January 20 1925
IN the Supreme Court, Dublin Castle, yesterday, the following gentlemen were called to the Bar by the Chief Justice: -
Colonel Andrew Torton Kirkwood, second son of the late Mr Samuel Kirkwood, deceased, of Cloongoonah, Co Roscommon; Mr James Crosbie, only son of Mr James G Crosbie, of Ballybrack, Douglas, Co Cork (proprietor of the “Cork Examiner”); and Mr Kevin Christopher O’Higgins, BA, LLB, National University of Ireland (Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister of Justice), fourth son of the late Dr Thomas Francis Higgins, of Woodlands, Stradbally, in the County of Queen’s [Laois]. The function was witness by a large number of visitors.
It is stated that the action of the Benchers of King’s Inns in admitting Mr O’Higgins to the degree of Bachelor of Law has no precedent in the history of the Irish Bar.
The Northern Committee of the Irish Bar condemned the calling to the Bar of people like Kevin O’Higgins who it felt did not meet recognised qualifications. Additionally, the proposal of King’s Inns to make Irish a compulsory language for the call to the Irish bar saw the Northern Committee sever links with Dublin and establish an Inn of Court of Northern Ireland in January 1926.
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Stay at Home
WE have received from its distinguished author the following Memorandum issued from his Office – that of the National President of the AOH – in Philadelphia, under the heading:
“Warning to Intending Emigrants to the United States”.
The serious warning is addressed to our readers and the Irish people generally by Mr Michael Donoghue, formerly member of the Congress of the USA and now National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America. Mr Donoghue writes:
“Several touching incidents might have been reported to me, and in which unfortunate emigrants from Ireland were the victims, impel me to offer a few facts for the consideration of those who contemplate coming to this country.
The present Immigration Laws of the United States admit an annual quota of 28,567 from the Irish Free State. The emigrants in this quota are landed at ports of the United States and are subject to no inconvenience of an illegal nature. Aliens attempting to enter the United States in excess of this quota are treated as criminals, to be imprisoned and deported to the country whence they came”.
Despite the warning, thousands of Irish people continued to take the risk throughout the twentieth century and emigrated to America.
