Sudden death of Bandon solicitor PJ O'Driscoll

By Kieran O’Mahony

TRIBUTES have been paid to Bandon solicitor PJ O’Driscoll who died suddenly on Sunday while out cycling near Aherla with members of  Bandon Cycling Club.

The 58-year-old father of four, (pictured) who was a keen cyclist and lover of outdoor pursuits, collapsed and was later pronounced dead at CUH.

Fellow colleagues and solicitors expressed their shock at the sudden death of PJ, who was a partner at PJ O’Driscoll Solicitors on South Main Street, which was founded by his grandfather in 1899.

President of the West Cork Bar Association and fellow Bandon solicitor, Veronica Neville, said PJ was a great colleague and very supportive of all events run by the West Cork Bar Association. ‘PJ was dedicated to his clients and his work and was loyal. He was also a family man who was extremely proud of his four children and he will be dearly missed,’ said Mrs Neville.

‘He was involved in a number of clubs n Bandon but typically he kept it low key and just enjoyed outdoor activities.’

A minute’s silence was held at last Sunday’s Clonakilty Point to Point Races in Inchydoney. Dr Colm Quirke, chairman of Clonakilty Point to Point said: ‘He comes from a great tradition of horses and his family are renowned in hunting circles across the country. It was a big shock for us all.’

PJ was the son of retired solicitor Edward O’Driscoll and joined the family practice in 1983, becoming a partner three years later. He specialised in commercial and residential conveyancing, farm and business transfers and sales, tax planning and estate planning. 

PJ is survived by his wife Miriam and their four children Valerie, Adrienne, Edward and Emer as well as his parents Edward and Kathleen and his brother Mark and his four sisters Caroline, Pauline, Maeve and Jillian.