The Fifth Court Podcast

Many people were disappointed when we announced that the live recording of the Fifth Court podcast would not be going ahead this year. Following determined efforts by Peter Leonard of the Fifth Court and Allingham festival sponsor, Brian J McMullin, we are delighted to confirm that it will happen after all. The subject is one of the most eminent legal figures ever produced by Donegal, former High Court judge Michael White. When appointed to the Circuit Court in 1996, he was one of the first three solicitors to be appointed to judicial office. He went on to serve on the High Court from 2011 until his retirement in 2021. In 2024 he received a lifetime achievement award at the Irish Law Awards. The significance of this honour may be gauged by the fact that the following year the same award was presented to Mary Robinson, who had appointed him to the High Court during her tenure as Uachtarán na hÉireann. The conversation between Peter Leonard and this eminent figure on challenges to the rule of law in Ireland and internationally may prove to be an unexpected highlight of this year’s festival.