ɹˈiə wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn dˈʌŋɡænən, kˈaʊnti tˈaɪɹoʊn, ænd bɪɡˈæn plˈeɪɪŋ snˈuːkɚɹ æt ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv nˈaɪn ɪnðə bˈɪlɪɚd ɹˈuːm ʌvðə pˈʌb hɪz fˈɑːðɚ mˈænɪdʒd ɪn dˈʌŋɡænən.
Rea was born in Dungannon, County Tyrone, and began playing snooker at the age of 9 in the billiard room of the pub his father managed in Dungannon.