In a historic first, the Supreme Court of Ireland convened on the Letterkenny campus of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) yesterday, marking a significant milestone for both the university and the Irish judicial system.
This is the first time the Supreme Court has visited a Technological University.
The momentous event included a series of legal seminars, panel discussions and student engagement events, all aimed at demystifying the workings of the highest court in the land and highlighting the importance of access to justice.
Dr Flynn paid tribute to the Chief Justice and his colleagues for their “generosity and commitment,” and also acknowledged Dr Brónagh Heverin of the Department of Law, Public Service and Education for her role in coordinating the visit who extended her thanks to the Faculty of Business for their support in making the event possible.
The judges were welcomed to the campus by the President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn, who said the visit would have a lasting impact on ATU’s law students.
Students of Letterkenny ATU listen as members of the Supreme Court visit the campus.
She said “In ATU, we have a proud tradition of legal education stretching back to the 1970s, when Legal Studies was first taught in what was then a Regional Technical College. The opportunity for our students to engage directly with the Supreme Court is a rare and powerful moment — bringing the law to life in a way that is real, relevant, and profoundly inspiring.”
Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell, accompanied by fellow Supreme Court judges, participated in seminars on juvenile justice, business and employment law, and the evolving role of the judiciary in a modern democratic society. The Chief Justice also presented on the history and role of the Supreme Court in Ireland.
The initiative continues a practice first introduced by then Chief Justice Susan Denham in 2015 to bring the Court beyond Dublin and closer to communities around the country.
Speaking on the significance of the court’s visit, Dr Heverin of the Department of Law, Public Service and Education added “Today’s opportunity to meet the members of our highest court is a unique experience for our students — the lawyers of the future — and a culmination of decades of focus in our ATU Donegal law degrees on making a direct link between textbooks and legal theory and real-world application and practice.”
The event also highlighted the importance of legal education in regional areas and the role of institutions like ATU in shaping a more accessible justice system.
From mock trials held in local courtrooms to the development of a virtual court for experiential learning, ATU’s law programmes have long prioritised practice-based learning.
Tags: