Notable Participants
Many winners have had successful careers in law. Former winners in the legal field include Supreme Court judges Adrian Hardiman and Donal O'Donnell; Circuit Court judges Esmond Smyth, Kevin O'Higgins, and Brian Curtin; Senior Counsels Dermot Gleeson, Aidan Browne, and Gregory Murphy; and professor Conor Gearty. James Connolly, winner in 1974, was Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland and recently chair of public inquiries in Dublin.
David O'Sullivan, winner in 1974, became secretary general to the President of the European Commission. Maeve Collins, winner in 1989, is the Irish Ambassador to Vietnam. Neville Keery, 1960 winner, was a member of the 12th Seanad, and later Head of Libraries of the European Commission.
Other well-known former winners include broadcasters Anthony Clare, Henry Kelly, Derek Davis, Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh, and Marian Finucane; comedian Dara Ó Briain; and writers Eamonn McCann, Gerry Stembridge, Kevin Cahill. The losing finalists in 1966 included future Presidents Mary Robinson and Michael D. Higgins. Future Tánaiste Mary Harney and Minister Mary Hanafin also appeared as finalists.
Read more about this topic: Irish Times Debate
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