Clan Coleman
Declan O'Reilly
1st Generation Australian
Declan O'Reilly 
Sydney 1998
Four of the children born to Pat and Norah Coleman of Cahermaculick, Shrule, Co Mayo, Ireland settled in Sydney in the 1950's and 60's: Michael (Mick) in 1957 after two years in North Queensland; Martin in 1958 and Delia and Margaret in 1966. Declan O'Reilly (1972) who settled in Sydney in January 1998 is their nephew and the first of four children born to Nonnie Coleman (the youngest child of Pat and Norah Coleman) and Padraig O'Reilly of Loughrea, Co Galway. (Click here for more information in Clan Coleman.)
For years, the Irish economy was characterised by high unemployment, inflation and low economic growth, and conditions had changed little by the time Declan O’Reilly graduated in Business and Computing from the University of Limerick in 1994. Shortly afterwards, because of the lack of employment at home, he moved to England where he worked for JBA, a large IT company, first in Birmingham for three months and then in London for the next three years.
During his first year in England, the Irish economy showed very encouraging signs of improvement. It expanded at an average rate of 9.4% between 1995 and 2000, and continued to grow at an average of 5.9% during the following decade until 2008 when it fell into recession lasting until 2014. In 2015, the economy posted a growth rate of 6.7%, marking the beginning of a new period of strong economic growth.
The very real prospect of a position in IT at home was so tempting but this was something Declan could return to at any time. With a branch of JBA in Sydney, the opportunity to work here for a year was too much to pass up. In January 1998, he headed for Sydney on a Working Holiday visa where he took up the position awaiting him at JBA. He enjoyed the country so much that he quickly made arrangements to stay here. After working for JBA for his first year, he took up a position with Ricoh where he stayed for the next sixteen years. Then with great plans for the future, Declan and his friend decided to set up their own IT company called FlowBuilders which they have run successfully since its formation in 2017.
Declan was born in 1972 in Galway. His siblings and he grew up in the hurling hotbed of East Galway where most of the family still live today. For many years, he has been very interested in fitness and sport regularly participating, among other things, in hiking, trekking and mountaineering. Some years after settling in Sydney and while on a trek to Everest Base Camp, he met Sarah Fitzgibbon from Newcastle. They married in 2010 in Sydney in the presence of their families from Newcastle in NSW and Loughrea in Co Galway, Ireland, and now live in Botany with their beautiful daughters Ailish (2013) and Ashling (2017) who are avid Irish dancers.
 Declan & Sarah O'Reilly's Wedding 2010 |
It is somewhat of an understatement to say that Declan is a dedicated fan and ardent supporter of Rugby Union. It has taken him and his cousins, Adrian Halpenny from Sydney and Brian Glynn from London, to Test centres and World Cup venues throughout the world.
 (L-R) Cathal O'Reilly, Brian Glynn, Adrian Halpenny & Declan O'Reilly 2023 |
2nd Generation 
Sarah & Declan O'Reilly with Daughters
Ashling 2017 & Ailish 2013