James Geoghegan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Geoghegan
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| Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland | |
| In office 22 December 1936 – 23 April 1950 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Douglas Hyde |
| 5th Attorney General of Ireland | |
| In office 2 November 1936 – 22 December 1936 |
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| President | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | Conor Maguire |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Lynch |
| Minister for Justice | |
| In office 9 March 1932 – 8 February 1933 |
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| President | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | James FitzGerald-Kenney |
| Succeeded by | P. J. Ruttledge |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1930 – 23 December 1936 |
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| Constituency | Longford–Westmeath |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 December 1886 Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland |
| Died | 27 March 1951 (aged 64) Portobello, Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouses | Eileen Murphy (m. 1928; d. 1951) |
| Relations | Mary Finlay Geoghegan (daughter-in-law) |
| Children | 2, including Hugh |
| Alma mater |
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James Geoghegan (born December 8, 1886 – died March 27, 1951) was an important Irish politician, lawyer, and judge. He was a member of the Fianna Fáil political party.
He served as a judge on the highest court in Ireland, the Supreme Court of Ireland, from 1936 to 1950. Before that, he was the Attorney General of Ireland for a short time in 1936. He also served as the Minister for Justice from 1932 to 1933. From 1930 to 1936, he was a Teachta Dála (TD), which is a member of the Irish Parliament, representing the Longford–Westmeath area.
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Early Life and Education
James Geoghegan was born in a place called Walshestown in County Westmeath, Ireland. His father, Thomas Geoghegan, was a farmer.
He went to school at CBS Mullingar. This education helped him prepare for his future career in law.
His Career in Law and Politics
James Geoghegan chose to work in law. He became a solicitor when he was 21 years old. He worked in the towns of Cavan and Monaghan.
Later, he decided to become a barrister, which is a lawyer who argues cases in court. He was called to the Bar of Ireland in 1915. He also joined the Bar of England in 1923. He was a very successful lawyer before becoming a senior barrister in 1925.
Joining Politics
In 1930, James Geoghegan joined the Fianna Fáil political party. He was elected as a TD for the Longford–Westmeath area in a special election in June 1930.
When Fianna Fáil formed the government in 1932, he was chosen to be the Minister for Justice. This was a very important job, especially since it was the first time the government had changed since the Irish Civil War. His legal skills and his background helped reassure people about the new government's plans. He held this role for almost a year before going back to his law career.
Becoming a Judge
In 1936, James Geoghegan became the Attorney General of Ireland. This role means he was the chief legal advisor to the government. He served in this position for less than two months. During this time, he helped the government with important new laws.
On December 22, 1936, he was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland. He then resigned from his position as a TD. He continued to serve on the Supreme Court until he retired in April 1950 because of health reasons.
Interestingly, his son, Hugh Geoghegan, also became a judge on the Supreme Court in 2000. This was the first time a father and son had both served on Ireland's highest court.
Later Life and Passing
James Geoghegan had been unwell for several years before he retired from the Supreme Court. He passed away in Dublin on March 27, 1951.
