The letter from King’s Inns, dated January 24, 2007, provides details on Michael Comyn KC’s legal education and early career milestones:

• Admission as a Student: Comyn was admitted to King’s Inns as a student in Hilary Term 1896 (January–April).
• Call to the Bar: He was admitted to membership of the Society of King’s Inns and awarded the degree of Barrister-at-Law in Michaelmas Term 1898 (October–December). He was the fifth person called to the bar that term.
• Victoria Prize: Established by the Education Committee in 1888, the Victoria Prize was awarded to Comyn in 1898. He received the third prize of £10, as decided at the Council of Benchers meeting on Wednesday, June 1, 1898, during Trinity Term. This preceded his call to the bar later that year in Michaelmas Term.

These records highlight Comyn’s early academic success and rapid progression to becoming a barrister, aligning with his later prominence as a legal and political figure. For further verification, contact King’s Inns archives or consult their historical records.

The letter also states that he was mentioned in Maurice Healy The Old Munster Circuit

The letter from King’s Inns, dated January 24, 2007, also notes that Michael Comyn KC is mentioned in The Old Munster Circuit by Maurice Healy. This memoir, published in 1939, details Healy’s experiences as a barrister on the Munster Circuit in Ireland, offering insights into the legal profession and notable figures of the time. Comyn’s inclusion likely reflects his prominence as a barrister, particularly given his high-profile cases and reputation in Irish legal circles during the early 20th century. For specifics on the context or nature of the mention, you may need to consult The Old Munster Circuit directly, available in libraries or through reprint editions.

Explore Maurice Healy’s memoir

Other Irish legal memoirs

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Michael Comyn KC in The Old Munster Circuit by Maurice Healy

The letter from King’s Inns, dated January 24, 2007, confirms that Michael Comyn KC is mentioned in Maurice Healy’s The Old Munster Circuit (1939), a celebrated memoir detailing Healy’s experiences as a barrister on the Munster Circuit in Ireland from 1910 to 1914. This memoir provides a vivid, often humorous portrayal of the Irish legal profession, its characters, and courtroom anecdotes, primarily aimed at an English audience to explain Irish legal culture. Comyn’s inclusion in the text underscores his prominence as a barrister during this period, particularly given his involvement in high-profile cases and his reputation as a skilled advocate.

While the letter does not specify the context of Comyn’s mention, it likely relates to his active participation on the Munster Circuit, where he joined in 1900 and built a successful practice, becoming a King’s Counsel in 1914. Healy’s memoir frequently highlights notable legal figures, and Comyn’s significant cases—such as his defense of republican prisoners during the Irish War of Independence or his role in the Clifford and O’Sullivan case (1921)—may be referenced. To confirm the exact nature of the mention, you would need to consult The Old Munster Circuit directly. The book is available in libraries, through reprint editions (e.g., Wildy Classics, 2001, or Mercier Press), or online retailers like AbeBooks or Blackwell’s.

Exploring The Old Munster Circuit

The Old Munster Circuit is a nostalgic and affectionate account of the Irish Bar, particularly the Munster Circuit (covering Cork and the South Western Circuit). Maurice Healy, an Irish barrister educated at University College Dublin and called to the Irish Bar in 1910, practiced on the Munster Circuit before moving to England after the Irish Free State was established. The memoir is structured as a series of anecdotes, offering insights into courtroom dynamics, judicial personalities, and the quirks of Irish litigants and barristers. It was praised as one of the “Ten Literary Classics” by Gary Slapper in The Times Student Law Supplement (October 2005) for its treasury of Irish legal anecdotes.

Key themes in the memoir include:

• Cultural Explanations: Healy often explains Irish legal practices and the temperament of Irish litigants to an English audience, highlighting differences in courtroom atmosphere. For example, he recounts a case where Irish witnesses’ colorful testimony baffled an English judge.
• Judicial and Legal Anecdotes: The book includes stories of judicial severity, such as Lord Justice Holmes sentencing an elderly man to 15 years, quipping, “Try to do as much of it as you can!”
• Notable Figures: Healy references prominent barristers, judges, and cases, likely including Comyn, given his stature and shared circuit experience.

To explore Comyn’s specific mention, check editions of The Old Munster Circuit (e.g., the 1939 Michael Joseph original, 1948 reprint, or 2001 Wildy edition with a biographical introduction by Charles Lysaght). Libraries with legal or Irish history collections, such as the King’s Inns Library or the National Library of Ireland, may hold copies. Online, AbeBooks or Amazon may offer used or reprint editions.

Other Irish Legal Memoirs

For a broader perspective on the Irish legal profession during Comyn’s era, several other memoirs and legal histories provide valuable context. These works, like Healy’s, often blend personal anecdotes with insights into the legal, political, and cultural landscape of Ireland, particularly during the turbulent early 20th century. Below are notable examples:

1. The Last Serjeant by A.M. Sullivan (1952)*
   • Overview: Written by Alexander Martin Sullivan, the last barrister to hold the title of Serjeant-at-Law in Ireland, this memoir recounts his legal career, including his defense of Roger Casement in 1916. Sullivan was a maternal uncle of Maurice Healy, connecting their legal worlds.
   • Relevance: Sullivan’s memoir offers a contemporary perspective on the Irish Bar during Comyn’s time, including nationalist politics and high-profile trials. Comyn, active in nationalist circles and defense cases, may share similar legal contexts.
   • Availability: Available in secondhand bookstores, libraries, or through reprint editions (e.g., Four Courts Press).
2. Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan (1958)*
   • Overview: While not strictly a legal memoir, Behan’s autobiographical account of his arrest and imprisonment as a young IRA member in the 1940s includes interactions with the Irish legal system. It provides a defendant’s perspective on the courts during a later period than Comyn’s peak activity.
   • Relevance: Offers insight into the legal treatment of republican prisoners, a group Comyn frequently defended.
   • Availability: Widely available in bookstores, libraries, or online (e.g., Penguin Classics).
3. My Life in the Law by James Comyn (1989)*
   • Overview: Written by Sir James Comyn, Michael Comyn’s nephew, this memoir reflects on his legal career in Ireland and England. It includes references to his uncle Michael’s cases, such as the Clifford and O’Sullivan case, and the Irish Bar’s culture.
   • Relevance: Directly relevant due to the familial connection and mentions of Michael Comyn’s legal work, offering a personal perspective on his legacy.
   • Availability: Scarce but available through secondhand booksellers or legal libraries.
4. The Courts of Ireland by V.T.H. Delany (1971)*
   • Overview: A historical account of the Irish legal system, including the operation of circuits like Munster. While not a memoir, it contextualizes the legal environment Comyn and Healy navigated.
   • Relevance: Provides a scholarly backdrop to the anecdotal style of Healy’s memoir, detailing court structures and notable cases.
   • Availability: Found in academic libraries or through legal history publishers.
5. King’s Inns and the Kingdom of Ireland by Colum Kenny (1992)*
   • Overview: A history of King’s Inns, the institution where Comyn studied and was called to the Bar. It includes details on barristers’ training and notable alumni like Comyn.
   • Relevance: Complements the King’s Inns letter by elaborating on Comyn’s legal education and the institution’s role in shaping Ireland’s legal elite.
   • Availability: Available in libraries or through Irish academic publishers (e.g., Four Courts Press).

Accessing These Works

• Libraries: The King’s Inns Library, National Library of Ireland, or university libraries (e.g., University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin) hold these texts or can provide interlibrary loans.
• Online Retailers: Check AbeBooks, Amazon, or Blackwell’s for reprints or used copies of The Old Munster Circuit and other memoirs.
• Archives: For primary sources on Comyn, contact the King’s Inns archives (as suggested in the letter) or the National Archives of Ireland for court records or correspondence.
• Secondhand Bookstores: Irish bookstores like Charlie Byrne’s or Ulysses Rare Books may stock these titles.

Additional Notes

• Comyn’s Legal Context: Comyn’s career, as detailed in the King’s Inns letter, reflects his rapid rise from student (1896) to barrister (1898) and King’s Counsel (1914). His Victoria Prize win in 1898 highlights early academic excellence, likely aiding his entry into the competitive Munster Circuit.
• Healy’s Perspective: Healy’s memoir, written after he moved to England, reflects a nostalgic view of the Irish Bar, possibly tempered by his discomfort with the Irish Free State’s revolutionary politics. This contrasts with Comyn’s staunch nationalism and Fianna Fáil ties.
• Further Research: To explore Comyn’s specific contributions, cross-reference Healy’s memoir with contemporary sources like The Irish Times archives, court reports, or Comyn’s Senate speeches (available through Oireachtas records).

If you need assistance locating a specific edition of The Old Munster Circuit or want excerpts from these memoirs analyzed, let me know!