Mr Justice Matthew Deery, who is due to retire before the end of the year, sat in the Circuit Civil Court in Dublin for the last time yesterday.
Mr Justice Deery has been a judge for just over 26 years and was president of the Circuit Court for seven years, before the appointment of Mr Justice Raymond Groarke.
David Nolan SC, chairman of the Bar Council, told a packed courtroom yesterday that Mr Justice Deery had always shown great respect for every party involved and had administered justice efficiently and considerately.