Judge Humphrey Kelleher, the longest-serving member of the judiciary in Ireland, is to retire this week after 25 years on the bench.
Judge Kelleher served in District Court 17, an area which stretches from Annascaul, Co Kerry, to Waterville, Tralee, Killarney and a part of west Cork.
Tributes were paid yesterday at Tralee District Court by members of the judiciary in the south-western circuit, barristers, solicitors, the Courts Service, court clerks, gardaí and representatives of the probation service and the county registrar.
Judge Peter Smithwick, president of the District Court, sent a message of congratulation.
Ms Elisha D'Arcy, of the Judicial Studies Institute and the Courts Service, conveyed a message from the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Murray.
Judge Terence Finn represented the District Court, and Judge John O'Hagan was present on behalf of the Circuit Court.
Mr Tom O'Halloran, on behalf of solicitors in the district, told Judge Kelleher that he had always striven to dispense justice with fairness, impartiality and efficiency.
"You are renowned for your sharp and incisive intellect," Mr O'Halloran said. "You had the ability to get to the core of a dispute or prosecution without delay."
He said Judge Kelleher had demonstrated the independence of his office in a number of ways. "No State body could take for granted that your court would accede to its application without first of all establishing that it met all the criteria laid down by statute."
Poverty was never a bar to justice in Judge Kelleher's court, Mr O'Halloran added. "As you approach the end of your career, you are entitled to look back with pride on your years of service to the people of Kerry."
Chief Supt Pat Sullivan, on behalf of the Garda, said he had attended Judge Kelleher's courts over the past 25 years. "You were always fair and perceived to be fair," Supt Sullivan said, adding that the judge had been "kind and understanding to young gardaí".
There was a personal tribute from the most senior practising solicitor in the area, Mr Edward O'Driscoll from west Cork.
Mr Patrick Hickey, of the Probation and Welfare Service, thanked Judge Kelleher for his "support, kindness and understanding" shown to the service.
In a short address, Judge Kelleher returned compliments to all sectors.
"The fact there's no backlog in the hearing of cases [ in the district] is due to the solicitors being ready to go on with their cases. Great credit is due to them, and they made my task easier."
District Court clerks had "an enormous amount" of work to do, Judge Kelleher said.
Gardaí in Kerry had been "forthright and fair" and scrupulous in their presentation of cases, and the probation service in Kerry had always found a place for a young person to be detained when he considered it necessary.