John O'Byrne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John O'Byrne
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| Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland | |
| In office 17 May 1940 – 2 July 1954 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Douglas Hyde |
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 10 January 1926 – 16 May 1940 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Tim Healy |
| 2nd Attorney-General of Ireland | |
| In office 7 June 1924 – 9 January 1926 |
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| Taoiseach | W. T. Cosgrave |
| Preceded by | Hugh Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | John A. Costello |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 May 1884 Carlow, Ireland |
| Died | 14 January 1954 (aged 69) Killiney, Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouses | Marjorie McGuire (m. 1924; d. 1954) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Royal University of Ireland |
John O'Byrne (born April 24, 1884 – died January 14, 1954) was an important Irish judge and lawyer. He served as a top judge in both the Supreme Court and the High Court. Before that, he was the Attorney General of Ireland, which is the chief legal advisor to the government.
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Early Life and Education
John O'Byrne was born on April 24, 1884, in County Wicklow, Ireland. He was the fourth son of Patrick and Mary O'Byrne.
He went to school at the Patrician Monastery in Tullow, County Carlow. He later studied at the Royal University of Ireland. He was a very bright student and graduated with top honors in 1907. He earned a Master of Arts degree in 1908.
Becoming a Lawyer
After university, John O'Byrne worked for the Irish Land Commission. This job helped him learn a lot about land laws in Ireland. He then studied law at King's Inns in Dublin. In 1911, he became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He mostly worked on cases about property.
In 1922, he was chosen to help create the new Irish Free State Constitution. This was a very important job, as he helped write the rules for the new Irish state. He also helped set up a new court system for Ireland in 1923. This included creating the High Court and the Supreme Court.
In 1924, he became a King's Counsel, a special title for experienced lawyers. That same year, he also represented the Irish Free State at the League of Nations.
Attorney-General of Ireland
On June 7, 1924, John O'Byrne was appointed the second Attorney-General of Ireland. This meant he was the main legal advisor to the Irish government. He held this important position until January 1926.
Judge of the High Court and Supreme Court
On January 9, 1926, John O'Byrne became a Judge of the High Court. He served in this role for many years. In 1940, he was appointed to the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in Ireland. He continued to serve as a Supreme Court judge until his death.
Personal Life
John O'Byrne married Marjorie McGuire in 1924. They had four children together. He lived in Killiney, County Dublin.
He passed away on January 14, 1954, while still serving as a judge. One of his sons, Paddy O'Byrne, became a famous radio presenter in South Africa.
