The Gazette 1991

GAZETTE

SEPTEMBER 1991

M.J. O'Connor & Co. - Museum

To celebrate the centenary of its foundation in 1898, the firm of M.J. O'Connor & Co., of Wexford has established a museum containing over 100 exhibits. The museum is located in what must have been one of the earliest purpose built solicitors' offices in Ireland when they were erected in Georges Street, Wexford in 1894. The offices stand on the site of a townhouse formerly owned by the 1798 patriot Bagenal Harvey and appropriately the museum contains a flintlock pistol reputed to have been owned by Bagenal Harvey. The founder of the firm, Michael J. O'Connor, was the author of a series of articles on Land Reform published in the Freemans Journal and this series of articles is exhibited in the museum. Michael O'Connor's brother, James, was successively a Solicitor, a Barrister, a Kings Counsel, Solicitor General and then Attorney General of Ireland, Judge of the Chancery Division and a Lord Justice of Appeal in Ireland and finally a Solicitor again. He was the author of The Irish Justice of the Peace and The Licensing Laws of Ireland both of which are displayed in the Museum. A feature of the museum is the collection of splendidly mounted and framed old deeds including a Grant of 1668 of lands to Richard Belew and a Deed of 1754 under the Seal of the Chancery Division of the High Court authorising Charles W. Walker to hold Courts in the County of Wexford. In addition, the museum contains a con- siderable collection of ancient Bank Notes including the earliest drawn on the Wexford Bank on the 12th October, 1805 and a Bank of Ireland Bank Note for 30 shillings dated 17th March, 1812. Michael J. O'Connor's son, Fintan, practised in the firm for 56 years up to 1979 and has been succeeded by the present principal, James O'Connor Junior, who has been responsible for the estab- lishment of the museum. •

James T. O'Connor, standing in the waiting room of the offices of M.J. O'Connor & Co., holding the first letter book of the office.

This photograph, taken on the 9 November, 1919, on the occasion of the visit of The Royal Price Faisal /BN Saud of Arabia and his suite to Michael T. O'Connor's shooting lodge at the North Slob, Wexford, in the back row standing first left is Mr. H. St. John, T.B. Phiiby of the British Colonial Office, who was the father of "Third Man", Mr. Kim Phiiby. Beside him is the cousin of the Prince TheAbaduiia of Qusaibi. Michael T. O'Connor is sitting in the centre of the photograph, and his wife, Catherine, is behind him.