PJ’s long service to Clare SPCA honoured

THE long-standing service of retired vet PJ O’Driscoll to the Clare SPCA was honoured this week at a special awards ceremony in Ennis. Mr O’Driscoll has been involved with the organisation since its foundation in the 1980s and on Tuesday, surrounded by family and friends, his accomplishments were acknowledged by the animal welfare organisation.
ISPCA chairperson Barbara Bent travelled to Ennis for the ceremony in the Temple Gate Hotel, where the fantastic work Mr O’Driscoll has done locally for the organisation was outlined. Frankie Coote of the Clare SPCA described him as a “gentleman and wonderful man”.
“He has been with us since 1980 and in that time he never sent a bill into us for the work he did. He has been a member of the Clare SPCA since its foundation and although he has retired from his practice in the Market, he still continues to help us.
“PJ is fantastic with people, he respects people and he respects animals. He just has this way of making you feel speical. You work with him and you go away and suddenly he has made you feel more important, I don’t know how he does it,” Frankie said.
The event was attended by Mr O’Driscoll’s family, including his wife Enda, children and grandchildren while friends, former colleagues and members of the Clare SPCA were also there.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, Mr O’Driscoll, a vet since 1965, said, “I am delighted to receive this award but I am humbled at the same time. I don’t think I deserve any special treatment.”
He explained that he first got involved with animal welfare prior to the establishment of the Clare SPCA because of the large amount of stray dogs on the streets. “There was an awful lot of wandering dogs back then around the town and people would be inclined to phone me up because there was no one else to collect them. Then the Clare SPCA was founded and more people became more interested in animal welfare. There is a much greater awareness now than there was then.”
The event also saw a presentation made to Ms Bent in recognition of her service to the ISPCA prior to her upcoming retirement.