Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

TriCON @tricondublin.bsky.social · 5d

TODAY! All welcome

Ahmed Ellaboudy @aellaboudy.bsky.social · 15d

The programme is here! TriCON New Voices in Constitutional Law Workshop features 6 brilliant ECRs tackling diverse research inquiries, with expert feedback from leading constitutional law academics - plus a keynote session by Prof. Leah Trueblood. @tricondublin.bsky.social

1 1

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · 8d

Join us for an ICON meets TriCON webinar on October 17th on the rationale and risks of referendums!

Brilliant speakers, important topic.
ICON GBIE
@tricondublin.bsky.social

Aoife O'Donoghue @aoifemod.bsky.social · 8d

This is going to be an excellent event with speakers including @maireadenright.bsky.social @conorkelly.bsky.social
@dkennytcd.bsky.social @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social @aileenmcharg.bsky.social @danielwincott.bsky.social @profnicolamcewen.bsky.social 📢

@ICONSGBIE @iconsgbie.bsky.social · 8d

📢ICON GBIE, TRICON, QUB Webinar:

Familiarity, Culture & Expertise: The Future of Referendums in Ireland & the UK

Oct 17th 10:00-13:00 Online

To register follow the link below:
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/0d55a0...

1/3 👇

2 5

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · 11d

Interesting thread by @drdeanknight.bsky.social reflecting on how parliamentarians should respond to a declaration of incompatibility/inconsistency in UK or NZ law - a question which @robertcraig3.bsky.social tackles in this review of The Collaborative Constitution in @nilegalq.bsky.social

Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 12d

Robert’s article and Aileen’s book address a dimension that this week I invited the Justice committee to reflect on re the Electoral Amendment Bill and the reinstatement of the blanket ban on prisoner voting.

nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/ni...

Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly

This book review article considers some of the core themes discussed in Aileen Kavanagh’s The Collaborative Constitution, in particular its exploration of the concept of the separation of powers as it...

nilq.qub.ac.uk

1 3

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · 11d

Really interesting, @drdeanknight.bsky.social! Thanks for the engagement. Do you have a link to your presentation to the Justice Committee? REALLY interested in the fascinating NZ developments in this field!

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · 12d

Thanks to @robertcraig3.bsky.social for this in-depth review of The Collaborative Constitution @cambup-law.cambridge.org in the @nilegalq.bsky.social.

Great discussion about inter-institutional interaction and constitutional conventions.

robertcraig3.bsky.social @robertcraig3.bsky.social · 12d

Delighted that my full length Book Review Article of
@AileenFKavanagh
"The Collaborative Constitution" is now available Open Access on NILQ: nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/ni... - no need to have read the book to follow the core argument. Dedicated to the memory of Professor Conor Gearty.

Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly

The Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly is a legal research journal published quarterly by the School of Law at Queen's University Belfast.

nilq.qub.ac.uk

1 4

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks so much, Hannah!

1 1

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · 13d

Deeply honoured - and a bit taken aback - to discover that The Collaborative Constitution @cambup-law.cambridge.org has been shortlisted for the Inner Temple Book Prize 2025, alongside Sean Coyle, @vmantouvalou.bsky.social & Liron Schmilovitz.

1 2 34

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

TriCON @tricondublin.bsky.social · 23d

Tomorrow Sept 16th 5.30pm @tcddublin.bsky.social:
@tricondublin.bsky.social seminar with @hbirk.bsky.social on the rule of law in Germany.

TriCON @tricondublin.bsky.social · 28d

New season of TriCON seminars begins with Prof Hannah Birkenkötter @hbirk.bsky.social speaking about her new co-authored book The Rule of Law in Germany, with Prof Niels Kirst commenting, chaired by Prof Christiane Ahlborn @tcddublin.bsky.social

2 3

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · 26d

Shocked and saddened to hear about the sudden death of Conor Gearty.
Matrix chambers has set up a condolences wall for anyone who wants to share memories or offer condolences to the family. www.online-tribute.com/ProfessorCon...

Professor Conor Gearty KC (Hon) | 1957 - 2025 | Online-Tribute.com

It is with deep sadness that Matrix announces the death of Professor Conor Gearty KC (Hon). Conor was a founding member of Matrix and highly respected member of the legal community. A formidable…

www.online-tribute.com

3

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

TriCON @tricondublin.bsky.social · 28d

New season of TriCON seminars begins with Prof Hannah Birkenkötter @hbirk.bsky.social speaking about her new co-authored book The Rule of Law in Germany, with Prof Niels Kirst commenting, chaired by Prof Christiane Ahlborn @tcddublin.bsky.social

3 6

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · Sep 7

Full marks to the Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly to curating this great Special Issue on academic writing, with personal ‘Reflections on Writing’ from Nikki Lacey, Emily Jackson, Conor Gearty @tamarahervey.bsky.social & many more. Well done NILQ!

All open access: nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/ni...

1 2

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

Public Law Conference @publiclawconf.bsky.social · Aug 9

The next Public Law Conference will be held at University of Cape Town, 1-4 July 2026. The theme is Public Law and the Future of Constitutional Democracy. 2026 marks the 30 year anniversary since the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. More details coming soon.

9 13

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

TriCON @tricondublin.bsky.social · Jul 9

@tricondublin.bsky.social New Voices in Constitutional Law Workshop 3rd Oct.
Great opportunity for ECRs across the island of Ireland to present and get focused feedback on their work in public/constitutional law.

Abstracts due July 31st!

Ahmed Ellaboudy @aellaboudy.bsky.social · Jul 9

Submissions are open for the 'TriCON New Voices in Constitutional Law Workshop'. An excellent opportunity for PhD candidates & ECRs in Ireland working on public/constitutional law to get expert feedback on their research. @tricondublin.bsky.social

2 6

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

Public Law @publiclaw.bsky.social · Jul 3

Prof Meg Russell's (@conunitucl.bsky.social) 2024 Public Law lecture - "Should we be worried about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny?" - is available open access here: www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/content/dam/...

www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk

8 11

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · Jul 1

Nice delivery from @cambup-law.cambridge.org today: a box full of The Collaborative Constitution which has just gone into paperback!

Good to know that it’s now available at a more realistic price point - and you can save 20% with code TCC2025.

cup.org/4jQt1Ko

1 17

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

Cambridge University Press - Law @cambup-law.cambridge.org · Jun 18

New in paperback! The Collaborative Constitution by @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social

Argues that protecting rights in a democracy is a collaborative constitutional enterprise between all three branches of government. | Save 20% with code TCC2025

https://cup.org/4jQt1Ko

#constitutionallaw #LawSky 💙📚

Cover of The Collaborative Constitution by Aileen Kavanagh

2 7

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

Mark Elliott @profmarkelliott.bsky.social · Jun 16

New blogpost: The President of the UK Supreme Court on populism, the judicial role and the constitution
publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/06/16/t...

The President of the UK Supreme Court on populism, the judicial role and the constitution

Lord Reed, the President of the UK Supreme Court, is right to argue that the role of the judiciary needs to be explained and defended more carefully than ever thanks to the challenges wrought by th…

publiclawforeveryone.com

2 18 22

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · Jun 5

Many thanks to Prof Jonathan Morgan @cambridgelaw.bsky.social for his insightful review of my book The Collaborative Constitution in the latest issue of the Cambridge Law Journal @cambup-law.cambridge.org

4 8

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · May 31

Oireachtas debate with Úna Mulally @irishtimes.com and @donalcoffey.bsky.social on the 10th anniversary of the Marriage Equality Referendum

Donal Coffey @donalcoffey.bsky.social · May 27

You can watch it back here if interested: www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachta...

2 2

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · May 25

Which station/programme, Donal?

1

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

Donal Coffey @donalcoffey.bsky.social · May 22

Just over a week to the deadline, so I'll bump this up for anyone who was interested but got lost in the marking melee...

Donal Coffey @donalcoffey.bsky.social · May 2

Am co-organising a symposium on the Irish Political Constitution with @alangreene.bsky.social and @laurcah.bsky.social Call for papers is currently live. If you have any interesting ideas on the topic, or know anyone who does, please do submit an abstract.

CALL FOR PAPERS
THE IRISH POLITICAL CONSTITUTION
FRIDAY 28TH NOVEMBER
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, MERRION SQUARE, DUBLIN
Constitutions are designed to allocate and limit state power. However, no single document can seek
to comprehensively convey the array of means through which a state gives effect to these functions.
While the text of Bunreacht na hÉireann and judicial pronouncements regarding its interpretation
form the elemental basis of Irish constitutionalism, political forces and actors also play a pivotal role
in shaping Ireland’s constitutional culture. From questions as to the constitutionality of junior
ministers and the role of the Ceann Comhairle and allocation of Dáil speaking time, to referendum
campaigns and debates concerning the appropriate function of the presidency, the form and function
of the Irish political constitution is more salient than ever.
The aim of this symposium is to bring together a multi-disciplinary group of scholars to discuss the
contours of the Irish political constitution. To what extent does Ireland rely on political as distinct from
legal constraints to allocate and limit state power? How does the lived political reality differ from that
implied by Bunreacht na hÉireann? And how do these political and legal controls shape and interact
with each other to produce a uniquely Irish form of parliamentary democracy?
Proposed topics include but are not limited to:
• Historical and comparative perspectives on the Irish political constitution;
• Political conventions, including conventions surrounding the presidency;
• Judicial understandings of the political constitution;
• Parliamentary privilege, Oireachtas committees, and judicial oversight;
• The political constitution and the separation of powers;
• The composition of the executive;
• The constitutional role of political parties;
• The role of the Ceann Comhairle, the ordering of Dáil business, and political conventions;
• The interse…

8 2

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · May 23

Coming this July!

2 7 36

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

TriCON @tricondublin.bsky.social · May 23

Great seminar yesterday at @tricondublin.bsky.social @tlrhub.bsky.social to mark the 10th anniversary of the Marriage Equality Referendum in Ireland.
Special thanks to Katherine Zappone for her fascinating talk and conversation with Profs @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social & @dkennytcd.bsky.social

3 7

Reposted by Aileen Kavanagh

TriCON @tricondublin.bsky.social · May 21

To mark the 10th anniversary of the marriage equality referendum, @tricondublin.bsky.social is hosting an ‘in conversation’ event with Katherine Zappone and comments from Profs @dkennytcd.bsky.social & @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social

May 22nd 1.30pm @tlrhub.bsky.social.
All welcome!

TriCON @tricondublin.bsky.social · May 14

Join us on May 22nd for a @tricondublin.bsky.social seminar marking the 10th Anniversary of the Marriage Equality Referendum in the @tlrhub.bsky.social. Key reflections by Katherine Zappone & comments by Profs @dkennytcd.bsky.social & @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social.

5 8

Aileen Kavanagh @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social · May 21

Looking forward to this ‘in conversation’ event tomorrow May 22nd with Katherine Zappone & @dkennytcd.bsky.social

May 22nd, 1.30pm @tlrhub.bsky.social @tcddublin.bsky.social

All welcome

TriCON @tricondublin.bsky.social · May 14

Join us on May 22nd for a @tricondublin.bsky.social seminar marking the 10th Anniversary of the Marriage Equality Referendum in the @tlrhub.bsky.social. Key reflections by Katherine Zappone & comments by Profs @dkennytcd.bsky.social & @aileenkavanagh.bsky.social.

1 3