On The Town:Two new stamps to commemorate the legal work of the King's Inns, which stretches back 400 years, and the Registry of Deeds, which goes back 300 years, were launched in Dublin this week. Judges, barristers and philatelists were among those who came to salute the two organisations.
The Registry of Deeds "is the anchor for virtually every legal practice throughout the land, the solid mooring for so much of our day-to-day work", said Margaret McGinley, chairwoman of An Post.
The Honourable Society of King's Inns, which was set up in 1541 and revived in 1607, "was for many years responsible for the training of both barristers and solicitors", McGinley added.
Today it is the training ground for barristers "who play such a vital role in our courts and legal processes today".
The King's Inns Library is where "practically every important transaction relating to land in Ireland during the 18th and 19th centuries is recorded", said Catherine Treacy, chief executive of the Property Registration Authority.
"This is a time for celebration," said the Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray. "Institutions and individuals are always delighted to be commemorated on a postage stamp. It gives one a feeling of national importance and recognition."
John Mullen, of Stampa, the Irish National Stamp Exhibition, and Roibeárd Ó Sincléir, secretary of the Dublin Stamp Society, were both impressed with the new stamps. Declan O'Kelly, of Cathedral Stamps, and Michael Kelly, secretary of Stampa, were also present. Others at the event included former tánaiste and minister for justice Michael McDowell SC, Paul Callan SC, David Goldberg SC, Judge John Cookeof the European Court, Donal Connell, chief executive of An Post, and Camilla McAleese, Under Treasurer of the King's Inns.
Ger Garland, who designed the stamps, was also at the event, as was Michael Craig, whose pen-and-ink drawing of the famous Gandon facade of the King's Inns building features on one of the stamps.