Mr Justice Hogan delivers John M Kelly Lecture 2026

On 3 March 2026, Mr Justice Hogan delivered the John M Kelly Memorial Lecture in UCD Sutherland School of Law titled “John Kelly and the Development of Constitutional Law: The Past, Present and the Future”.  The lecture was preceded by opening remarks delivered by Mr Nick Kelly, John M Kelly’s son, and the Chief Justice, Mr Justice O’Donnell.

Mr Justice O'Donnell, Chief Justice, speaking before the JM Kelly Lecture 2026

The John M Kelly Memorial Lecture is an annual lecture which has been held for over 30 years in memory of John M Kelly, the former Senator, Teachta Dála, Government Minister, and Attorney General, as well as Professor of Law in UCD. Mr Justice Hogan, a previous student of Kelly and co-author of the leading work on the Constitution Kelly: The Irish Constitution, traced John M Kelly’s influence on Irish constitutional law through caselaw and by reference to themes such as constitutional identity and the Fundamental Rights Articles of the Constitution.

The lecture delivered by Mr Justice Hogan is available to read in our speech archive here.