Ballyconnell solicitor appointed to District Court bench

Appointments announced earlier this week.

A Ballyconnell-based solicitor has been nominated for appointment to the District Court..

Mary McAveety, who qualified as a solicitor in 1996, has served as principal of McAveety McKenna Solicitors since 2006. A graduate of University College Dublin, she holds a BCL (1993) and recently completed a Diploma in Judicial Skills and Decision-Making from the Law Society of Ireland in 2023.

Her appointment marks a significant milestone in a legal career spanning three decades and form part of a wider round of judicial appointments approved by Government earlier this week, Wednesday, April 1.

The Government has agreed to nominate eight new ordinary judges to the District Court, including Ms McAveety, from Bawnboy. The nominations have been formally communicated to President Catherine Connolly in line with constitutional procedures.

The full list of nominees includes Edward Carroll, Paula Cullinane, Andrew Gubbins BL, Tom MacSharry, Mary McAveety, Darach McCarthy, Catriona Murray and Olivia Traynor.

The group comprises a mix of solicitors and one barrister, drawn from across the country, reflecting a broad range of professional experience within the legal sector.

The vacancies in the District Court arise from a number of recent and upcoming departures, including the resignation of Judge Brian O’Shea in July 2025, several promotions to the Circuit Court in March 2026, and a series of retirements scheduled throughout 2026.

These appointments follow a selection process conducted by the Judicial Appointments Commission, which assesses candidates for judicial office. The District Court plays a central role in Ireland’s justice system, dealing with criminal, civil and family law matters at local level.