Christopher O'Connor celebrating his success recently with mum Gillian O'Connor.

Christopher follows family tradition in law

ONE of the most respected families in Irish legal circles is celebrating after Christopher O’Connor was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland.

Christopher became a solicitor in Ireland recently, 117 years after his great-grandfather, Patrick (1900-1940), 80 years after his grandfather, Thomas Valentine – Val (1937-1988), and 43 years after his father Pat (1974) joined the family firm of P. O’Connor & Son in Swinford.

The O’Connor family’s association with the Irish legal system is a very proud one.

Patrick O’Connor became President of the Mayo Solicitors’ Bar Association in 1932. Thomas Valentine O’Connor was the first Mayoman to be President of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland in 1972. His son, Pat, followed his footsteps in 1998 when he was also elected as President of the Law Society of Ireland.

Christopher’s grandaunt, Moya O’Connor, was one of the first female solicitors to practise law in Ireland whilst his granduncle, John W. O’Connor, was a barrister and later a Circuit Court judge.

His uncles are highly-respected in legal circles. Tony O’Connor is a High Court judge, John O’Connor is a District Court judge, whilst another uncle, Tom, is a consultant solicitor in Dublin.

His father Pat is a solicitor and the managing partner in the family firm, P. O’Connor & Son, and the coroner for the District of Mayo. Christopher’s brother William is a solicitor and partner in the family practice in Swinford and Kiltimagh.

The new solicitor is the youngest son of Pat and Gillian O’Connor, Callow, Foxford. The Trinity law graduate will practise as a commercial lawyer with Arthur Cox in Dublin where he completed his training contract following work experience in the family firm, P. O’Connor & Son, and other firms.

Christopher has worked in and is experienced in many areas of law, including business, sports and intellectual property and corporate law.

He attended Swinford National School before his secondary education in Glenstal Abbey where he was school captain and was later the student ents. officer in TCD before completing his education as a solicitor at the Law Society of Ireland.