Death of Kay O’Connor, Swinford, is widely mourned

The death has occurred at her home in Ballsbridge, Dublin, of Kathleen (Kay) O’Connor (née O'Kelly), matriarch of the distinguished Mayo legal family, the O’Connors of Swinford.

Kay, who was 93, was predeceased in 1988 by her husband the late Thomas Valentine (Val) O’Connor.

Together Val and Kay raised four sons, Pat, Thomas Valentine (Tom), Denis John (John) and Anthony Mary (Tony).

All four, like their father, went on to train as solicitors.

Pat, a former president of the Incorporated Law Society is Coroner for the Coronial District of Mayo, Tom is a legal consultant with one of Dublin’s largest international law firms, John is a Judge of the Circuit Court while Tony is a Judge of the High Court.

All four were present at her bedside, as was her great friend, Mary Conway, when she passed away peacefully.

Kay, a daughter of the late Professor Denis O’Kelly, who was interned in England during the War of Independence, and Margaret O’Kelly (née Cullen) grew up in Co. Kildare.

She met her future husband, Val, in 1950 while both were on a pilgrimage to Lough Derg.

Prior to her marriage, Kay lived in Kildare and Clontarf, Dublin. She worked for a number of years in Brown Thomas, Grafton Street.

After their nuptials in 1951, the newly weds honeymooned in London and Paris before returning to Swinford.

Kay encouraged her husband and their sons in their careers in every way. She was instrumental to Val’s election as president of the Incorporated Law Society in 1972. He was the first Mayo person to act in that position.

Kay was predeceased by her brothers Donnie, Colm and Dominick, and her sisters, Peggy, Brid and Ita.

She is deeply regretted by her four sons, grandchildren Timothy, Katie, William, Lucy, James, Christopher, Stephanie, Kate, Tom V, Sean, Elena and Mark, her great-grandchildren, sister Ray, daughters-in-law, Gillian, Aileen and Pamela, brother-in-law, Emmett, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives, Joan, Mary and friends, to whom sympathy is tendered.

Kay’s remains will repose at the Kirwan Funeral Home, Fairview Strand, Dublin, on Friday afternoon from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

She will be laid to rest beside her late husband, Val, in Kilconduff Cemetery, Swinford, on Saturday following Requiem Mass at 3.30 p.m. in Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Swinford.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.