131 / 424
GAZETTE
A PR
11 loos
N E W S
The Burren Law School
by Brian Sheridan
On a visit to the magical landscape of
the Burren in 1993,1 came across what
was described to me as "a monument to
lawyers". It was the O'Dhalaigh
Monument near Ballyvaughan. The
discovery was music to the ears of a
then member of the Public Relations
Committee of the Law Society. On
further investigation, I discovered that
the Burren was, in fact,.the site of three
law schools in Medieval Ireland.
Further enquiries led me to the site of
the O'Davoren Law School, the remains
of which can be seen and are a public
monument near Corkscrew Hill outside
Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare. It was here
that between the years of 1563 and 1569
Domnall O'Davoren and his pupils
compiled a manuscript now known as
"Egerton 88" which contains an
invaluable glossary of Brehon Law and
a variety of law texts, one dating back to
the 8th Century. It is one of the primary
sources of our knowledge of the Brehon
Laws. It is presently in the British
Library and large sections of it are yet
to be translated.
In discovering the Brehon Laws, one is
discovering a rich legal tradition. While
many of me manuscripts date from the
12th to the 14th Century, linguistic
analysis indicates that these refer to
texts which were in existence as far
back as 700 A.D.
It may surprise the reader, as it did me,
that in 16th Century Ireland there were
an established number of legal
practices. Noted families such as the
O'Breslins, the McEgans and the
McClanceys were the most noted of
these. They were lawyers to the
Chieftains of their local "Tuaithe".
The O'Daverns were lawyers to the
O'Loughlins, Princes of the Burren who
had their seat at Newtown Castle,
Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare which has
recently been restored and its
surrounding buildings converted into an
International Art College. It was here in
THE BREHON LAWYERS
At the Inaugural Burren Law School 1995 are from left to right: Eamonn Barnes. DPP; Brian
Sheridan, Convenor of Burren Law School and Paddy Glynn, President of the Law Society
February 1994, over a most enjoyable
lunch, and assisted by liquid
refreshment, I proposed the idea of
reviving the concept of the O'Davern
Law School. The idea met with swift
approval by Michael and Mary Green,
restorers of the Castle and hence the
Burren Law School was born.
With the support of the Clare Bar
Association and the voluntary assistance
of many, the inauguration took place in
April of 1994 when the first law school
was opened by his Honour, Judge
Anthony Harte (Northern Ireland)
President of the legal History Society.
The keynote address at the Seminar
which was devoted to the theme of
"Women in Irish Law" was delivered
by Mr.
Mervyn Taylor
who addressed
the broad issue of the introduction
of divorce.
The second Burren Law School was
devoted to the theme of "Crime and
Punishment in Irish Law" and took
place in April. It was opened by Mr.
Donal Carey
T.D., Minister for Western
Development and the keynote addresses
were given by Mr
Eamon Barnes,
Director of Public Prosecutions and by
His Honour Judge
Michael Moriarty.
Dr. Muirin Ni Bhrolchain, lecturer in
Celtic Studies at Maynooth University,
gave the Brehon Law Perspective.
There were contributions from
Paddx
Glynn,
President of the Law Society,
Prof.
William Duncan,
Dr
Art O'Connor
and
Kieran McGrath,
Social Worker
which added to the lively debate.
The aims of The Burren Law School are
fourfold.
• to provide a forum for legal discussion
on topics of social interest.
• to develop an appreciation by lawyers
and others alike of our rich legal
tradition.
• to provide a forum for inter-disciplinary
discussion in which lawyers speak to
members of other professions on topics
of mutual interest.
• to encourage knowledge of the Burren
itself and the afternoons of the
seminars are devoted to guided field
trips to interesting sites.
A longer term objective is the creation
of a trust to promote greater awareness
of our legal heritage and to provide
resources for its dissemination and in
practical terms the translation of texts.
The Burren Law School has met with an
extraordinarily enthusiastic response. I
am particularly pleased that the Burren
107