The Gazette 1958-61

beyond all recognition the tone of the profession. Incidentally, the Rules of the Kerry Law Society provide that every member thereof shall be a member of the Incorporated Law Society. In conclusion, I hope that when you leave Kerry each and every one of you will leave it with the most pleasant memories of our County. The President, addressing the meeting, said: Ladies and Gentlemen, since our last General Meeting in November, 1958, I have to record, with much regret, the deaths of the following members : Sean O'hUadhaigh, a member of the Council from I 933> a Vice-President in 1936/37 and President of the Society in 1947/48. John K. Cooper, Kenneth P. Kilbride, Septimus D. Lambert and District Justice Fintan Fitzpatrick, who was a member of the solicitors' profession before being called to the Bar, and Land Commissioner Daniel J. Browne, who was formerly a solicitor practising in this County. To all their relatives and friends I tender the sympathy of myself and the members of the Council in their loss. I must particularly refer to the great loss which the whole profession has suffered by the death of Sean O'hUadhaigh. He was an outstanding President and served on every Committee of the Council. He never spared himself in the work of the Council over a period of 25 years. His first thought was always to promote the welfare and good name of our profession which he loved. He gave to every problem the utmost care and consideration. He was a man of the very highest integrity, and in his own life and practice set us all an example which it would indeed be difficult to emulate. While he was a man of many interests and enthusiasms he was always scrupulously fair and was a most generous and courteous opponent, and to every one of us on the Council he was a personal friend whose memory will not soon be forgotten. A great man has passed from our midst to his reward in the Great Beyond. I think it is only right that I should mention that Mr. Patrick R. Boyd has retired from the Council owing to ill health, after many years of loyal and most valuable service, during which he served as Vice-President in 1938-39 and as President in 1948-49. We all of us miss his help and advice, but we rejoice to know that his health has greatly improved since he retired from active work, and on your behalf I would like to express to him our thanks for all his work on behalf of the profession. It is my privilege to give you a Report on the work of the Council and on the well being of the Profession during the past six months. The first innovation and one which I hope may have a profound and beneficial affect on the future develop ment of the profession was the institution of a

Professional Policy Committee composed of the President and all ex-Presidents who are still members of the Council. As its name indicates it is the business of this Committee to consider and to make suggestions to the Council on future policy, public relations, the regulation of the profession and everything pertaining to the well being of the Society and its members. The first suggestion which emanated from this new Committee was that this half yearly General Meeting should be held in Killarney instead of in Dublin. If this change proves to be a success it is intended to go to different parts of the Country each year for the Summer half-yearly meeting. The intention is to give to our members practising in that part of the country a better chance of attending the meeting and expressing their views on current matters of interest instead of having to travel to Dublin. It will provide the opportunity for members and their wives to meet each other socially. I am certain that the more we can arrange to meet our legal brethren on a social plane, the more good fellowship there will be amongst our members, and also it gives us the welcome chance of endeavouring to repay, in some measure the lavish hospitality which has been offered to our Presidents by the Law Societies of Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. We are delighted to welcome as our guests the President of the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland and Mrs. Napier, the President of the Law Society of Scotland and Mrs. Dandie, Mr. Norman Murray, the Northern Ireland Sec retary and Mr. Laurie, the Scottish Secretary and Mrs. Laurie, and we regret that on this occasion, the President and Secretary of the Law Society of England were unable to accept our invitation. I would like to tender our thanks to the President, Chairman and Council of the Kerry Solicitors' Association for all their help in arranging this week-end in Killarney, and I must mention the additional work which it has entailed for our ever willing and most competent and tactful Secretary, Eric Plunkett. If any of our members have any ideas as to how we could improve the programme and other arragements for these Summer half-yearly Meetings I hope they will express them and I can promise them that they will be fully considered by the Council even if I cannot promise that they will necessarily be adopted. The Policy Committee have been very much con cerned regarding the public relations of the profess ion. If we Solicitors are to retain the good-will of the public and are to avoid the transfer to other bodies and professions of work which has always been regarded as solicitors' work, we must take steps to see that the profession is properly regulated, that