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Stories of the Four Courts

Sharing the history of the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland, and other Irish courts, one story at a time.

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A site set up to share the history of the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland, home of the Irish legal system since 1796, and other Irish courts.

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Top Posts & Pages

Kidnapped Fermoy Solicitor Negotiates his own Ransom, Subsequently Sues for its Recovery, 1922-26
The Pill Lane Fishwives, 1835
Leonard McNally, Barrister Lyricist, 1787-9
The Barrister and the 'Charley,' c.1780
Hats On, Hats Off: Non-Horsehair Headgear in Court, 1785-1971
Barrister Goes on Fire in Ballina Circuit Court, 1934
Irish Barrister Beheaded on Banks of Bosphorus, c.1825
The Registrar who Knew Joyce, 1937
Called to the Bar, June 1914
The Barrister Who Fell in Love With his Witness, 1908-1915

All Posts

The Bells of St Bartholomew’s and Serjeant William Bennett Campion, 1882-1907
Discoveries at the Four Courts Bookstalls, 1796-1886
The Barrister and the ‘Charley,’ c.1780
A Objectionable Dress, 1909
The Tall Hat as Mandatory Off-Duty Legal Wear, 1800-1934
There and Gone: Pill Lane, The Vanished Street Behind the Four Courts (Part 1)
A Curious Career, 1901
A Poet and Inventor’s Last Will, 1906
Attorney’s Apprentice Eschews Physical Combat in favour of Private Prosecution, 1821
The Lion, the Unicorn, the Harp and the Little Knobule, 1931-2023
The Tragic Tale of Charlotte Lodge
The Story of Mary Ha’penny
Two Tragic Barrister Trip and Falls at Wilton Place, 1882-1911
An Order of Habeas Corpus
A Bull Lane Girl’s Day Out, 1876
The ‘Hard-Swearers’ of Henrietta Street, 1844
The Dangers of Wedding an Improvident Bride, 1832-1849
Gurgles from the Grave as Judicial Rivalry Continues into the Afterlife, 1882-1979
The Arran Quay Ghost, 1837
Wife Sued for Libel by Estranged Husband After Circulating Hand-Bills Seeking Name of her Predecessor, 1862
‘Briefless Junior’ Secures Life-Changing Career Success by Standing in for Senior Detained on Field of Honour, 1815
Witchcraft in Waterford, 1886
The Great Dublin Lodging House Theft, 1847
From the Four Courts to Buenos Aires, 1790-1830
Eight Days in a Lifeboat for Author of Indispensable Irish Criminal Law Text Torpedoed off Africa, 1941
Kidnapped Fermoy Solicitor Negotiates his own Ransom, Subsequently Sues for its Recovery, 1922-26
The Judge’s Son Who Shelled the Four Courts, 1922
A Wizard in Court, 1856-1870
Revolving Doors Require No Hands, 1954
The Time They Tried to Move the Four Courts to London, 1850
Note of Thanks Left Behind as Sweet-Toothed Rebels Vacate Requisitioned Solicitor’s Office, 1916
Portico Problems, 1786-1925
Sandymount Lady Sues English Lieutenant for Breach of Promise, 1920
A Robbery at the White Cross Inn, 1814
The Barrister Who Fell in Love With his Witness, 1908-1915
Snowballing in Peace and War, 1867-1945
Howth Tea-Smuggler Escapes as Revenue Routed by Pill Lane ‘Mob,’ 1764
Woman-on-Woman* Fight Behind the Four Courts Reduces Combatants’ Clothes to Ribbons, 1879
Hats On, Hats Off: Non-Horsehair Headgear in Court, 1785-1971
Shouldering Guns Like Gentlemen: Irish Lawyers to the Front, 1914-18
A Barrister’s Mysterious Death, 1844
Midlands Circuit Judge Throws Himself Between Combatants to End Free Fight in Boyle Court, 1907
British Soldiers Routed by Dublin Amazons, 1871
More on the Milltown Outrage, 1861
Fawn-Smuggling on Inns Quay, 1838
Newspaper-Reading in Court, 1867-1998
Lord Chancellor’s Emissary Saves Lady from Singed Cat, Incurs Husband’s Wrath, 1838
Scouts say ‘Great Scott’ as Irish Barrister Repeatedly Risks Life in Breathtaking Powerscourt Waterfall Rescues, 1942-44
Flags and the Four Courts, 1885-1922
The Milltown Outrage, 1861
Irish Barrister Beheaded on Banks of Bosphorus, c.1825
Not Putting a Ring on it, 1937
A She-Judge, 1830
A Barrister’s Account of the Easter Rising, 1916
The Misfortunes of Judge Linehan’s Criers, 1913-29
Relocating the Encumbered Estates Court, 1850-60
Irish Barrister Escapes Prison, Elopes to France in a Barrel, 1820
Served up on a Staffordshire Platter: The Four Courts, c.1820
As It Was: Images of the Inns Quay/Arran Quay Junction, 1753-present
A Bear in the Dock, 1875
Future Judge Brings Legal Proceedings to Recover Dognapped Pet, 1830
Called to the Bar, June 1914
The Mysterious Folding Doors of the Supreme Court, 1937-73
Aristocratic Insolence in the Dublin Police Court, 1830
As It Was: Images of 145-151 Church Street, 1860 to date
Dublin Solicitor Helps Couple Elope, Sends Them Bill of Costs, 1905
Solicitor Tarred in South William Street Wine Cellar, 1875
Inns Quay Before Áras Uí Dhálaigh: Images of the Four Courts Hotel
The Marital Misadventures of a Master of the Rotunda, 1890
Former British Intelligence Officer and Would-Be Barrister Drowns at North Wall, 1921
Barrister’s Vacation Ends in Litigation, 1885
The Square Hall Scandal, 1947
The Rush to the Bar, 1840-1841
A Place of Trees: Dublin 7, 1066-1750
Half a Century After Renouncing Monastic Vows, Septuagenarian Barrister Magistrate Marries his Nurse, 1908
The War of the Motions: Silk Precedence in the Court of Exchequer, 1834-39
Mother of Bride Dies of Apoplexy as Officer Groom Exposed as Fraudster, 1857
Lord Chancellor’s Mace-Bearer Fined for Assaulting Dublin United Tramways Conductor, 1902
Laughter at Under-the-Table Police Chase in Rolls Court, 1857
Dublin Solicitor Dies in Lover’s House of Ill-Fame, 1879
Inquest in 158 Church Street After Unexpected Courtship Tragedy, 1858
Irish Barristers and the Dáil Courts, 1920
Mayo Courtship Ends in Substantial Award of Damages, 1925
‘Our Judges:’ Critiquing 24 Sitting Irish Judges, 1889-90
A Visit to the 1890 Law Library
A Day in the Four Courts, 1890
Lord Leitrim’s Hearse Attacked by Mob in Church Street, 1878
Judge Gets the Boot on his First Day in Court, 1890
Taken by the Fairies, 1840-1924
Much Guarding, Little Action, Scrambling Breakfasts: the Irish Lawyers’ Corps and the Rebellion of 1798
Singing for its Supper: The Choir of Christ Church Pays Homage to the Court of Exchequer, 1851
The Four Courts as a Sightseeing Destination, 1816-1919
Derry Recorder Tests Lady’s Raincoat for Water Ingress, 1929
A Barrister’s Privilege Against Physical Retribution for Hurt Feelings, 1821
Leonard McNally, Barrister Lyricist, 1787-9
Take Off That Ugly Mask: The Problem of Barristers’ Hirsute Appendages, 1866-1896
The Mythical Miss Staveley and the Bamboozled Bar Benevolent Fund, 1927
Bride Arrested for Shoplifting on Eve of Wedding, 1826
The Dome(s) of the Four Courts, 1785-2020
QC v JC: Junior Bar Privilege, 1836-1912
Barrister’s Son Returns from the Dead, 1896
In the Footsteps of Kings: Chancery Place, 1224-1916
Marry a Former Chief Justice of Tobago in Haste, Repent at Leisure, 1840-55
The Irish Bar and Bench at Home, 1784-1890
A Pleading Two-Step, Part 2: The Proper Business of the Junior Bar, 1856-64
A Rare Bird at the Four Courts, 1888
A Pleading Two-Step, Part 1: The Dangers of Dispensing With Counsel, 1866
The Brats of Mountrath Street, 1867-1890
The Man of Many Wives, 1884-1895
The Bar Cricket Club in Season, 1889-1890
Boys’ Night In Ends in Three Months’ Hard Labour for Elderly Barrister, 1892
The ‘Cleansing’ of Bull Lane, 1878
Future Supreme Court Judge Unsuccessfully Sued for Negligent Driving, 1924
An Aggrieved Apprentice, 1874
A Barrister’s Right to Walk Unobstructed, 1893
Ormond Quay Prison Break, 1784
A Princess Arrested in the Four Courts, 1864
The Man Who Married His Mother-in-Law, 1904
Carlow Solicitor Takes Down Two IRA Men in Career-Ending Gun Battle, 1923
Fun on Circuit, 1909
His Only Brief, 1896
The Goat of Morgan Place, 1881
Legal Monkeys Hire Organ-Grinders to Disrupt Judge’s Party, 1846-66
No Catholic Testament in the Four Courts, 1919
Enough to make Curls Stand on End: Fee Recovery and the Junior Bar, 1862-present
The Fighting Herb Doctors of Church Street and Parnell Street, 1852
Sligo Jury Turns Water into Whisky, 1860
State Trial Implodes as Attorney General Challenges Opposing Counsel to Duel, 1844
To Catch a Thief, 1892
Mad Cow Escapade in Chancery Street, 1856
The Cruel Master, 1778
Malpractices of the Senior Bar, 1862
Swallowing the Evidence, 1839
Irish Free State Prosecuting Barrister Kidnapped, Tarred and Tied to Railings Outside Arbour Hill Prison, 1934
Visiting English Barrister Mistakes Free State Detectives for Gunmen, 1923
Something Wicker This Way Comes: Laughter in Court at Child Noise Nuisance Case, 1853
Mr Godley BL in Trouble Again, 1948
The Marrying Kind, or, Mr Godley BL and the Two Wives, December 1903
Mr Godley BL and the Bounced Cheque, October 1903
Wife of John Godley BL Catches Fire at Leeson Street Party, 1888
Mr Dunn BL Back in Town, 1839-40
Mr Dunn BL in Prison for Love, October 1838
Mr Dunn BL in Love Again, 1838
Judicial Coach Hijacked by Helpful Ennis Local, 1902
The Law and the ‘Flu, 1918-22
Mr Dunn BL in Love, 1836
Beneath the East Wing: The Inns Quay Infirmary, 1728-89
Teenager Hoaxes Thirteen Belfast Solicitors, 1925
Irish Barrister’s Wife Linked to International Man of Mystery, 1926
Early Irish Bar Strike, c.1790
Let off for Lunch: Pioneering Women Jurors, 1921
Judge Calls Women’s Fashion the Ruin of the Country, 1895
The (Would-be) Serial Killer of Church Street, 1861
Irish Barristers and their Fees, 1866
Tragic Tipstaff Death in Phoenix Park, 1905
The Registrar who Knew Joyce, 1937
Round Hall Wrestle After Perceived Insult to Barrister’s Mother, 1893
A Noise Sensitive Judge at the Cork Assizes, 1864
Barrister Sentenced to Six Months’ Hard Labour for Stealing Books from Trinity College Library, 1840
No False Telegram, 1928
Law Library Staff Member Leaves Bride at Altar, 1842
Solicitor Delays Discovery to Protect Morals of Lady Typists, 1906
Judicial Assassination Attempt at Corner of Leinster Street and Kildare Street Foiled by Observant Pensioner, 1882
Apprentice Solicitor Swordfight on Eve of Qualification, 1717
Bomb Outrages in the Four Courts, 1893
A Stolen Judicial Lunch Goes Viral, 1912
Ballymoney Barrister Treats Servants as Guests, 1913
From ‘Back Hair’ to Go-Go Boots: Fashion and the Female Barrister, 1921-1967
Irish Solicitor Efficiently Rescued After Falling Off Dublin-Holyhead Ferry mid-Channel, 1932
Hot, and More Often Not: Calibrating the Four Courts, 1796-1922
Judges Accompanied to Assizes by Armed Convoys, 1920-21
Breach of Promise Proceedings by Smitten Solicitor’s Clerk, 1892
Slanging it Out: The Vernacular in the Courtroom, 1872-1942
Popular Killarney Solicitor Disappears after Derby Win, Turns Up Decades Later in South Africa, 1886-1906
The Sentinel with the Sonorous Voice: Bramley of the Law Library, 1869-1904
The Wimple Life, 1908
Barrister Overboard, 1873
Bullet-Piercings, Bombs, Whiskey and Cigars: The Four Courts after the Rising, May-June 1916
Derry Girl’s Application to Become Barrister Rejected by Benchers of King’s Inns, 1901
The Todd Brothers, 1917-18
The Great Golfing Days of the Irish Bar, 1904-14
Dry Rot, Destitute Juniors and the Law of Cause and Effect: Improving the Second Law Library, 1897-1909
A Mysterious Assault on a Four Courts Registrar, 1916
The Female Barrister – Fair, Feared and ‘Finished at Forty,’ 1896
If Cats Could Talk: The Fatal Fall of a Donegal Solicitor, 1916
Manager of Four Courts Coffee Room Prosecuted for Adulterating Spirits, 1921
The Musket and the Brief, 1798
Law Library ‘Boy’ Sues for Damaged Bicycle, 1910
Schoolgirls Ordered Out of Court, 1915
Barristers Play the Market, 1900
Barrister’s Daughter Elopes in Mother’s Dress, 1878
Like Strokes of a Stick on a Carpet, 1891
Old Barristers Swoop In to Claim Seats in New Law Library, 1897
Bloodhound Sent Out After Father of the Irish Bar Disappears in Scottish Highlands, 1889
Compliments from a Four Courts’ Prisoner, 1916
Irish Woman Barrister Secures Acquittal for Client on Murder Charge, 1931
Son of Court 2 Housekeeper Kills Son of Court 3 Housekeeper in 22 Rounds at Bully’s Acre, 1816
Barrister Rescues Sheep, Sued by its Owner, 1907
The Prime of Miss Averil Deverell BL, 1937
Plumber’s Assistant Dies in Bankruptcy Court Explosion, 1888
Barrister Goes on Fire in Ballina Circuit Court, 1934
A Four Courts Hold-Up, 1920
Along for the Ride, Pre-Railway
Lady Law Clerks Strike Out, 1920
Dressed to Kilt, 1930
The Elephant in the Yard, 1906
The Disappearance of an Official Assignee, 1885
The New Law Library, 1895
Barrister Shoots Himself While Practising for Lawyers’ Corps, 1803
A Redundant Crier, 1900
Law Student Shoots Solicitor, Barrister Touts for Defence Brief, 1926
A Strange Bequest, 1913
A Barrister’s Johnnie, 1924
Barristers Successfully Challenge Exclusion from Side Passages of Court, 1848
Doing ‘Circuit’ in a Motor, 1907
Three Legal Men and a Baby, 1832
Solicitor Restrained from Breaking Through Judicial Procession Sues for Assault, 1898
Barrister Railway Fatalities, 1862-1921
Barristers’ Term-Time Immunity from Arrest for Debt, 1860
House Party with Legal Associations Ends in Accusations of Theft, 1844
Tardy Judge Fines Solicitors Who Fail to Wait, 1899
ADR Irish Style, Pre-1850
Young Bar Protest Against Judicial Unpunctuality, 1919
A Railway Mystery, 1905
Solicitor Caned in Four Courts Yard Over Missed Deed, 1846
No Palles: Health Crisis in Court 3, 1877
Barrister Convicted of Knocker-Wrenching, 1870
The Lord Chief Justice-v-Anna Liffey, 1870-1875
Cab Driver Convicted of Overcharging a Barrister, 1895
Mr Bushe BL Elopes, 1885
Four Courts Bag-Carriers and the Great Robing-Room Heist, 1882
Junior Barrister Piqued by Omission of his Name from News Report, 1871
Acid Attack on Solicitor Charged with Indecent Assault, 1884
Sailing Fatalities among the Irish Bar, 1872-1907
Fighting over Girls in the Yard, 1836
First Law Library Ended by Typhoid and Solicitors, 1894
Sumptuous Connaught Bar Dinner, 1831
Letting off Steam: Heating Problems in Court 2, 1860
Down by the (neglected) Four Courts Gardens, 1904
The Irish Barrister’s Dead Sweetheart’s Belongings, 1900
The Four Courts on Fire, 1805-1922
Led to be Bled: The Painful Duty of Junior Counsel, 1899
The Terrifying Tale of the Tipstaff’s Niece, 1835
Briefless Barristers as Marriage Prospects, 1870
Gallant Liffey Rescue by Solicitor, 1872
A Most Offensive Stench: Court 3, 1831-54
Tipstaff Bōjutsu, 1837
Lord Norbury’s Playground: Court 2, 1800-1827
Life-Threatening Law Library Lavatories, 1874
A Successful Haunted House Defence, 1885
Two Nights with Rose Lovely, 1823
The Affair of the White Waistcoat, 1899
The Devil’s Own, or, the Bar and the Boers, 1900
Lawyer Relieved of Silk Handkerchief by Female Cutpurses, 1818
Attorney-General Arranges Bare-Knuckle Boxing Bout, 1824
By Dublin Central Station We Nearly Sat, 1863
Whacksation of Costs, 1848
The Problem of Paging Barristers, 1846
Cockfighting in Arran Square, 1844
Juror Arrested, Blames Seagull-Shooting Lodger, 1866
Lord Chief Justice Declared Too Good to Live, 1822
A Shortened Period of Apprenticeship, 1836
Round Hall Ablutions Averted, 1808
Solicitors Meet to Discuss the General Impossibility of Barristers, 1843
Court Documents Stolen for Possible Sale as Toilet Paper, 1860
Mr Finn’s Four Courts Coffee-Room, 1839
The Bigamist Barrister, 1846
Bookstalls, Showmen and Dancing Dogs, 1821-1840
Armed Footpad Overpowered in Church Street, c. 1800
Case Citations and Personal Law Libraries, pre-1836
The Pill Lane Fishwives, 1835
The Litigant who became a Barrister, 1853
Long Hours for Law Clerks, 1865
The Lord Chief Justice’s Phantom Coach, 1803-
Gatecrashing a Bar Meeting, 1830
Barrister’s Spouse Violated by Briefing Solicitor, 1842
The Hammond Lane Explosion, 1878
The Perils of Personal Service, 1834
Do Not Covet a Barrister’s Wife, 1862
The Wandering Law Library Ventilator, 1879
Human Remains Beside the West Wing, 1834
Unacceptable Sanitary and Timekeeping Arrangements, 1874
A Judicial Levee in a Haunted House, 1901
Young Bar Fracas, 1829
Mob Attack, Inns Quay, 1830
The Law Librarian’s Office Burgled, 1857
Health and Safety Issues in the Round Hall, 1853
The Unwitting Dining Companions, 1784
Mr Hooks, 1862
A Pressing Communication, 1881
The Wigmaker of Arran Quay, 1862
The Bridge That Never Was, 1802
The Corridor between the Four Courts and Rear Yard Extension, 1857
The First Barristers’ Robing Rooms, 1851
The First Law Library, 1850
The Gambling Devil, 1836
Female Lay Litigant Insists on Being Described as a Lady, 1836
A ‘Seduction’ and its Consequences, 1830
Boy Racers on Arran Quay, 1834
Barrister Kills Solicitor, Becomes Attorney-General, 1814

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This site shares the history of the Four Courts, Dublin, centre of Ireland's legal system since 1796. Click here to find out more!