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OBITUARY
Dermod Walsh—An Appreciation
The recent and unexpected death of Dermod M. F.
Walsh, Law Agent to Dublin Corporation, has removed
from the ranks of the legal profession, not alone one of
the foremost authorities on local government law, but
also a brilliant all-round lawyer. His demise, after a
very short illness, came as a great shock to his many
colleagues both in the legal profession, in the local
government service and innumerable friends throughout
the country. He had been in his office two or three days
before then and it was typical o fthe man that he died
almost in harness, so devoted was he to his post.
Of Western parentage, Dermod was Dublin born and
was educated at Mount St. Joseph's College, Roscrea,
and at the Jesuit College, Belvedere, Dublin. He was a
brilliant student and after leaving school he decided to
study law. He was apprenticed to the late Mr. John S.
O'Connor, solicitor and one-time T.D. Here again he
enjoyed a brilliant academic career and obtained his
B.A. and LL.B. degrees at University College, Dublin,
the latter with first class honours. Dermod was admitted
as a solicitor in Trinity Term 1933. He was also active
in the Solicitors Apprentices Debating Society and in
the year 1930-31, during which our Secretary, Mr.
Plunkett, was Auditor, Dermod won medals for oratory
and legal debate.
Dermod did not neglect sport, and was considered
an excellent "blue" in rowing.
Once qualified, Dermod went as an assistant solicitor
to the office of Mr. Alfred Thornton, solicitor, Castlebar
(who is happily still with us), and who was then both
State Solicitor for County Mayo and Solicitor to Mayo
County Council (which he still is) Here Dermod got a
solid grounding not alone in Court work and practice,
but in the many branches of local government law. He
was a familiar figure in Courts throughout County
Mayo not alone in the District Court but also in the
Circuit Court where he was highly respected not alone
by Judge or Justice, but by members of the legal
profession.
Over-dramatisation by the Minister for Justice of the
claim for increased remuneration by solicitors was
criticised by the President of the Incorporated Law
Society of Ireland, Mr. James W. O'Donovan.
He said that it was very strange that the Minister
pbjected to an increase of 42% in fees and succeeded
having the Order annulled in the Seanad whose
Members had increased their own remuneration in the
same period by 100%.
The cost of living, said Mr. O'Donovan has risen
by 74% since 1960, solicitors remuneration has in-
creased by only 12% in that time. During the period
1%1-1971 salaries of Dail deputies have been increased
by 150%, of members of the Seanad by 100%, of the
Judiciary by 100% and of senior civil servants by 85%.
In addition to meeting their own personal increase in
Dermod was appointed assistant law agent to Dublin
Corporation in the year 1942 and in 1949 he was
appointed law agent succeeding the late Mr. Ignatius
Rice. The post of law agent to Dublin Corporation is
perhaps the most onerous legal post in the State, but
Dermod carried out his onerous and many duties with
skill, integrity, ability and efficiency.
A man of large stature, he gave the impression of
being austere and distant; in reality, he was nothing of
the sort and to those who knew him he was "a big
man" in every sense of the word, a man of great per-
sonal charm and wit. He suffered perhaps from a re-
served disposition which did not make him more sidely
known. But those who knew him found him a loyal and
devoted friend, a helpful colleague and as one colleague
said "he was like a father figure". There was no branch
of the law with which he was not familiar and he was
also an authority on case law. He took an active
interest in the affairs of the profession and at the time
of his death he was chairman of the Local Authority
Solicitors' Association.
Dermod was a man of simple pursuits. He played
golf, enjoyed a day at the races, liked reading, he trav-
elled extensively on the continent, but his great pursuit
was gardening and he was an excellent flower grower.
Dermod was never a man for idle talk but on what
better note could we finish than to say of him "I have
fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:1-8).
Mr. Edward Warren,
solicitor, died in the District
Hospital, Gorey, Co. Wexford, on 26th Feb. 1972. Mr.
Warren was admitted in Trinity Term and practised
under the style of "Edward Warren & Sons" at Gorey
and Enniscorthy.
Mr. Joseph Gilmartin,
solicitor, died while on holidays
in Spain, 8 March 1972. Mr. Gilmartin was admitted
in Michaelmas Term 1961 and was sole partner in
the firm of Messrs Garvey, Smith and Flanagan in
Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Criticised
the cost of living, solicitors have had to carry over the
last eleven years increases in salaries and postal, tele-
phone, heating and lighting charges all in the region
of 100%.
All suggested increases in solicitors' remuneration are
made by statutory committees, not by the Law Society.
In response to the recent recommendation for a 42%
increase by a statutory committee the Minister suggested
a compromise figure of 20%, a total of 32% since 1961
in strange contrast to the levels for Dail deputies and
others.
Solicitors' gross remuneration in property transac-
tions has, by reason of the increase in property value
since 1964, risen by 60% which the Minister apparently
regards as more than sufficient to cover the 100% rise in
general overheads.
Clamp-down on Fees
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