Committees of Council

The newly formed Council at King’s Inns for a succeeding year shall meet in December in each year to elect one or more committees to deal with the following matters:

  1. finance, building and general purposes (Standing Committee),

  2. the education of students and further education of barristers (Education Committee),

  3. the Society’s Library (Library Committee),

  4. commons, recreation and social affairs (Commons Committee),

  5. professional practice (Professional Practice Committee),

  6. matters affecting non–practising barristers (Graduates Members’ Committee).

Council may also elect at any time such other committees, whether annual or ad hoc, to deal with any other matters as it may from time to time deem necessary.

Full details of how Committees operate and are elected can be found in the General Rules of the Society.  

Standing Committee 2026

Mr Hugh Mohan SCChairman, ex officioBar Benchers’ Panel
Mr Paul McGarry SCHon. Treasurer, ex officioBar Benchers’ Panel
Ms Elizabeth Donovan BLHon. Secretary, ex officioPractising Bar Panel
Mr Sean Guerin SCChairman, Bar Council ex officioProfessional Body Panel
Mr Darren Lehane SCTreasurer, Bar Council ex officioProfessional Body Panel
The Hon. Mr Justice Paul BurnsChairman, Education Committee ex officioJudicial Benchers’ Panel
The Hon. Mr Justice David BarnivilleChairman, Commons Committee ex officioJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Mr James O’Reilly SCChairman, Library Committee ex officioBar Benchers’ Panel
ELECTED MEMBERS
The Hon. Mr Justice David NolanJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Mr Paul O’Higgins SCPractising Bar Panel
CO-OPTED MEMBERS
Ms Jacqueline O’Brien SC
Mr Paul McCarthy SC

Education Committee 2026

The Hon. Mr Justice Paul BurnsJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Ms Jacqueline O’Brien SCBar Benchers Panel
Ms Jane Hyland SC
Ms Denise Waldron BLProfessional Body Panel
Ms Mary Hanafin BLPractising Bar Panel
The Hon. Mr Justice David NolanJudicial Benchers Panel
Ms Margaret Gray SC
Mr Patrick Murphy BLPractising Bar Panel
CO-OPTED MEMBERS
Mr Ronan Kennedy SC

LIBRARY COMMITTEE 2026

Mr James O’Reilly SC (Chairman)Bar Benchers’ Panel
The Hon. Mr Justice John EdwardsJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Mr Shane Murphy SCBar Benchers’ Panel
Ms Elizabeth Donovan BLPractising Bar Panel
The Hon Mr Justice Mark SanfeyJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Mr John Rogers SCBar Benchers’ Panel
The Hon. Mr Justice Brian CreganJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Mr Gareth Robinson BLPractising Bar Panel
CO-OPTED MEMBERS

COMMONS COMMITTEE – 2026

The Hon. Mr Justice David BarnivilleJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Mr Fergal Foley BLBar Benchers’ Panel
Ms Imogen McGrath SC
Mr Tadhg Dorgan BL
Mr Micheál O’Connel SC
The Hon. Mr Justice NolanJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Mr Dan Fennelly BL
Mr Finbarr Fox SCBar Benchers’ Panel
CO-OPTED MEMBERS

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES COMMITTEE 2026

The Hon.. Mr Justice John EdwardsJudicial Benchers’ Panel
The Hon. Ms Justice Teresa PilkingtonJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Mr Tim O’Connor BLProfessional Body Panel
Mr Shane Murphy SCBar Benchers Panel
Ms Tabitha Wood SCProfessional Body Panel
Mr Mark O’Riordan BLPractising Bar Panel
Mr Seamus Clarke SCProfessional Body Panel
Mr Colm O’Dwyer SCProfessional Body Panel
Co-opted Members

GRADUATE MEMBERS COMMITTEE 2026

The Hon Mr Justice Oisin QuinnJudicial Benchers’ Panel
Mr James MulcahyNon-Practising Panel
Ms Kate Ahern BLPractising Bar Panel
Mr Robert O’Reilly BLPractising Bar Panel
Mr Ian Fitzharris BLPractising Bar Panel
Mr Colum WalshNon-Practising Panel
Mr Chris Chan
Ms Rachel Tobin Cosgrove
Co-opted Members