Our People and Our Firm

Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill is the longest established Estate Agency in West Cork. Below is a little bit about who we are and our firms history.

Raymond O’Neill

In 2018, Ray celebrates 40 years as principal of Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill. Ray covers the whole West Cork region, from Clonakilty to Castletownbere, aided by Olivia and Con.

Raymond studied property at the College of Commerce, Rathmines, Dublin while serving an Apprenticeship, qualifying in 1976. He became principal of the family Auctioneering business in 1978. Raymond is an RICS Registered Valuer and a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. He has built up considerable experience of the West Cork sales and letting markets ranging from Residential, Holiday and Period Homes, Commercial and Farming business.

Raymond has a long association with Clonakilty Rugby Football Club having been involved in its foundation through to the present day. A little known fact is that Ray spent a season playing rugby with Skibbereen prior to the club’s foundation.

ray@sfon.ie  023-8833995  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayoneill/

Olivia Hanafin

Olivia is a native of the picturesque village of Eyeries in West Cork. Having joined Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill in 2017. Olivia operates out of our Skibbereen office from which she covers an area including, Union Hall, Glandore, Castletownshend, Baltimore, Schull, Ballydehob, Bantry, Glengariff and the Beara peninsula.

Olivia holds a BSc in Property Valuation and Management from Limerick Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill, Olivia worked as a Buyers Agent across West Cork giving her an intimate understanding of the needs of buyers.

olivia@sfon.ie  028-21404  https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviahanafin/

Con O’Neill

Con joined Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill in January 2018 becoming the 4^th generation of the family selling property in West Cork.

Previously, Con spent 6 years as a consultant in Fintech with Irish firm First Derivatives Plc on projects in Moscow, Dubai, Stockholm and Dublin. His background is as a Business Analyst, working on IT implementation programmes, with the core aim of improving operational efficiency within large scale financial institutions. With the next stage of his career moving towards sales, Con made the decision to move back to West Cork and sell something he is passionate about, property. Con holds a Bachelor Business Studies and an MSc Compuational Finance

Con’s interests include local history (buildings, architecture), sport (rugby, football, GAA) and hikes/walks around Ireland. He is a Board Member of the Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce.

con@sfon.ie  023-8833995  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cononeill/

Company Timeline

1930 to 1953

The Estate Agency practice was founded by Michael J. O’Neill in 1930. He operated the business from his premises at 7 Pearse Street, Clonakilty, which still bears his name.

1953 to 1978

Michael J was succeeded by his son, Con O’Neill, who operated the business from his home at Fernhill, Clonakilty. Con expanded the business into West Cork, spent a number of years as auctioneer at Skibbereen Mart and was widely known in the farming and business community across West Cork.

1978 to 1998

Ray O’Neill succeeded in 1978 and to date the company continues to thrive and expand. Raymond established offices in the towns of Clonakilty and Skibbereen with the firm trading under the name ‘Con O’Neill & Sons’.

1999 to present day

The firm joined the Sherry FitzGerald Franchise in 1999 as one of its first members and this association introduced a wealth of expertise and knowledge of the property process in Ireland plus an international dimension through the firm’s association with Christie’s Great Estates and Marsh & Parsons in London.

In 2016, the firm was delighted to be acknowledged as the winner of the ‘Sherry FitzGerald Franchise of the Year’.

Later in 2016, the firm reached the final Shortlist of 4 in ‘Regional Excellence’ category at ‘Irish Independent Property Industry Excellence Awards’ 2016.

In 2017, the firm’s excellence in the marketing of client’s properties was rewarded with the ‘Sherry FitzGerald Marketing Award’.