For more than a century, Ireland's judges shaped the country's politics, business, land ownership and legal system.

But who were they?

On Episode 153 of The Fifth Court, Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL are joined by legal historian Daire Hogan, former McCann FitzGerald partner, former President of the Irish Legal History Society and author of the remarkable new book The Judges of Ireland 1866–1921.

It's a fascinating conversation about Victorian Ireland, judicial power, Westminster politics, the Four Courts, Home Rule, the birth of the modern legal system and some extraordinary judicial personalities whose influence is still felt today.

Along the way they discuss:

• why 1877 completely changed Irish courts

• the astonishing political influence behind judicial appointments

• why some judges nearly sailed on the Titanic

• how Irish judges were viewed in London

• the origins of today's High Court and Court of Appeal

• what legal history tells us about modern Ireland

Before Daire Hogan joins Peter and Mark, Mark reviews three important recent decisions from Decisis, kindly brought to listeners with the support of Charlton Solicitors & Collaborative Practitioners, specialists in family law, civil litigation, property, wills and probate.

The featured cases include:

• Adoption without parental consent
• Security for costs
• Legal professional privilege and shareholder rights

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