Long-established legal firms in Laois merge to form Murphy O’Grady Solicitors

Two of the longest-established legal firms in County Laois have recently merged, with Murphy & Co Solicitors, Abbeyleix, joining forces with Tom O’Grady Solicitors, Mountrath.

The new firm, Murphy O’Grady Solicitors, is now operating from Market Square, Mountrath, with Malcolm Murphy Solicitor and Tom O’Grady Solicitor as partners. The merger brings together proud legal traditions spanning almost a century.

Murphy O’Grady Solicitors incorporates Murphy & Co Solicitors (formerly Fitzsimmons & Ryan Solicitors, founded in 1931) and Tom O’Grady Solicitors (formerly Fletcher Sheedy & Co Solicitors, founded in 1929).

This strategic partnership enhances the breadth and quality of legal services available to clients, while maintaining the personal, client-focused approach for which both firms are well known.

By combining experience, expertise and resources, the new firm is well positioned to deliver the highest standard of legal representation and support.

Partners Tom O’Grady and Malcolm Murphy share a strong commitment to ethical practice, professionalism and client satisfaction.

The merger enables Murphy O’Grady Solicitors to offer a more comprehensive range of services, supported by modern legal technologies, advanced research tools and best-practice case management systems—while continuing to provide clear, practical and plain-spoken advice.

Clients will benefit from access to a wider range of legal specialists, improved efficiency, and enhanced support throughout their legal journey, backed by a larger and highly experienced legal team.

Importantly, the same trusted service and personal relationships clients value remain at the core of the firm’s ethos.

The Partners

Malcolm Murphy Solicitor joined Murphy & Co Solicitors in 2011 and qualified as a solicitor in 2013. A native of Abbeyleix and living in Ballyroan, Malcolm is married to Marian and they have three children, Conleth, Feidhlim and Aoibh.

He studied at Waterford Regional Technical College, qualifying initially in Pharmaceutical Science, and worked in retail management in Cork before completing a Bachelor of Laws degree through the University of London.

He returned to Abbeyleix in 2011 to work in the family practice and took over Murphy & Co Solicitors in 2020.

Malcolm has a strong involvement in community and sport. He has coached underage rugby teams at Portlaoise Rugby Club from Under-10 to Under-18 level, trained Ballyroan Ladies Football underage teams, and currently serves as Chairperson of Ballyroan Ladies Football Club.

He comes from a family with deep roots in the legal profession. His father, Colm Murphy, joined Fitzsimmons & Ryan Solicitors in 1965, this firm later became Murphy & Co Solicitors. His mother, Yvonne Murphy, also practised as a solicitor there. Her father James Fagan was a Solicitor in Dublin. His uncle was Myles Murphy Solicitor in Newbridge and his cousin Sharon Murphy is also a Solicitor.

His father continued to practice there with James Binchy Solicitor until his death in 2011 under the style of Murphy & Co Solicitors and then Malcolm took up the helm in 2020.

Tom O’Grady Solicitor commenced his legal career in 1969, studying for a Bachelor of Civil Law at University College Cork. He was apprenticed to John Sheedy & Co in Dundrum, Dublin, under John Sheedy, a native of Mountrath.

After qualifying as a solicitor in 1979, Tom moved to Mountrath to assist Gerry Sheedy, initially for six months, in the long-established practice of Fletcher Sheedy & Co. He met his wife Brenda and the rest as they say is history! Brenda is a Civil, Commercial and Family Law Mediator, a Wedding Solemniser and also works in the practice.

On Gerry Sheedys retirement after 47 years in practice in Mountrath Tom subsequently took over the practice in 1985, which became Tom O’Grady Solicitors, and he has now also practised in Mountrath for 47 years.

Tom was born in Dublin and his family re-located to Cork when he was 16. He has been deeply involved in sporting and community life.

A former member of the successful UCC Gaelic football teams of 1971–1973, Glasheen Soccer Club and Chancery Football team, having started his sporting career early when he captained the Kilmacud National School to victory in the Miller Shield 1961.

He has also been and actively involved in Mountrath Golf Club, serving as both Captain and Club Secretary. He was instrumental in the creation of a county-wide youth soccer league through St Aengus’s Soccer Club.

Founded in 1929 by Thomas Fletcher, the Mountrath practice evolved into Fletcher Sheedy & Co Solicitors in 1938.

With the formation of Murphy O’Grady Solicitors, two historic Laois practices now unite to serve the community with renewed strength, modern capability and the same trusted values that have guided them for generations.

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