Ryan-Smolin, Wanda.

King’s Inns portraits. Wanda Ryan-Smolin ; photography by John Kellett.

Dublin, [Council of King’s Inns], [1992]. 26cm. ix, 88 pages with numerous illustrations. Original softcover. Excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. Loosely inserted is a floor plan for the locations of the paintings during an exhibition.

The Honorable Society of King’s Inns is the “Inn of Court” for the Bar of Ireland. Established in 1541, King’s Inns is Ireland’s oldest school of law and one of Ireland’s significant historical environments.

The Benchers of King’s Inns award the degree of barrister-at-law necessary to qualify as a barrister be called to the bar in the Republic of 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. King’s Inns is also a centre of excellence in promoting the use of the Irish language in the law.

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’), and was based in part on that of Christopher Robinson, senior puisne judge of the Court of King’s Bench (Ireland), who died in 1787. Books were sold at auction at Sotheby’s, London, and a considerable stock of them were 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. In addition, its library had received an annual grant since 1945 for the upkeep of the books from the Irish Exchequer. A King’s Inns team or individual has often won the Irish Times National Debating Championship, and in 2010 won the European Universities Debating Championships. In 2006 the Inns’ hurling team competed in and won the Fergal Maher Cup (3rd Level Division 3) in their inaugural year and have subsequently reached the final and semi-final. The Hungry Tree, a London Plane that is encapsulating a park bench lies in the grounds of the King’s Inns, near to the south gate. (Wikipedia)

• Keywords: Art – Rare · Catalogue One – History of Law · Ireland · Irish History of Law · Irish Law · Irish Legal History · Law · Law – Rare · Portrait painting · Portrait painting, Irish · Portraits · Portraits of Judges
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0951244310
• Inventory Number: 100453AB

EUR 78,--