2023 Call to the Inner Bar: continuing to uphold excellence & integrity

Today, eighteen members of The Bar of Ireland are being called to the Inner Bar at the Supreme Court.

Today’s call to the Inner Bar, commonly known as ‘Taking Silk’, represents the shift from Junior Counsel to Senior Counsel status for barristers who have been recognised for their exceptional skills in various legal domains, with their wide range of expertise from within the criminal and civil law disciplines.

Patents of Precedence were granted today by the Chief Justice, Hon Mr. Justice Donal O’Donnell, conferring on those eighteen barristers the status of Senior Counsel.

Marking the occassion, Sara Phelan SC, Chair of the Bar of Ireland said:

Today’s Call have truly excelled in their respective fields and within the legal profession. They deserve heartfelt congratulations on reaching this significant milestone in both their professional and personal journeys. The Bar is privileged to benefit from a wealth of diverse expertise among its senior members.

Their experience in advocacy work coupled with a deep understanding of specialised areas of the law are valuable qualities for clients and the justice system as a whole. Their accomplishment Taking Silk today reaffirms the vital role and significant contributions of Barristers to the social and economic framework of the State.

Following today, there will be now 381 Senior Counsel at The Bar of Ireland, of which 20% are female. The Bar continues to support and promote the Inner Bar as a viable career route and progression for female colleagues as well as support the continuing development of our all our members through extensive work on our professional and training programmes.

Those Called to the Inner Bar, from the membership of The Bar of Ireland, are: