Ruth Cannon
@ruthcannon.bsky.social
Irish barrister sharing historical accounts and images of the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland. Past posts archived at http://ruthcannon.com.
The seagulls at the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland have always had a tendency to swoop on its inhabitants (see below). However, fighting there during the Civil War of 1922 provoked them to screaming, window-thumping heights akin to Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds'. More here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/12/08/a...
ruthcannon.com/2025/12/08/a...
December 8, 2025 at 11:32 AM
The seagulls at the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland have always had a tendency to swoop on its inhabitants (see below). However, fighting there during the Civil War of 1922 provoked them to screaming, window-thumping heights akin to Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds'. More here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/12/08/a...
ruthcannon.com/2025/12/08/a...
The Honourable Society of the King's Inns, Dublin, by night, when it is easy to imagine it as it once was. Behind it is Henrietta Street, once the Anchorite's Park. Read about the early history of Henrietta Street, and the adjacent King's Inns site, here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/11/24/t...
ruthcannon.com/2025/11/24/t...
November 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
The Honourable Society of the King's Inns, Dublin, by night, when it is easy to imagine it as it once was. Behind it is Henrietta Street, once the Anchorite's Park. Read about the early history of Henrietta Street, and the adjacent King's Inns site, here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/11/24/t...
ruthcannon.com/2025/11/24/t...
The first telephone in the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland, was installed by the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland in the 1880s in what is now the Law Library, and guarded zealously by solicitors. Read about one such incident of guarding here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/11/11/j...
ruthcannon.com/2025/11/11/j...
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The first telephone in the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland, was installed by the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland in the 1880s in what is now the Law Library, and guarded zealously by solicitors. Read about one such incident of guarding here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/11/11/j...
ruthcannon.com/2025/11/11/j...
Ireland's most famous bigamist was a woman, Mary Jane Scott, who escaped the arm of the law thanks to her defence counsel, Isaac Butt (below) subsequently challenged by the prosecution solicitor to a duel. But there would be no pistols at dawn! More here: ruthcannon.com/2025/11/03/c...
November 3, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Ireland's most famous bigamist was a woman, Mary Jane Scott, who escaped the arm of the law thanks to her defence counsel, Isaac Butt (below) subsequently challenged by the prosecution solicitor to a duel. But there would be no pistols at dawn! More here: ruthcannon.com/2025/11/03/c...
Consternation at Clonmel Station (below) in 1898 when two elderly judges marooned there by railway difficulties requested a cup of tea. Luckily Mrs Daniel Leahy stepped in to save the day. Later, she received a large, shiny present... Read this sweet vignette here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/10/22/2...
ruthcannon.com/2025/10/22/2...
October 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Consternation at Clonmel Station (below) in 1898 when two elderly judges marooned there by railway difficulties requested a cup of tea. Luckily Mrs Daniel Leahy stepped in to save the day. Later, she received a large, shiny present... Read this sweet vignette here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/10/22/2...
ruthcannon.com/2025/10/22/2...
When the Irish Bar (including infamous Leonard McNally, betrayer of Robert Emmet) rallied together as a body in Kilmainham Courthouse to voluntarily offer legal aid to a child of under 10 charged with stealing a loaf of bread...
ruthcannon.com/2025/10/09/i...
ruthcannon.com/2025/10/09/i...
October 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
When the Irish Bar (including infamous Leonard McNally, betrayer of Robert Emmet) rallied together as a body in Kilmainham Courthouse to voluntarily offer legal aid to a child of under 10 charged with stealing a loaf of bread...
ruthcannon.com/2025/10/09/i...
ruthcannon.com/2025/10/09/i...
The Four Courts, Dublin, after the destruction of the Ormond Bridge in the Great Storm of 1802. Ferries carried passengers across the river until a new bridge was constructed. The sentry box probably belonged to one of the famous Charley: ruthcannon.com/2023/01/11/t...
Image via British Library.
Image via British Library.
September 26, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The Four Courts, Dublin, after the destruction of the Ormond Bridge in the Great Storm of 1802. Ferries carried passengers across the river until a new bridge was constructed. The sentry box probably belonged to one of the famous Charley: ruthcannon.com/2023/01/11/t...
Image via British Library.
Image via British Library.
From the Daily News, 17 July 1922, a photograph showing the Fire Brigade clearing up the remains of the Four Courts during the Irish Civil War. Archive link below for a story
about how the rebels audaciously rescued their flag under the nose of the Fire Brigade.
ruthcannon.com/2022/01/05/f...
about how the rebels audaciously rescued their flag under the nose of the Fire Brigade.
ruthcannon.com/2022/01/05/f...
September 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
From the Daily News, 17 July 1922, a photograph showing the Fire Brigade clearing up the remains of the Four Courts during the Irish Civil War. Archive link below for a story
about how the rebels audaciously rescued their flag under the nose of the Fire Brigade.
ruthcannon.com/2022/01/05/f...
about how the rebels audaciously rescued their flag under the nose of the Fire Brigade.
ruthcannon.com/2022/01/05/f...
An early example of lawyer-bashing may be found in an Evening Herald report of a Clare County Council meeting of 1949, when a number of counsellors vociferously opposed the re-upholstering of barristers' benches in lovely Ennis Courthouse (below). Read it all here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/29/c...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/29/c...
July 29, 2025 at 1:03 PM
An early example of lawyer-bashing may be found in an Evening Herald report of a Clare County Council meeting of 1949, when a number of counsellors vociferously opposed the re-upholstering of barristers' benches in lovely Ennis Courthouse (below). Read it all here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/29/c...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/29/c...
The heartfelt welcome given to Judge Cahir Davitt in Tullamore in 1946 painted an evocative picture of the judge appearing there 30 years earlier as a 'dark-haired, handsome... modest, bright-eyed, and chivalrous boy.' Follow the link below to find out more:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/25/a...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/25/a...
July 25, 2025 at 11:25 AM
The heartfelt welcome given to Judge Cahir Davitt in Tullamore in 1946 painted an evocative picture of the judge appearing there 30 years earlier as a 'dark-haired, handsome... modest, bright-eyed, and chivalrous boy.' Follow the link below to find out more:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/25/a...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/25/a...
The below article records the leap from the Law Library to the silver screen of Irish barrister and movie star Edward George Little, better known under his stage name Edward Lexy (1897-1970). More about him here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/24/f...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/24/f...
July 24, 2025 at 9:40 AM
The below article records the leap from the Law Library to the silver screen of Irish barrister and movie star Edward George Little, better known under his stage name Edward Lexy (1897-1970). More about him here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/24/f...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/24/f...
Normally Cockney criminals chose their prey first, but the ebullience of 19c Irish lawyers visiting London was such that they actually introduced themselves to the criminal - read on for an account of one such incident in New Oxford Street in 1907:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/23/i...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/23/i...
July 23, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Normally Cockney criminals chose their prey first, but the ebullience of 19c Irish lawyers visiting London was such that they actually introduced themselves to the criminal - read on for an account of one such incident in New Oxford Street in 1907:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/23/i...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/23/i...
Although Irish judges, punning, and Catholicism might seem unlikely bedfellows, all three coalesced in early 19th century Ireland to sometimes magnificent effect. Read about it all here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/22/p...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/22/p...
July 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Although Irish judges, punning, and Catholicism might seem unlikely bedfellows, all three coalesced in early 19th century Ireland to sometimes magnificent effect. Read about it all here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/22/p...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/22/p...
Tragedy turns to violence in the Dublin Coroner’s court in this story from the Strathearn Herald of 11 May 1878 as the brother of a pregnant suicide victim seeks to wreak physical vengeance on her employer and alleged seducer. More here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/16/i...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/16/i...
July 16, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Tragedy turns to violence in the Dublin Coroner’s court in this story from the Strathearn Herald of 11 May 1878 as the brother of a pregnant suicide victim seeks to wreak physical vengeance on her employer and alleged seducer. More here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/16/i...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/16/i...
From the Sphere, 23 May 1936, this photograph of Irish solicitor TG 'George' McVeagh competing in the Davis Cup of the same year. The firm established by him in Kildare Street survived into this century. More on McVeagh here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
July 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
From the Sphere, 23 May 1936, this photograph of Irish solicitor TG 'George' McVeagh competing in the Davis Cup of the same year. The firm established by him in Kildare Street survived into this century. More on McVeagh here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
The new Irish Family Law Courts are slated for the below site at 167-9 Church Street, Dublin - but is there anything in the history of the site conducive or otherwise to remedying marital disharmony? Find out here: ruthcannon.com/2025/07/14/n...
July 14, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The new Irish Family Law Courts are slated for the below site at 167-9 Church Street, Dublin - but is there anything in the history of the site conducive or otherwise to remedying marital disharmony? Find out here: ruthcannon.com/2025/07/14/n...
A very young barrister, apprehended for 'midnight vocalism' at Beresford Place (below) near Dublin's infamous Monto, defends himself in the Dublin Police Court of 1887. Will he get off? What will happen to his career? Find out what happened to Charles Dunne BL here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/09/m...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/09/m...
July 9, 2025 at 7:40 PM
A very young barrister, apprehended for 'midnight vocalism' at Beresford Place (below) near Dublin's infamous Monto, defends himself in the Dublin Police Court of 1887. Will he get off? What will happen to his career? Find out what happened to Charles Dunne BL here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/09/m...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/09/m...
Researchers on longevity may be interested in Mr Condy Boyle, of Dungloe, Donegal, who served as court crier at Lifford Courthouse (image below) for 75 years between 1834 and 1909. Charming and multi-talented Mr Boyle had an interesting family history. More here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/08/a...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/08/a...
An Extremely Long-Lived Court Crier, 1909
Lifford Old Courthouse, Donegal (built 1729, where Condy Boyle acted as Court Crier for over 75 years, via Wikipedia From the Westmeath Independent, 30 January 1909: “COURT CRIER FOR 75 YEARS A not…
ruthcannon.com
July 8, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Researchers on longevity may be interested in Mr Condy Boyle, of Dungloe, Donegal, who served as court crier at Lifford Courthouse (image below) for 75 years between 1834 and 1909. Charming and multi-talented Mr Boyle had an interesting family history. More here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/08/a...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/08/a...
Drama in 1879 as a moneylender flees the Four Courts to escape an angry crowd. More on Thomas Joyce and the Accommodation Bank here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/07/n...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/07/n...
July 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Drama in 1879 as a moneylender flees the Four Courts to escape an angry crowd. More on Thomas Joyce and the Accommodation Bank here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/07/n...
ruthcannon.com/2025/07/07/n...
From the Irish Independent, 8 November 1930, via British Newspaper Archives. a very nice-looking group of new Irish barristers. George D Murnaghan later became a formidable High Court judge, and is remembered for having sentenced the last man hanged in Ireland (Michael Manning, 1954).
Image
Image
July 4, 2025 at 12:54 PM
From the Irish Independent, 8 November 1930, via British Newspaper Archives. a very nice-looking group of new Irish barristers. George D Murnaghan later became a formidable High Court judge, and is remembered for having sentenced the last man hanged in Ireland (Michael Manning, 1954).
Image
Image
I had the pleasure this week of taking a lovely group of visitors through Ireland's iconic Four Courts. As there were no handouts, I said I would put the content of the tour up online. My bird's eye view of the history of this building is at the link below:
ruthcannon.com/2025/06/28/a...
ruthcannon.com/2025/06/28/a...
June 28, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I had the pleasure this week of taking a lovely group of visitors through Ireland's iconic Four Courts. As there were no handouts, I said I would put the content of the tour up online. My bird's eye view of the history of this building is at the link below:
ruthcannon.com/2025/06/28/a...
ruthcannon.com/2025/06/28/a...
Some real-life compatriots of 'Miss Flite,' Dickens' eccentric lady litigant depicted on far left in image below, included Monaghan's Margaret McManus, a well-known figure around the Four Courts. More on Margaret and her even more eccentric English contemporary here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/06/23/m...
ruthcannon.com/2025/06/23/m...
‘Miss Flite’ in Real Life, 1910-1914
From the Irish Independent, 30 April 1910, this account of the character of ‘Miss Flite,’ from Dickens’ ‘Bleak House,’ as encountered by English and Irish lawyers and judges in re…
ruthcannon.com
June 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Some real-life compatriots of 'Miss Flite,' Dickens' eccentric lady litigant depicted on far left in image below, included Monaghan's Margaret McManus, a well-known figure around the Four Courts. More on Margaret and her even more eccentric English contemporary here:
ruthcannon.com/2025/06/23/m...
ruthcannon.com/2025/06/23/m...
Circuit practice around Ireland has always been a feature of the Irish Bar. This clipping from the 1904 Irish Jurist shows that, long before the idea of photographs of barristers being published on a website, Circuit barristers were preparing composites to ensure they could be identified easily!
June 19, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Circuit practice around Ireland has always been a feature of the Irish Bar. This clipping from the 1904 Irish Jurist shows that, long before the idea of photographs of barristers being published on a website, Circuit barristers were preparing composites to ensure they could be identified easily!
Miler, the one-tune ballad-singer in the long grey coat who counted the railings around the Four Courts every Sabbath without fail, was just one of a number of non-legal eccentrics associated with the pre-1922 Four Courts. Read about him here: ruthcannon.com/2025/06/05/m...
June 5, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Miler, the one-tune ballad-singer in the long grey coat who counted the railings around the Four Courts every Sabbath without fail, was just one of a number of non-legal eccentrics associated with the pre-1922 Four Courts. Read about him here: ruthcannon.com/2025/06/05/m...
Reposted by Ruth Cannon
Here, have a #painting. "Four Courts from the East" came out of going past a scene in my native Dublin a million times, which I'll admit is a suspiciously round number. #SpeirGorm #ArtYear
May 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Here, have a #painting. "Four Courts from the East" came out of going past a scene in my native Dublin a million times, which I'll admit is a suspiciously round number. #SpeirGorm #ArtYear