ON Sunday, May 28th, a minute’s silence was held at Clonakilty point-to-point, Inchydoney as the sad news of the death of P.J. O’Driscoll, solicitor, joint-master and former huntsman of the Carbery Hunt, filtered through.

His untimely death at the age of 58 years, sent shockwaves through the ranks of the foxhunting, point-to-pointing, eventing and equestrian communities throughout the island of Ireland because PJ was such a lively, fit and much admired individual.

P.J.’s grandfather, also P.J O’Driscoll, founded the family law firm, P.J. O’Driscoll, Solicitors in Bandon, West Cork in 1899. He resided at The Retreat just outside the town and in 1913 he took on the local foxhound pack, the Carbery, from the Beamish family. In turn, the family law firm at Bandon was handed down to his eldest son Edward O’Driscoll, who together with his brother, Patrick J. O’Driscoll became joint-masters of the Carbery Hunt in 1952.

The late P.J. O’Driscoll was born in 1959 and he was one in a family of six to Edward O’Driscoll and his wife Kathleen. Growing up in Bandon and coming from such a distinguished legal, hunting and point-to-pointing family, P.J. had a wonderful upbringing. In keeping with the family tradition, he studied law at University College Cork, and joined the family practice in 1983.

He became a partner of the practice in 1986 specialising in conveyancing, sales, tax planning and estate planning. P.J. had an incredible legal mind with an enormous capacity to recall and retain detail, and he had a great way with his clients.

Growing up in the tradition of the Carbery Hunt, P.J. was appointed whipper-in to his father in 1975 and he followed his father and uncle Barry as huntsman to the Carbery hounds in 1989. In those days, the kennels were maintained at the old military barracks in Bandon where 23 couple of foxhounds were maintained by kennel-huntsman, Billy Coveney (1985 – 1997) and latterly by John Roche, a great servant to that hunt.

An excellent horseman, P.J. was a fearless pilot across the narrow banks of West Cork and he had a penchant for jumping wire. On one very memorable day with the famed Duhallow Hounds at Liscarroll, legendary Duhallow huntsman Michael Buckley found on the road when P.J. just turned his horse on the spot and disappeared through a blind hedge and over the wide ditch beyond that.

P.J. was a well respected amateur huntsman who was kind and patient with hounds. He was blessed with the constant encouragement and support of his uncle Barry, who joined the Carbery Hunt as joint-master with his two brothers in 1990, having himself hunted the hounds since 1975.

Barry O’Driscoll has been one of the most influential members of the committee of the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association and he very wisely sought the practical advice of P.J. when the association was negotiating the terrier work rules agreed with the Department of Agriculture over 20 years ago.

In more recent years, P.J has been very busy with his legal practice and his family, and for the first time since 1913 the horn was handed over to popular Macroom businessman Michael McCarthy.

Taking on the hunting of the Carbery hounds after so many successful seasons under P.J. was a considerable task but Michael has proven himself to be equally brave in this trappy country. Ironically, only a fortnight before P.J.’s death Michael was appointed a joint-master of the Carbery Hunt.

Deeply shocked by the loss of so great a friend and mentor, Michael described P.J. as being “unbelievably sharp and (he) had a great eye to find a jumping spot to follow the hounds. His passing is very sad for his family, colleagues and friends and a huge loss also for the sport.”

One of the most poignant scenes on that Tuesday summer evening following P.J.’s death was the enormous crowd that gathered and queued outside The Retreat to pay their respects to the family in that time honoured Irish tradition. The crowd, numbering over 5,000 and many of whom had travelled from great distances, took over nine hours to file through the house.

It was a fitting tribute to a much loved gentleman and character.

P.J. loved his hunting and he loved cycling and it was on Sunday, May 28th whilst out with the members of the Bandon Cycle Club near Aherla, that he collapsed and died.

He is survived by his wife Miriam and their four children Valerie, Adrienne, Edward and Emer as well as his parents Edward and Kathleen, his brother Mark and his four sisters Caroline, Pauline, Maeve and Jillian and to them we express our deepest sympathies.