Cumann Onórach Óstaí an Rí | |
 | |
| Type | Inn of Court |
|---|---|
| Established | 1541; 485 years ago (1541) |
| Founder | Henry VIII |
| Chairperson | Hugh I. MohanSC |
| CEO and Under Treasurer | Mary Griffin |
| Address | ,, D01 KF59 ,Ireland 53°21′10″N6°16′17″W / 53.35278°N 6.27139°W /53.35278; -6.27139 |
| Website | www |
 | |
The Honorable Society of King's Inns[a] (Irish:Cumann Onórach Óstaí an Rí) is the Inn of Court for theBar of Ireland. Established in 1541, King's Inns is Ireland's oldest school of law and one of Ireland's significant historical environments.
Thebenchers of King's Inns award the degree ofbarrister-at-law necessary to qualify as a barrister and becalled to the bar in Ireland. As well as training future and qualified barristers, the school extends its reach to a diverse community of people from legal and non-legal backgrounds offering a range of accessible part-time courses in specialist areas of the law.
The King's Inns society was granted a royal charter by King Henry VIII in 1541, 51 years beforeTrinity College Dublin was founded, making it one of the oldest professional and educational institutions in theEnglish-speaking world. The founders named their society in honour of KingHenry VIII of England and his newly establishedKingdom of Ireland. Initially, the society was housed in a disused Dominican friary in Dublin and secured a lease of lands, originally called "Blackfriars", atInns Quay on the north bank of theRiver Liffey in Dublin.[2]
The society was reconstituted in 1607 after a period of inactivity and lost possession of its original premises twice, once at the end of the 16th century and again in the mid-18th century. A period of recovery in the 1780s led to the acquisition of the present Constitution Hill site.[2]
In 1790, the Inns Quays site was acquired for the purposes of theFour Courts; the foundation stone at the present building at the top ofHenrietta Street was laid on 1 August 1800, withJames Gandon being commissioned as the architect. The building was completed by his pupilHenry Aaron Baker.[3] Turn Again Lane, adjacent to the grounds, was renamed King's Inns Street.
For much of its history, the society functioned more as a club than an educational institution. Irishmen who wished to practise as barristers were primarily educated at theEnglish Inns of Court in London until the late 19th century. It was only from the mid-18th century onwards that courses of legal education were provided at King's Inns.[4][2]
Some academics have cited the early history of the King's Inns as an instrument by the colonial power for controlling Irish lawyers due to its practice of excluding Catholics from legal practice until the late 18th century until the overturning ofPenal laws.[2]
King's Inns initially hoped the 1920–1922partition of Ireland would not end its all-island remit, and it set up a "Committee of Fifteen" Northern Ireland benchers in 1922.[5] These sought more independence, and separatism was fuelled by King's Inns admitting in 1925 as a barristerKevin O'Higgins, who had not sat the exams but wasMinister for Justice in theIrish Free State.[5] In 1926, a separate inn of court in Northern Ireland catered for theBar of Northern Ireland.[5] In 1929,Hugh Kennedy succeeded in making knowledge ofIrish compulsory for admission to King's Inns.[5]
| List of treasurers from 1804 to 1979[6][7][b] |
|---|
| 1804–1805Viscount Avonmore |
| 1805–1806William Downes |
| 1806–1807Lord Norbury |
| 1807–1808 S. O'Grady |
| 1808–1809 No name |
| 1809–1810Mr. Justice Day |
| 1810–1811 No name |
| 1811–1812Mr. Justice Fox |
| 1812–1813 No name |
| 1813–1814W.C. Smith |
| 1814–1815Charles Osbourne |
| 1815–1816Baron McCleland |
| 1816–1817Judge Mayne |
| 1817–1818Mr. Justice Fletcher |
| 1818–1819 JudgeArthur Moore |
| 1819–1820Judge Johnson |
| 1820–1821Judge Jebb |
| 1821–1822 No name |
| 1822–1823Mr. Justice Burton |
| 1823–1824Baron Pennefather |
| 1824–1825Charles Kendal Bushe, LCJ |
| 1825–1826Mr. Justice Vandeleur |
| 1826–1827Mr. Justice Torrens |
| 1827–1828William MacMahon,Master of the Rolls in Ireland |
| 1828–1829Lord Plunket |
| 1829–1830 No name |
| 1830–1831 S. O'Grady |
| 1831–1832Sir William Smith. Bt. |
| 1832–1833John Leslie Foster |
| 1833–1834John Doherty |
| 1834–1835Henry Joy |
| 1835–1836Mr. Justice Burton |
| 1836–1837 No name |
| 1837–1838Mr. Justice Torrens |
| 1838–1839Baron Foster |
| 1839–1840Judge Crampton |
| 1840–1841Judge Perrin |
| 1841–1842 No name |
| 1842–1843Baron Richards |
| 1843–1844Nicholas Ball |
| 1844–1845 No name |
| 1845–1846Thomas Lefroy |
| 1846–1847Edward Pennefather, LCJ |
| 1847–1848Francis Blackburn, LCJ |
| 1848–1849T. B. C. Smith, MR |
| 1849–1850David R. Pigot |
| 1850–1851Judge Moore |
| 1851–1852James Henry Monahan, LCJ of the Common Pleas Court |
| 1852–1853The Lord Chancellor |
| 1853–1854Baron Greene |
| 1854–1855 No name |
| 1855–1856Thomas Lefroy |
| 1856–1857T. B. C. Smith, MR |
| 1857–1858 No name |
| 1858–1859James Henry Monahan, LCJ of the Common Pleas Court |
| 1859–1860Mr. Justice Christian |
| 1860–1861Mr. Justice O'Brien |
| 1861–1862Mr. Justice Hayes |
| 1862–1863Baron Fitzgerald |
| 1863–1864 No name |
| 1864–1865Baron Fitzgerald |
| 1865–1866Baron Deasy |
| 1866–1867Mr. Justice O'Hagan |
| 1867–1868James Whiteside, LCJ |
| 1868–1869The Lord Chancellor |
| 1869–1870 No name |
| 1870–1871Mr. Justice Lawson |
| 1871–1872 George Battersby, QC |
| 1872–1873Lord Justice Gerald FitzGibbon |
| 1873–1874Baron Dowse |
| 1874–1875Michael Morris, Baron Morris |
| 1875–1876Robert Warren, Judge of the Irish Court of Probate |
| 1876–1877Hewitt Poole Jellett |
| 1877–1878Mr. Justice Barry |
| 1878–1879James Murphy QC |
| 1879–1880George Augustus Chichester May |
| 1880–1881 Edward Pennefather, QC |
| 1881–1882 Mr. JusticeMichael Harrison |
| 1882–1883 Mr. SerjeantDavid Sherlock (First Serjeant at Law) |
| 1883-1884 Judge John FitzHenry Townsend |
| 1884–1885 Thomas De Moleyns, QC |
| 1885–1886Andrew M. Porter, MR |
| 1886–1887 Piers F. White, QC |
| 1887–1888The Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer |
| 1888–1889 Arthur Stanley Jackson, QC |
| 1889–1890Lord Justice FitzGibbon |
| 1890–1891 John Richardson, QC |
| 1891–1892 Mr. JusticeHugh Holmes |
| 1892–1893Sir Samuel Walker, 1st Baronet |
| 1893–1894 Judge Miller |
| 1894–1895Charles Hare Hemphill, QC, Solicitor General |
| 1895–1896Mr. Justice Johnson |
| 1896–1897 William Bennett Campion, QC |
| 1897–1898 Mr. Justice O'Brien |
| 1898–1899 No name |
| 1899–1900Mr. Justice Andrews |
| 1900–1901 John H. Twigg, QC |
| 1902–1903Stephen Ronan KC |
| 1903–1904Sir Walter Boyd, 1st Baronet |
| 1904–1905 Mr. SerjeantWilliam Huston Dodd (ThirdSerjeant-at-law (Ireland)) |
| 1905-1906Mr. Justice Madden |
| 1906–1907James Campbell, 1st Baron Glenavy |
| 1907–1908Mr. Justice Kenny |
| 1908–1909 Charles L. Matheson, KC |
| 1909–1910 Mr. Justice White |
| 1910–1911Charles Andrew O'Connor, KC,Solicitor General for Ireland |
| 1911–1912 Mr. JusticeDunbar Plunket Barton |
| 1912–1913John Gordon, KC |
| 1913–1914 Mr. Justice William E. Wylie |
| 1914–1915Sir Denis Henry, 1st Baronet, later firstLord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland |
| 1915–1916 Gerald Fitzgerald |
| 1916–1917Arthur Samuels, KC |
| 1917–1918Thomas Lopdell O'Shaughnessy (LastRecorder of Dublin) |
| 1918–1919Godfrey Fetherstonhaugh, KC |
| 1919–1920Sir William Moore, 1st Baronet, later Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland |
| 1920–1921 Robert F. Harrison |
| 1921–1922 Mr. JusticeJohn Blake Powell |
| 1922–1923William Jellett, KC, MP |
| 1923–1924Thomas Francis Molony, LCJ (Last Lord Chief Justice of Ireland) |
| 1924–1925 Samuel L. Brown, KC |
| 1925–1926Mr. Justice Gerald Fitzgibbon |
| 1926–1927 Alexander F. Blood, KC |
| 1927–1928 Mr. JusticeHenry Hanna |
| 1928–1929 Garrett William Walker |
| 1929–1930 Mr. Justice William E. Wylie |
| 1930–1931 Hewitt R. Poole |
| 1931–1932 Mr. JusticeTimothy Sullivan (First President of the High Court) |
| 1932–1933 Frederick W. Price |
| 1933–1934 Frederick W. Price |
| 1934–1935 Mr. JusticeJames Creed Meredith |
| 1935–1936 Ernest J. Phelps, SC |
| 1936–1937 Mr. Justice Johnson |
| 1937–1938 Frederick F. Denning |
| 1938–1939 Mr. JusticeJames Murnaghan |
| 1939–1940 Andrew Kingsbury Overend, KC |
| 1940–1941 Mr. JusticeJohn O'Byrne |
| 1941–1942 Thomas S. McCann |
| 1942–1943Conor Alexander Maguire (Second President of the High Court) |
| 1943–1944Patrick Lynch, KC |
| 1944–1945 Mr JusticeJames Geoghegan |
| 1945–1946 J. M. Fitzgerald, SC |
| 1946–1947 Mr. JusticeCahir Davitt |
| 1947–1948John Aloysius Costello |
| 1948–1949 Mr. JusticeGeorge Gavan Duffy (Third President of the High Court) |
| 1949–1950 R. G. L. Leonard, KC |
| 1950–1951 Mr. Justice George William Shannon (First President of the Circuit Court) |
| 1951–1952 Vincent Rice, SC |
| 1952–1953Mr. Justice Cecil Lavery |
| 1953–1954 Frank Fitzgibbon, QC |
| 1954–1955 Mr. Justice Martin C. Maguire |
| 1955–1956 Mr. Carson |
| 1956–1957 Mr JusticeKevin Haugh |
| 1957–1958 P. McCarthy |
| 1958–1959 Mr. JusticeT.C. Kingsmill Moore |
| 1959–1960 Henry J. Molony |
| 1960–1961 Mr. JusticeCarroll O'Daly |
| 1961–1962 Richard McGonigal, SC |
| 1962–1963 Mr. JusticeGardner Budd |
| 1963–1964 Thomas F. Bacon |
| 1964–1965 Mr. Justice George D. Murnaghan |
| 1965–1966 Mr Campbell |
| 1966–1967 Mr. Justice Richard McLoughlin |
| 1967–1968 Denis Pringle |
| 1968–1969 Mr. JusticeWilliam FitzGerald |
| 1969–1970 G. Micks |
| 1970–1971 Mr. JusticeThomas Teevan |
| 1971–1972 T. K. Liston, SC |
| 1972–1973 Mr. JusticeAindrias Ó Caoimh (Fifth President of the High Court) |
| 1973–1974 Thomas B. Hannin |
| 1974–1975 Mr. JusticeBrian Walsh |
| 1975–1976 Ernest M. Wood |
| 1976–1977 Mr. Justice John Kenny |
| 1977–1978 Oliver D. Gogarty, SC |
| 1978–1979 Mr. JusticeSéamus Henchy |
| 1979–1980 Thomas Vincent Davy, SC (The last officeholder to hold the position as Treasurer) |
.jpg)
.jpg)
The society had generally kept a low profile in current affairs in Ireland, though it did come to prominence in 1972 when financial difficulties led to it selling a considerable stock of non-legal books it had in its library. The library collection dates from the end of the 18th century (when it also adopted its motto 'Nolumus mutari'[8]), and was based in part on that ofChristopher Robinson, seniorpuisne judge of theCourt of King's Bench (Ireland), who died in 1787. Books were sold at auction atSotheby's, London, and a considerable stock of them was sold to clients outside Ireland. This was seen at the time as a major cultural outflow, as many of the books were of historical and cultural significance.[9] In addition, its library had received an annual grant since 1945 for the upkeep of the books from theIrish Exchequer.
A King's Inns team or individual has often won theIrish Times National Debating Championship, and in 2010 won the European Universities Debating Championships. In 2006 the Inns'hurling team competed in and won theFergal Maher Cup (3rd Level Division 3) in their inaugural year and subsequently reached the final and semi-final.
TheHungry Tree, a London Plane that encapsulates a park bench, lies in the grounds of the King's Inns, near the south gate.[10]
The King's Inns complex, situated near Henrietta Street in Dublin, is considered a significant example of neo-classical architecture. It is often cited as an integral part of Dublin's architectural heritage.[11][12]
The complex was initially designed by architectJames Gandon, who was well known for his work on the Custom House and Four Courts. Construction began in 1800, with the first stone laid by Lord ChancellorJohn FitzGibbon, Earl of Clare on 1 August of that year. Gandon's original design featured two parallel buildings connected by a narrow bridge-like structure at the west front. This structure had three openings and was crowned by a cupola—a domed structure supported by columns.[13][14]
Due to various delays and funding issues, Gandon resigned from the project in 1808. His assistant,Henry A. Baker, took over and completed the project by 1816.[13][14]
The complex underwent extensions in the mid-19th century. ArchitectFrederick Darley added three bays to the north end in 1846, whileJacob Owen extended the south end by three bays in 1849. These extensions were designed to include fireproof strong rooms for storing records, toilets, a carpenters' shop, and a bookbinder.[13]
The King's Inns complex is notable for its use of Portland stone caryatids, which symbolise themes like Plenty, Bacchante, Security, and Law. The building also features a copper dome, a design element that Gandon popularised in Dublin.[14]
The architecture of King's Inns has been the subject of various opinions. Some consider its gable end to be in the style of Louis Sullivan, a renowned architect known for his work in Chicago.[11]
In 1998, a major refurbishment project was carried out in the Registry of Deeds. This renovation included updates to the entrance lobby and conservation work on the staircase, windows, and roof.[13]
See also:Category:Irish barristers
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
