A man who has been ‘a colleague, a mentor and one of the finest solicitors to serve in the role he holds’ has been honoured by friends and colleagues as he prepares to retire. Well-respected solicitor Gerry Meaney was surprised with tributes and presentations on one of his final days acting as state solicitor before the circuit court in Kilkenny, last week. Members of the judiciary, the legal profession, court service, gardaí, friends and his family surprised Mr Meaney on the final day of Kilkenny Circuit Court sittings, to wish him well in his retirement and let him know he will be greatly missed in legal circles. WATCH NEXT: Presentation to Gerry Meaney in Kilkenny Circuit Court Mr Meaney has been in the job for 42 years — the longest serving state solicitor in the country.  Appointed to the position when he was in his 20s, by Attorney General Peter Sutherland, Mr Meaney has served under four Directors of Public Prosecutions and 23 garda superintendents. BELOW: Gerry Meaney at Kilkenny Circuit Court. All pictures in this gallery: Vicky Comerford.placeholder image
A man who has been ‘a colleague, a mentor and one of the finest solicitors to serve in the role he holds’ has been honoured by friends and colleagues as he prepares to retire. Well-respected solicitor Gerry Meaney was surprised with tributes and presentations on one of his final days acting as state solicitor before the circuit court in Kilkenny, last week. Members of the judiciary, the legal profession, court service, gardaí, friends and his family surprised Mr Meaney on the final day of Kilkenny Circuit Court sittings, to wish him well in his retirement and let him know he will be greatly missed in legal circles. WATCH NEXT: Presentation to Gerry Meaney in Kilkenny Circuit Court Mr Meaney has been in the job for 42 years — the longest serving state solicitor in the country.  Appointed to the position when he was in his 20s, by Attorney General Peter Sutherland, Mr Meaney has served under four Directors of Public Prosecutions and 23 garda superintendents. BELOW: Gerry Meaney at Kilkenny Circuit Court. All pictures in this gallery: Vicky Comerford.

Gallery: Celebration inside a Kilkenny court room to mark career of important local figure

Sian Moloughney
By Sian Moloughney

Reporter

Published 2nd Apr 2026, 14:46 GMT

State solicitor Gerry Meaney is set to retire after 42 years

On behalf of the barristers, Colman Cody SC said Mr Meaney had come to be respected by so many and the tributes to him were richly deserved. When called upon, when he was on his feet in court Mr Meaney could hold his own with anybody, Mr Cody added.He took his job seriously but basic fairness and decency were never forgotten. Michael Lanigan paid tributes on behalf of local solicitors. The finest of colleagues, Mr Meaney was a gentle guide to younger solicitors and ‘never closed the door to anybody,’ he said.“I have dealt with state solicitors north, south, east and west and there is no finer state solicitor,” Mr Lanigan said.

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On behalf of the barristers, Colman Cody SC said Mr Meaney had come to be respected by so many and the tributes to him were richly deserved. When called upon, when he was on his feet in court Mr Meaney could hold his own with anybody, Mr Cody added.He took his job seriously but basic fairness and decency were never forgotten. Michael Lanigan paid tributes on behalf of local solicitors. The finest of colleagues, Mr Meaney was a gentle guide to younger solicitors and ‘never closed the door to anybody,’ he said.“I have dealt with state solicitors north, south, east and west and there is no finer state solicitor,” Mr Lanigan said.

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