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

Outside of the law, Mr Meaney pursued the hobbies of a ‘provincial solicitor’ with an interest in greyhound and horse racing. He was not only a spectator, having been the owner of a greyhound that won the Irish Derby and competed in the English Derby.

In his ‘extraordinary’ 42-year career, Judge Carthy said Mr Meany had set the standard high from day one.
At Blackhall Place he won a medal for his legal excellence and, as his career progressed, his attention to detail became something of legend.

Legal files were not just prepared but were excellent and his books of evidence could withstand the closest scrutiny.
Along with being a great colleague and great solicitor, with a phenomenal ability for work, Mr Meaney is a man of sharp wit and a sense of humour, Judge Carthy said.

He brought a level of care and precision to his work most could only admire and he developed a keen ability to identify nonsense.