Mayo Solicitors Bar Association
100 years in existence
The Mayo Solicitors' Bar Association under the title of
the "Mayo Sessional Bar" was founded on the 18th April, 1906
when the late Alfred B. Kelly was elected president. The
other Mayo solicitors who attended the inaugural meeting in
Castlebar included John C. Garvey (Castlebar), John P.
Mannion (Swinford), Michael B. Coolicon (Ballina), Thomas
Dillon Leetch (Ballyhaunis),Edmund Barry (Castlebar),
Patrick O'Connor (Swinford), Henry C. Bourke (Ballina) and
P.J. O'Rorke (Kiltimagh). Whatever differences that the
first members of the Association had among themselves either
personally or on behalf of their clients are long since
settled between them as they dine and sup together in those
great chambers above!
Through the years many members of the Bar Association
rose to prominence in the law, politics and business in
Ireland. Mayo solicitors have produced a number of
Government Ministers, T.D's, Senators, a Chief Justice and
numerous Judges of the courts, County Registrars, Land
Commissioners, Tribunal Chairmen, Knights, and Sportsmen in
many disciplines at inter county, provincial ,national and
international levels in, G.A.A., Rugby, Soccer, Athletics,
Swimming, Golf, Tennis, Fishing and Darts.
The Mayo Solicitors' Bar Association has provided four
Presidents of the Law Society of Ireland. Thomas Valentine (
Val) O'Connor of Swinford in 1972 was the first member of
the association to become President of the Society. He was
followed by Adrian P. Bourke of Ballina, grandson of one of
the founding members of the Association, in 1991. Patrick
O'Connor, the current President of the Association,
Swinford, a grandson of one of the founding members of the
Association, and son of Thomas V. O'Connor, was its
President in 1998, followed two years later, at the turn of
the century, in the new millennium, by Ward McEllin of
Claremorris.
Through its 100 years of existence the Association has
been open to "all solicitors who normally practise in the
Courts in County Mayo, whether resident therein or not".
The Objects of the Bar Association were restated on the
1st July, 1957 at a general meeting of "all solicitors in
the County" as follows:-
"to control the conduct of members inter se in
their professional business;
to control the conduct of members with the public in
their professional business;
to safeguard the interests of members in all matters
relating to their professional business;
to promote and protect the interests of the
Solicitors' profession and to safeguard its rights and
privileges.
While the objects have remained substantially the same
through the century of its existence the Rules of the
Association have changed from time to time to take
cognisance of changes in practice and professional
conduct.
In the more leisurely times of the early part of the 20th
century it was not unknown for a member of the Association
to travel a long distance to a District Court to move an
Examination Order secure in the knowledge that his clerk was
doing all that was necessary to keep the practice going. The
attendance at the Court was an excuse to meet colleagues,
engage in conversation and dine late into the night! The
exploits of many of the early members of the Association
have long passed into the mindset of the members of the
present day Association as folklore.
Not without controversy through the years between its
members, the Association often acted as a regulatory body in
the days before the extensive and some would say over
powering regulation of current day legal practice. It was
the Mayo Solicitors' Bar Association that vigorously opposed
the conflict of interest that is inherent in solicitors and
their firms acting on both side of a property transaction. A
resolution to prohibit such transactions was proposed by the
Association to the then
Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, in the early 1960's.
A large number of solicitors from all over Ireland, more
than had attended any general meeting of the Society up to
that time attended, but declined to adopt the
resolution.
The Western Circuit, particularly the Mayo section
thereof, was notable for its many lawyer characters that
worked on it through the years. Many leading cases in Common
Law and Equity were decided in and from the Mayo Courts
including Owens v Greene, Mulligan v Corr, Gannon v Walsh
and Glencar v Mayo Co. Council to mention but a few.
Mulligan v Corr was for many years the leading case on
restraint of trade clauses in contracts of service. Readers
will recall that Edmond Corr was an apprentice solicitor to
Patrick J. Mulligan. When Mr. Corr was admitted to the roll
of solicitors Mr. Mulligan sought to prevent him from
practising within a radius of 30 miles of the town of
Ballina and 30 miles of the town of Charlestown where Mr
Mulligan had offices and within 20 miles of the town of
Ballaghdereen.
The Supreme Court held that the restrictions could not be
upheld as the area which Mr Mulligan sought to protect was
too large and went far beyond anything that could reasonably
be required to protect his practice!
Edmund Corr went into practice with P.J Ruttledge in
Ballina, within a stones throw of his former master's office
in Ballina. He practised there for many years. Both
solicitors were officers of the Mayo Solicitors' Bar
Association and for upwards of 25 years did not speak
directly to each other. One addressing the other through an
intermediary!
However towards the end of their lives both solicitors
became inseparable friends. In fact Edmund Corr became
President of the Mayo Solicitors' Bar Association 1955 to be
followed by his former master Paddy Mulligan in 1957.
The Mayo Solicitors' Bar Association continues to thrive.
Apart from its social obligations to its members, their
partners, spouses and friends it now is actively involved in
providing Continuing Practice Development courses for its
members. It leaves "B.A.R.T" to the Law Society..
The solicitors of Mayo are growing in numbers and in
their individual and collective ability to look after and
provide a quality legal service to all their clients in the
county and beyond. There are now more than 140 solicitors
practising in the county.
Mar a deir an seanfhocal, "ní neart go cur le
cheile".
Patrick O'Connor BCL LLB
President MSBA 2006/2008
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