Tipperary lieutenant killed in plane crash remembered 100 years later

An army lieutenant from the Tipperary/Kilkenny border who was killed in a plane crash while carrying out military exercises will be remembered on the 100th anniversary of his death on September 21.

Lieut Edmond Leo O’Reilly, from Ballypatrick in the foothills of Sliabh na mBan and Second Lieut Timothy Prenderville from Kerry, were killed at approximately 5pm on September 21, 1926, when a plane they were flying as part of military manoeuvres at Hempstown in Co Wicklow had engine failure causing it to crash.

Second Lieut Prenderville was the pilot and Lieut O’Reilly was the observer when the tragic accident took place during military exercises. The two men were aged just 23 and 25 respectively.

Lieut O’Reilly joined the National Army on May 13, 1922 in Kilkenny having served with the IRA with the 3rd Tipperary Brigade during the War of Independence.

The young Tipperary man was promoted to the Army Corp of Engineers in October 1924. At the time Lieut O’Reilly was appointed, the General Officer Commanding the Forces said that he hoped the young lieutenant ‘will be spared many long and honourable years in the service of your country’. Sadly that was not to be and less than two years later the young officer was killed in the line of duty.

The inquest into the deaths of the two men found that although the plane, a Bristol F.2b Fighter, which had departed from Baldonnel Aerodrome, was in good working order in pre-flight checks the engine failed causing the crash.

The plane was delivered to Baldonnel Aerodrome in Co Dublin in October 2025 and was constructed by Bristol Aeroplane Co Limited and was ordered for the Irish army.

On the death of Lieut O’Reilly’s tragic and untimely death, his mother, Bridget O’Reilly, who was the postmistress in Ballypatrick received a devastating telegram containing the terrible news that her son had been killed in a plane crash.

The telegram stated that the Army Air Corps ‘regret to inform you your son Lieut O’Reilly was killed in an aeroplane accident this evening’ and went on to offer their ‘deepest sympathy’ to the family.

A military funeral took place close to his homeplace and Lieut O’Reilly was laid to rest at Gambonsfield cemetery in Kilsheelan.