About the firm
Sean O' Ceallaigh was admitted to the Law Society as a solicitor in 1954 and in 1958 he established Sean O'Ceallaigh and Company (otherwise SOC). He served his apprenticeship with his Uncle Martin Kelly at the firm Fitzgerald Kelly in Kilkenny City, (later County Registrar of Carlow Kilkenny) the firm was subsequently taken over by Sean's brother, the late Judge Patrick Kelly, and later was bought by Harte & Harte.
In the 1970s Sean became a director of the Family Building Society and the firm handled all its work, before it was bought over by EBS.
Sean is now a consultant but still plays an active role.
Phibsboro was a very different place back in the 1950s and the firm quickly established a strong client base in the locality and surrounding area, covering a multitude of areas of work, from acting for employess of Guinness with cases under the old "Workmens Compensation Act" to defending people caught smuggling butter across the border!
The original offices were opened in 393 North Circular Road, but due to expansion moved to 363 North Circular Road in 1995. Again due to further expansion the offices were located to the old AIB Bank on the corner of Phibsborough Road and North Circular Road in 2007.
Phibsboro was a very different place back in the 1950's and the firm quickly established a strong client base in the locality and surrounding area, covering a multitude of areas of work, from acting for employess of Guinness with cases under the old "Workmens Compensation Act" to defending people caught smuggling butter across the border!
Further expansions
In 2003 SOC acquired the practice of Gerald Crehan & Co. solicitors. Gerald was a sole practitioner who had run a very successful practice for over thirty five years and retired for health reasons.
In 2005 SOC acquired the practice of Potterton & Co. solicitors. In more recent years this practice was run by Joseph Langwell who also retired for health reasons. This expansion has been a very exciting development and we are very grateful to all those clients from both practices who have continued to instruct us.