Hugh Edward Kennedy was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician, barrister and judge who served as Chief Justice of Ireland from 1924 to 1936, a judge of the Supreme Court from 1924 to 1936 and Attorney General of Ireland from 1922 to 1924.
19 Facts About Hugh Kennedy
2.
Hugh Kennedy served as a Teachta Dala for the Dublin South constituency from 1923 to 1924.
3.
Hugh Kennedy was the son of the surgeon Hugh Boyle Kennedy and Mary Kate Kennedy, from County Tipperary.
4.
Hugh Kennedy studied for the examinations of the Royal University while a student at University College Dublin and King's Inns, Dublin, and was called to the Bar in 1902.
5.
Hugh Kennedy was appointed King's Counsel in 1920 and became a Bencher of King's Inn in 1922.
6.
Hugh Kennedy married Clare Murphy in Dublin in 1911.
7.
Hugh Kennedy was the daughter of a successful Liverpool Irish timber merchant, John Murphy.
8.
Hugh Kennedy was highly regarded as a lawyer by Michael Collins, who later regretted that Kennedy had not been part of the delegation sent to London in 1921, to negotiate the terms of the treaty.
9.
On 31 January 1922, Hugh Kennedy became the first Attorney General in the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State.
10.
Hugh Kennedy was appointed Attorney General of the Irish Free State on 7 December 1922.
11.
Hugh Kennedy personally oversaw the selection of the new judges, and made impressive efforts to select them on merit alone.
12.
Hugh Kennedy was a delegate of the Irish Free State to the Fourth Assembly of the League of Nations, between 3 and 29 September 1923.
13.
Hugh Kennedy was elected to Dail Eireann on 27 October 1923, as a Cumann na nGaedheal TD at a by-election in the Dublin South constituency.
14.
Hugh Kennedy was the first person to be elected in a by-election to Dail Eireann.
15.
Hugh Kennedy resigned his seat in June 1924 when he was appointed Chief Justice of Ireland.
16.
Hugh Kennedy is the youngest person appointed Chief Justice of Ireland.
17.
Hugh Kennedy campaigned for the replacement of the wigs and gowns traditionally worn by judges and barristers, which he regarded as the trappings of an alien regime.
18.
Hugh Kennedy received little support from the judges or the government and the traditional dress was retained.
19.
Hugh Kennedy held the position of Chief Justice, until his death on 1 December 1936.