Hetty Lawlor does Mary Laffoy justice

ADMIRATION A Portrait of Ms Justice Mary Laffoy by the award winning portrait artist Hetty Lawlor from Westport has been unveiled as part of The Bar of Ireland’s 2020 International Women’s Day celebrations. Pic: Conor McCabe Photography

Portrait now on permanent display at King’s Inns

A stunning portrait of Ms Justice Mary Laffoy by young award-winning Westport artist Hetty Lawlor was unveiled as part of The Bar of Ireland’s International Women’s Day celebrations on Saturday.
The portrait, which was commissioned by The Bar of Ireland in honour of Justice Mary Laffoy’s extraordinary contribution to the legal profession, will be on permanent display on the walls of the King’s Inns.
Justice Mary Laffoy is a former Supreme Court judge and current President of the Law Reform Commission. Called to The Bar in 1971, she was appointed a judge of the High Court in 1995 and the Supreme Court in 2013. She chaired the first Citizens’ Assembly from July 2016 to 2018, and she was also appointed the first Chairperson of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, in 1999.
The portrait, which took just over two months to complete and is created in the realistic yet magical and vibrant style synonymous with the 20-year-old artist, will be the third portrait of a female judge to hang on the walls of the King’s Inns, joining the portraits of Susan Denham and Mella Carroll.
Lawlor’s portrait of Ms Justice Laffoy is only the seventh portrait painted by a woman that will be on permanent display in the King’s Inns.

‘Honoured’
Justice Laffoy addressed The Bar of Ireland’s annual International Women’s Day dinner on the issue of gender equality in legal practice and wider society. Expressing her support and optimism for the work of the Citizens’ Assembly, Justice Laffoy called for a collective response to the issue of gender equality, inviting the guests at the event to be ‘each for equal’.
“The race is on for gender equal boardroom, a gender equal government, gender equal media coverage, gender equal workplace, gender equal sports coverage and more gender equality in health and wealth,” she said.
Commenting on her likeness, she said: “I am honoured to have my portrait join that of others on the walls of the King’s Inns, and I am especially honoured that it is the creation of such a talented, young female artist as Hetty Lawlor.”
 
Increasing visibility
Chair of The Bar of Ireland Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Moira Flahive BL, described Justice Mary Laffoy as ‘one of the most distinguished and accomplished figures in the legal profession’, adding that she has been ‘a fearless advocate for justice throughout her career and she has made a remarkable and indelible mark on the legal system’.
“The beautiful portrait by Hetty Lawlor will be a constant reminder of the contribution that she has made, for all future students passing through King’s Inns,” she said.
Hetty Lawlor is also proud to have her artwork hung in the famous building. “I was delighted to be approached by The Bar of Ireland to undertake this commission,” she said. “When I first visited the King’s Inns in March of last year, I was struck by the lack of female subjects in its vast collection of artwork. It was therefore great to have been involved in enhancing the profile and the visibility of women in law.
“I am also personally delighted to see my work displayed alongside renowned Irish female artists Sarah Purser and Sarah Cecilia Harrison.”