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solicitor may have, two or more heads are better
than one and that the presence of a partner or
partners to discuss a problem has great advantages,
both for the solicitors themselves and for their
clients.
The creation of larger firms will almost
certainly result in a reduction of overhead expenses
by enabling the staff and office equipment to be kept
fully occupied continuously.
It is most encouraging to note that every area in
the country, except one, has now a local bar associa
tion, and I trust that the solicitors practising in
County Longford will soon fall into line with all
the other counties. The County Longford solicitors
must have heard from the solicitors in the adjoining
counties what an enormous improvement has been
effected
in those counties in the legal relations
between the members of these bar associations.
During one half of my legal life there was no local
bar association in my county, and during the sub
sequent half there has been an active local bar
association, and it has completely revolutionised
the relations between the members, where there
used to be hostility and a readiness to take advantage
of a brother solicitor, there is now friendship and a
willingness to help each other. The local bar associa
tions have made the most tremendous difference to
the life of solicitors practising in the country and
have introduced a feeling of security which did not
previously exist.
Finally to end on a personal note I would like to
thank the members of the Council for electing me
President.
It has been a tremendous honour and
privilege to occupy for the past year the chair of my
own profession, and for this I am deeply grateful.
I would like to thank my two most efficient and
charming Vice-Presidents for their ready and con
tinuous assistance to me throughout the year, and
all the members of the Council and of the committees
for their cooperation and their kindness and con
sideration towards me, and above all Eric Plunkett
without whose ever-ready aid and advice I would
have been quite helpless, and all the members of
his courteous and efficient staff who have always
been glad to help and assist me in every way.
The motion for the adoption of the report was
seconded by Mr. James R. Quirke. Messrs. T.
Desmond McLoughlin, Dermot P. Morris and
James B. McGarry commented on various matters
in the report. The President and Mr. Nash, Vice-
President, replied to a number of matters raised.
The motion for the adoption of the report was then
put to the meeting and carried unanimously.
Thursday, Z4th November, 1960 was appointed
as the date of the next Autumn Annual General
Meeting. -
Mr. Charles W. Hyland then requested that the
President should vacate the chair which was taken
by Mr. Nash, Vice-President. Mr. Hyland then
proposed and Mr. Cox seconded a vote of thanks
to the President for his distinguished services to the
Society during his year of office. Mr. Nash associated
himself with the motion which was put to the
meeting and carried with acclamation. The President
replied and the proceedings terminated.
MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL
November z6th :
the President in the Chair. Also
present Messrs. George G. Overend, James R.
Green, Peter E. O'Connell, John Maher, C. J.
Downing, Dinnen B. Gilmore, Ralph J. Walker,
James J. O'Connor, Derrick M. Martin, Thomas
V. O'Connor, Brendan A. McGrath, John Kelly,
T. De Vere White, William J. Comerford, James R.
Quirke, Niall S. Gaffney, Desmond J. Collins, John
Carrigan, Arthur Cox, John J. Nash, James W.
O'Donovan, John B. Jermyn, Augustus Cullen,
Robert McD. Taylor, Eunan McCarron, John J.
Sheil, Dermot P. Shaw, George A. Nolan.
The following was among the business transacted :
Committees of the Council
The Committees
for
the year 1959-60 were
appointed and are printed in this issue at page 57.
Vacancies on the Council
The meeting unanimously passed a vote of appre
ciation and thanks to Messrs. Cornelius J. Daly,
William Dillon-Leetch, Desmond J. Mayne, Joseph
P. Tyrrell and C. E. Callan who did not seek re-
election for the services which they have rendered
to the Council during their period of office. The
President on behalf of the Council welcomed Messrs.
Augustus Cullen, Brendan A. McGrath, Thomas
V. O'Connor and James W. O'Donovan
new
ordinary members who were present.
Examination dates, first, second and third law
examination and book-keeping examina
tions
It was decided that from Autumn 1960 onwards
the dates of the examinations now held in Summer
and Autumn will be changed. In future the examina
tions will be held in the Autumn followed by a
further examination in January or February on
dates to be fixed. There will be no summer examina
tions. Candidates will be expected to attend the
Autumn examinations in the first instance.
Un
successful candidates may attend the examinations
in the following January or February.
55