Contributors to the Society’s latest volume, A Century of Courts: The Courts of Justice Act 1924 gathered in the Supreme Court on 26 November 2024. Edited by Dr Niamh Howlin of UCD, the book explores the legacy of the legislation which established Ireland’s modern courts system. With 23 chapters, it examines the new courts from various angles, including the position of the Irish Language, the role of women in the new courts, the work of the new District and Circuit Courts, the status of judges under the new regime.
The authors of this volume are Dr Thomas Mohr; Mr Justice Maurice Collins; Mr Evan McGuigan; Dr Mark Coen; Dr Bláthna Ruane SC; Mr Daire Hogan, Prof Laura Cahillane, Mr Robert Marshall; Dr Kevin Costello; Judge Patricia Ryan; Mr Justice David Barniville; Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell; Mr Justice Gerard Hogan; Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh; Dr Róisín Á Costello BL; Dr Lynsey Black; Dr Danielle Jefferis; Prof Brice Dickson; Prof Hilary Biehler; Dr Donal Coffey; Judge Paul Kelly and Prof Diarmaid Ferriter.
This brings to a close a series of events to mark the centenary of the establishment of Ireland’s courts system. For this project, the Irish Legal History Society has enjoyed collaborating with the Courts Service, An Post, University College Dublin, the judiciary, UCD Sutherland School of Law and the Office of Public works.