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has always been maintained at the highest level.
It is a standard of which one can well be proud.
I would urge all newly qualified solicitors to
join the Incorporated Law Society, their local
Bar Association, the Society of Young Solicitors
and last but by no means least the Solicitors Bene
volent Association.
In their Bar Associations they will meet their
colleagues socially and reap the benefits in the
daily run of their practices of the results of the
work done for them by the particular Bar Associa
tion. In the Society of Young Solicitors they will
also meet their colleagues, and will also have the
advantage of keeping abreast of the ever changing
laws of the country through lectures, seminars and
pamphlets. The Incorporated Law Society itself
now enjoys 100 per cent membership and exists for
the general welfare of the profession. Nowadays it
renders more services of a practical nature than
ever before, such as the Company Formation Ser
vice, photocopying service and so forth. The Solici
tors Benevolent Association is over one hundred
years old and although social services
improve
steadily they also move slowly and there are still
a surprising number of most deserving people in
the non-contributory pension bracket, most of whom
have known better days. The total amount given
annually in relief by the Association has been in
creasing each year and it needs all the support it
can get.
In this age of specialisation there is still plenty
of room for the general practitioner and I would
respectfully suggest that for some years to come
you would seek to broaden your general knowledge
by general experience in an established office. In
fact in a time when amalgamations are the best
way in which to provide an expert service I would
suggest commencing specialisation in the subject
of your choice following some years of general
practice and if possible remaining in the same
office with a view to partnership rather than
starting up on your own.
There is a scarcity of solicitors west of the River
Shannon and assistants are urgently required and
with the accent on decentralisation of Government,
the development of the Shannon Industrial Estate
and the encouragement of the Government for the
establishment of industries and tourism in the west,
there is more scope for solicitors in that area than
heretofore. There might also be some opportunity
of maintaining that high degree of fluency in the
Irish language which you must all obviously have
attained in order to be recipients of your parch
ments today.
Finally I would urge you to be ever tactful in
correspondence, courteous in your bearing, honest
and expeditious in your dealings, conscientious and
prompt in honouring your undertakings and above
all charitable and kind to such of the poorer sec
tion of the community as may come to you with
their troubles. In this way you will bring content
ment into your own hearts and shed lustre on an
old and honoured profession.
I wish each of you long life, happiness and
prosperity.
Parchments were presented to the following :
Jonathan P. T. Brooks, 72 Eglinton Road, Donny-
brook, Dublin 4.
Hugh P. J. Byrne, 11 Oranmore Road, Ballyfermot,
Dublin 10.
Denis P. Cahalan, B.C.L. (N.U.I.), 75 Pearse St.,
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
Colm A. Cavanagh, B.C.L., LL.B., 51 Troy Park,
Culmore Road, Derry.
Clare T. Cusack, B.C.L., LL.B., "St. Clare's", Bally-
jamesduff, Co. Cavan.
Joan Daly, Main Street, Carrickmacross, Co.
Monaghan.
Michael J. Delaney, 115 Stiles Road, Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Patrick C. Donaghy, B.C.L., LL.B., 36 Fortfield
Park, Terenure, Dublin 6.
Patrick G. Fleming, 21 Farranlea Grove, Model
Farm Road, Cork.
Daniel M. Gahan, Paulville House, Tullow, Co.
Carolw.
Cormac P. Glynn, B.C.L., LL.B., 51 Wellington
Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Blayney C. Hamilton, 16 Oaklands Drive, Balls-
bridge, Dublin 4.
Andrew Healy, 37 Castlewood Avenue, Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Matthew Hickey, B.A., 25 Dominick Street, Mullin-
gar, Co. Westmeath (Special Certificate).
Desmond P. Hogan, 17 Church Street, Athlone,
Co. Westmeath.
Deborah Kelliher, Castleisland, Co. Kerry.
Mary Carmel Kelly, 35 Parliament St., Kilkenny.
Michelle M. Linnane, B.A. (Mod.), LL.B. (TCD),
Priorsland, Carrickmines, Co. Dublin.
Stephen J. MacKenzie, "Galleen', Killiney, Co.
Dublin.
John P. Mathews, B.C.L., LL.B., 69 Ailesbury Rd.,
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Oliver G. Matthews, 20 Park Street, Dundalk, Co.
Louth.
Orla Muldoon, B.C.L. (N.U.I.), 2 St. Kevin's Park,
Dartry, Dublin 6.
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