Swinford celebrates four generations of legal eagles

Fourth generation William O’Connor joins family legal dynasty


Trevor Quinn

IT was most certainly a family affair when a large O’Connor contingent attended the Law Society of Ireland Parchment ceremony for newly conferred solicitors at the start of the month.
Newly conferred solicitor William O’Connor is a fourth generation solicitor in the proud O’Connor legal dynasty. The family practice have run a well-respected legal firm in the East-Mayo town of Swinford for more than a century.
His father solicitor, Pat O’Connor, his three uncles, solicitors John and Tom, and Senior Counsel, Tony all watched on in admiration as another piece of family history was created.
In 1900, William’s great grandfather, the late Pat O’Connor, founded the legal firm P O’Connor & Son. In 1937 his grandfather Val O’Connor began an illustrious career which resulted in him becoming president of the Law Society in 1972/73.
In 1974 William’s father (also Pat) was also conferred. He is a former president of the Law Society and the Mayo Solicitors’ Bar Association.
“The 37 year gap is common practice at this stage,” Williams father Pat joked after his conferring recently, referring to the remarkable coincidental gap between the respective careers of the O’Connor clan.
In February William was warmly received by Superintendent Ronan Galligan and court clerk Ms Ann Cawley in Swinford District Court.
Supt Galligan commended him, stating that he had found the young solicitor excellent to work with, during a recent case in Dublin.