish Community, and people of all ages participate in the many and varied activities taking place. Paddy takes great pride in the Molly
Wee Pub as it was first established by his brother Eugene (Owen) now deceased, and is
named after his home place in Feugh, County Cavan. Paddy and Angela reside in Queens,
but enjoy traveling to their home in Ireland every year.
We are proud and privileged to pay tribute to Paddy Reilly, our 2011 Gael of the Year, and
salute him for his accomplishments. We thank him for his caring and generosity to the
Irish Community, and wish him and Angela and his family many more years of good health
and prosperity.