Professor Conor O'Mahony appointed to the Council of State by President Catherine Connelly

1 Apr 2026

Professor Conor O’Mahony, Dean of the School of Law, has been appointed by President Catherine Connolly to the Council of State. 

Under Article 31 of the Constitution, the Council of State aids and counsels the President in relation to the exercise of certain functions of the President – most notably on whether to refer a Bill to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality before signing it into law. The Council consists of current and former holders of the office of President, Taoiseach and Chief Justice; the Attorney General; the President of the High Court; the Chairpersons of the Dáil and the Seanad; and seven nominees selected by the President.

Professor O’Mahony’s teaching and research focus on constitutional law and children's rights. He has provided expert input on these topics to various Oireachtas Committees, the Constitutional Convention, the Citizen's Assembly, and the Council of Europe Venice Commission. He is director of the Child Law Clinic at UCC, which has supported successful litigation in the Irish Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. From 2019-2022, he served as Special Rapporteur on Child Protection to the Government of Ireland.

The press release from the President of Ireland can be accessed here.