James O'Reilly, known as 'Seamus' was a consultant ENT surgeon at South Tyrone Hospital, Dungannon, Northern Ireland. He was born in 1925 into a medical family in County Cavan, Ireland. His father, grandfather, two uncles, a brother and several cousins were all doctors. He studied medicine at University College Dublin, qualifying MB BCh BAO in 1948. He trained in surgery in Bradford and Hull, and also spent time in general practice, as a locum for members of his family. In 1960 he gained his fellowships of both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and of Edinburgh. In 1962 he was appointed to South Tyrone Hospital. Initially he also worked at Mid Ulster Hospital (Magherafelt) with some sessions in Omagh. He retired in August 1989. James O'Reilly died on 25 March 2008 at his home in Cookstown, County Tyrone. He was survived by his wife, Rosamund, and children, John, Katharine and James.