Council
Page last updated: Tuesday, January 2, 2024
King’s Inns activities are co–ordinated by Council, the Society’s governing body. It is made up of the Chief Justice (ex officio), the President of the Court of Appeal (ex officio) and the President of the High Court (ex officio), a judge of the Circuit Court, the Attorney General (ex officio), Chair and Treasurer of The Bar of Ireland (ex officio), and a number of other benchers, judges, practising and non–practising barristers elected by the subscribing members of King’s Inns.
A newly formed Council for a succeeding year elect six Committees who are made up of people from Council is to oversee the management of King’s Inns in delivering the strategy and policy, and administering the Society’s day–to–day business operations.
King’s Inns Objectives
Council and the King’s Inns CEO and Under Treasurer, has staff and contractors which services the Society’s Council and Committees, and also administers the objectives of King’s Inns.
King’s Inns is an independent educational institution, renowned for professional legal education and training. Its main objectives are:
- the promotion and advancement of learning in the law;
- the education and training of students and members of the King’s Inns;
- the protection and furtherance of the reputation and standing of the degree of Barrister–at–Law;
- the preservation of the heritage that is comprised in the King’s Inns, its buildings, library, furnishings and environs; and
- to ensure the fitness of persons to practise as or to hold themselves out as barristers prior to and, subject to Part 6 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, after their call to the Bar.
Elections
Elections shall be held in each year to fill vacancies caused by the expiry of the term of office of members of Council.
Elections will take place during Michaelmas Term each year. Voting and meeting provisions are set our in the General Rules of the Society.
Council Officers
Name
Position
Hugh I Mohan SC
Chair of Council
Sara Moorhead SC
Honorary Treasurer
Elizabeth Donovan BL
Honorary Secretary
Judicial Benchers (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
The Hon. Mr Justice Donal O’Donnell
Chief Justice
ex officio
The Hon. Ms Justice Caroline Costello
President, Court of Appeal
ex officio
The Hon. Mr Justice Barniville
President, High Court
ex officio
The Hon. Mr Justice Edwards
.
31/12/2025
The Hon. Mr Justice Paul Burns
.
31/12/2025
The Hon. Mr Justice David Nolan
.
31/12/2025
The Hon. Mr Justice Oisin Quinn
.
31/12/2025
The Hon. Ms Justice Nuala Butler
.
31/12/2026
The Hon. Mr Justice Keane
.
31/12/2026
The Hon. Ms Justice Pilkington
.
31/12/2026
Bar Benchers Panel (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
Mr John Rogers SC
.
31/12/2025
Mr Fergal Foley
.
31/12/2025
Mr Finbarr Fox SC
.
31/12/2025
Ms Jacqueline O’Brien SC
.
31/12/2025
Mr John Peart SC
.
31/12/2025
Hugh Mohan SC
.
31/12/2026
James O’Reilly SC
.
31/12/2026
Paul O’Higgins SC
.
31/12/2026
Sara Moorhead SC
.
31/12/2026
Professional Body Panel (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
Mr Sean Guerin SC
Chair, Bar Council
ex officio
Mr Seamus Clarke SC
Treasurer, Bar Council
ex officio
Mr Darren Lehane SC
Vice-Chair, Bar Council
ex officio
Mr Tim O’Connor BL
Mr Femi Daniyan BL
Mr Cian Kelly BL
Mr Sean O’Sullivan BL
Mr Finn Keyes BL
Ms Joy Tendai Kangere BL
Mr Colm O’Dwyer SC
Practising Bar Panel (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
Elizabeth Donovan BL
.
31/12/2025
Mr Gerard N Murphy BL
.
31/12/2025
Mr Patrick Murphy BL
.
31/12/2025
Mr Paul McCarthy SC
.
31/12/2025
Ms Sally O’Neill BL
.
31/12/2025
Kate Ahern
.
31/12/2026
Mary Hanafin
.
31/12/2026
Mark O’Riordan
.
31/12/2026
Robert O’Reilly
.
31/12/2026
Ian Fitzharris
.
31/12/2026
Non–Practising Barristers
Name
Position
Term Expires
Mr Colum Walsh BL
.
31/12/2024
Mr James Mulcahy BL
.
31/12/2025
Circuit Court Judge
Name
Position
Term Expires
His Hon. Judge Terry O’Sullivan
Circuit Court Judge
31/12/2025
Attorney General
Name
Position
Term Expires
Rossa Fanning SC
AG
ex officio