Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · 2d

Some new books added to the library's collection

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · 19d

King’s Inns Library collection includes his works ‘The Day’s Burden’, ‘The Ways of War’ and ‘Irish Orators and Oratory’ seen here listed in an extract from our guard catalogue.

handwritten entry in King's Inns library catalogue listing works by Tom Kettle

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · 19d

September’s literary link with King’s Inns is Tom Kettle (1880-1916), writer and poet who died at Ginchy during the Battle of the Somme in on 9 September 1916. He enrolled as a student in @kingsinns.bsky.social in 1903 and was called to the Bar in Easter Term 1906.

extract from barrister memorial of Thomas Michael Kettle

1 1 1

Reposted by Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns

The Honorable Society of King’s Inns @kingsinns.bsky.social · Sep 1

#JobOpportunity Archivist (part-time) at The Honorable Society of King's Inns

Read more and apply by Friday 12 September 2025 👉 www.kingsinns.ie/news-events/...

@kilibrary.bsky.social

#WeAreHiring #KingsInns #Archivist #Archives #KILibrary

Job Opportunity: Archivist (part-time) at The Honorable Society of King's Inns

The Archivist will manage the day-to-day running of the archives. Submit a cover letter setting out how you meet the requirements along with your CV to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 12 September 20...

www.kingsinns.ie

3

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Aug 18

His father, William John Johnston (1868-1940), also a barrister, and later a Supreme Court judge, authored commentaries on Land Purchase, and the Labourers Act. His daughter was Jennifer Johnston (1930-2025), author of ‘How many miles to Babylon?’ and ‘Shadows on our Skin’.

title page of the labourers act by William Johnstons

1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Aug 18

Author of plays including ‘The old lady says ‘No!’’ and works from the @kingsinns.bsky.social collection ‘In search of Swift’ and ‘Nine Rivers from Jordan’. #literature

1 1 1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Aug 18

Our literary link for August is (William) Denis Johnston (1901-1984), playwright and author who died on 8 August 1984, was called to the Irish Bar in 1925 #barrister.

extract from barrister memorial of Denis Johnston

1 1 2

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Aug 6

In 1897 he was elected to the Federal Convention, later serving terms as Attorney General, Minister for External Affairs and Minister for Home and Territories. King's Inns Archives holds his Barrister Memorial, his obituary in the Irish Law Times & Solicitors Journal is in the library collection.

Extract from barrister memorial of Patrick Glynn McMahon

1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Aug 6

A slow start to his legal career did not induce him to stay in Ireland and in 1880 he left for Melbourne, Australia. He took on various roles, including a newspaper editor, moved to Adelaide and became an MP in South Australia.

1 1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Aug 6

Celebrating Irish people who have left Ireland seeking a new life #ArchiveDiaspora Patrick McMahon Glynn, originally from Gort, Co. Galway, was called to the Irish Bar in Easter Term 1879.

1 1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Jul 23

Works by Oliver St. John Gogarty in the library include a volume of poetry ‘Wild Apples’, play ‘Blight: The Tragedy of Dublin’ published under a pseudonym Alpha and Omega, and novel ‘Mad Grandeur’. The Barrister Memorial of Oliver Duane Gogarty is held in our archives.
#KILibrary #Archives

1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Jul 23

Our literary link for July is the poet, playwright and author Oliver St. John Gogarty (1878-1957), father of barrister Oliver Duane Odysseus (Noll) Gogarty (1907-1999) who was born on #OTD 23 July 1907, admitted to King’s Inns in and called to the Irish Bar in June 1931.

#King’sInns #Literature

1 1 1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Jun 24

In 1940 she wrote Bowen's Court, which covers a lot of family history, among which is her father's with a piece on his Call to the Bar in 1887. You can also see his education certificate from @kingsinns.bsky.social here #legal #barrister

1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Jun 24

Our literary link for June is writer Elizabeth Bowen (b. 7 June 1899 in #Cork), daughter of barrister Henry Charles Cole Bowen (1862–1930). Elizabeth wrote short stories and novels, as well as introductions, broadcasts and articles. She wrote on a range of topics, fiction and non-fiction #literature

1 1 1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Jun 17

Spot some familiar landmarks in this 1610 map from one of the books in our collections?
#Dublin #DublinHistory

1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Jun 3

Among library correspondence for 1958, there is a letter from @deptjusticeirl.bsky.social permitting the import of prohibited publication 'Borstal Boy' by Brendan #Behan. Locating our copy, the inside cover confirms purchase 'under licence from the Minister for Justice'! #censorship #IrishAuthors

1 1 3

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · May 26

He wrote poems, plays and political speeches. Here we can see from the ‘Collected Works of Padraic H. Pearse’ (1918) a #poem by Geoffrey Keating which Pearse translated from Irish to English, and from ‘Collected Works of Padraic H. Pearse’ (1917) one of his own poems – ‘I am Ireland’.

3

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · May 26

Pádraig Pearse (1879-1916), one of the leaders of the #EasterRising, #barrister and #writer, died in May, making him a suitable choice for this month’s literary figure. He studied languages and law, and after studying ‪@kingsinns.bsky.social‬ was called to the Bar in Trinity Term 1901.

1 1 2

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Apr 29

He never practised as a barrister, but he became a literary figure who produced a lot of poetry. 
One book by him (Ballads, Poems and Lyrics), published in 1850, held by KI library, can be seen here.

3

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Apr 29

As you can see Daniel O'Connell signed MacCarthy's barrister memorial #DanielO'Connell

1 3

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Apr 29

April's literary link with King's Inns is Denis Florence MacCarthy (1820-1882), who died 7 April 1882.

Entering King's Inns (KI) in Michaelmas Term 1841 & Gray's Inn (GI) in London in Easter Term 1842, he was admitted to the degree of BL in Hilary Term 1846, as seen here #LegalHistory #Barrister

Denis Florence MacCarthy, with book in hand and not wearing a wig, sitting in a wooden chair. Beside him are two books on a table covered by a red tablecloth. Image attribution: National Gallery of Ireland, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

1 2

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Mar 31

After practicing for 8 years, he switched to running the family business and writing novels and plays. He had plays performed at the Abbey Theatre. Here we see that Robert Russell, Representative of the Law School at TCD, certifies that Duffy completed courses and passed exams in 1904 and 1905.

1

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Mar 31

Bernard Duffy (1882-1952) died #OTD 31 March, which makes him suitable as our literary link for the month of March. From Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, he entered King’s Inns in Michaelmas Term 1904 and was called to the Bar in Trinity Term 1907. #IrishLaw #IrishLiterature

Letter (22 May 1907) from Trinity College Law School certifying that classes were attended and exams passed by Bernard Duffy.

1 2

Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns @kilibrary.bsky.social · Mar 13

I rith Seachtain na Gaeilge bain trial as ceann de leabhair Gaeilge atá le fáil sa leabharlann! #SnaG25

2

Reposted by Library of The Honorable Society of King's Inns

The Honorable Society of King’s Inns @kingsinns.bsky.social · Mar 12

📚 Our second-to-last #KIBookClub meeting of this academic year will happen on 14 April 2025.

The book selected for discussion is On Trial for Murder: Courtroom Dramas that Gripped the World by Emily G. Thomson.

Register here ➡️ www.kingsinns.ie/news-events/...

#BookClub #KingsInns

King’s Inns Book Club
book cover a man in black and white picture surrounded by journalists

2 3