Students compete for James D Donegan Memorial Prize at Annual UCC School of Law Gala Moot 2026

27 Mar 2026

This year’s Gala Moot competition was held on Tuesday 10^th March in Cork City at the Courthouse on Washington Street. Four students from the UCC School of Law participated in this year’s Gala Moot incorporating the James D Donegan Memorial Prize.

The student participants were Ms. Alyson O’Kelly-Lynch, Ms. Michela Thenahandi, Mr Conor McQuillan and Ms. Sarah O’Keeffe.

The students presented their submissions before Her Honour Judge Helen Boyle and His Honor Judge Dermot Sheehan. An audience of students and staff of the School of Law attended the court proceedings.  Professor Conor O’Mahony, Dean of the School of Law provided closing remarks.

The Gala Moot incorporates the James D. Donegan Memorial Prize, which is awarded each year to the student who, in the opinion of the judge, reaches such a high standard to merit being awarded the prize of ‘Outstanding Speaker’.  The prize was generously donated again this year, by Ms. Sally Donegan who has supported the Gala Moot and sponsored the prize for many years. Ms. Sarah O’Keeffe was this year’s recipient of the prestigious prize.

The School and its students extend their thanks to Judge Helen Boyle and Judge Dermot Sheehan, the members of the Courts Service and Ms. Sally Donegan who made this annual event a possibility for the students again this year. 

Speaking following the Moot, Judge Helen Boyle said: 

“Once again, the Judges were very impressed with the high levels of preparation and advocacy of the participants. The competition was of a very high standard, and all of the participants acquitted themselves admirably. It was a close but unanimous decision. We wish all the participants the very best of luck in the future.”

Judge Dermot Sheehan: “This is the first day of many as advocates for these fine advocates.”

Ms. Sally Donegan said:

“It is a privilege and honour to be involved in such an event.  The students were exceptional, confident and knowledgeable.   It was very evident that they had done substantial research for the moot.

My father James D. Donegan practised in Cork for many years and always said that cases were not won in court but in the many hours of preparation long before stepping into the courtroom.  I believe these students must have heard those words as they certainly were well prepared on the day of moot.  Congratulations to each student participating and to those involved in guiding them throughout.”

The students said:

Mr. Conor McQuillan said:

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with my colleagues in preparation for the Gala Moot. It was invaluable in helping me to improve my advocacy and legal research skills. Congratulations to my co-finalists Ms. Alyson O’Kelly Lynch, Ms. Sarah O’Keeffe and Ms. Michela Thenahandi. Congratulations to Sarah on being chosen as the ‘Outstanding Speaker’ which was well deserved. Thank you to Ms. Colette O’Donovan of the School of Law for the mentoring, preparation and encouragement and to the previous recipient of the prize, Ms. Niamh Mulcahy for her advice and assistance in advance of the Moot. Thank you to Ms. Sally Donegan for her generosity in sponsoring the event and to Ms. Mary Clare Kearney and Mr. JP O’Connor of the Courts Service for making us feel so welcome at the courthouse. It was a privilege to appear before Judge Dermot Sheehan and Judge Helen Boyle and to participate as a finalist in such a prestigious competition.”

Ms. Alyson O'Kelly-Lynch said:

“Participating in the Annual Gala Moot 2026 has undoubtedly been one of the highlights of my time at UCC. It has allowed me the opportunity to improve my advocacy and public speaking skills, and I have no doubt that this will be pivotal to me in my future legal career. I am sincerely grateful to Her Honour Judge Helen Boyle and His Honour Judge Dermot Sheehan for generously giving up their time to preside over the competition and for providing such thoughtful feedback. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Ms. Colette O’Donovan, Ms. Sally Donegan, Ms. Mary Clare Kearney, Mr. JP O’Connor and the School of Law at UCC for making this event possible. It was a pleasure to work alongside my fellow competitors, Conor McQuillan, Michela Thenahandi and Sarah O’Keefe, whose friendship and support made the experience all the more enjoyable.”

Ms. Sarah O'Keeffe said:

"I feel very privileged to have participated in the UCC Gala Moot 2026. It was an honour to present submissions before Her Honour Judge Helen Boyle and His Honour Judge Dermot Sheehan. The time that they dedicate to participate in the Gala Moot is truly invaluable to the students of UCC.

It was such a pleasure to work alongside my talented UCC teammates Alyson, Conor and Michela throughout the competition. Preparing and presenting together made the experience all the more rewarding, and I greatly appreciate their support and collaboration.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Ms. Colette O’Donovan for the extraordinary time and effort she devotes each year to organising and supporting this wonderful event. Her commitment to the Gala Moot provides students with a rare opportunity to develop their advocacy skills in such an esteemed environment. I am also very grateful to Ms. Niamh Mulcahy for her help and encouragement in the lead-up to the competition. Many thanks to Professor O’Mahony and the UCC School of Law for providing such a supportive and encouraging environment.

Thank you to Ms. Sally Donegan for generously sponsoring the Outstanding Speaker prize in memory of her late father, James D. Donegan. It is a wonderful tribute and adds a special significance to the competition.

Finally, I would like to express our gratitude to the Courts Service, and in particular Ms. Mary Clare Kearney and Mr. JP O’Connor, for facilitating the Gala Moot and for allowing us to present our submissions in the remarkable Courtroom Number 1 of the Washington Street Courthouse."

Ms. Michela Thenahandi said:

“The Gala Moot was a fantastic experience and a highlight of my time in the UCC School of Law.  Reaching the finals pushed me to develop my advocacy skills, and I had the opportunity to present in the courthouse on Washington Street before such esteemed judges. This was an experience that I will never forget.  I am grateful to my fellow finalists Mr. Conor McQuillan, Ms. Alyson O’Kelly Lynch and Ms. Sarah O’Keefe, for the standard that they set throughout the process, and to Ms. Colette O’Donovan for her guidance and encouragement. It was a privilege to participate as a finalist in this competition.
Congratulations to Sarah on being awarded the award of Outstanding Speaker.”

Professor Conor O’Mahony, Dean of School said:

“The standard at this year’s Gala Moot was exceptionally high, with all four participants delivering submissions befitting of seasoned advocates rather than undergraduate law students. The auspicious surroundings of the Washington Street Courthouse and the robust questioning by two respected members of the judiciary did not phase them in any way. It was fantastic to see the long tradition of the Gala Moot upheld in such style. My congratulations to Sarah on being awarded the James D Donegan Memorial Prize as outstanding speaker, and my thanks on behalf of the School of Law to everyone who makes this event possible each year.”

This year's Gala Moot was organised by Ms. Colette O’Donovan, part-time lecturer at the School of Law.  Speaking following the competition, Ms. O’Donovan said: 

“It was a privilege to have been able to work with the students again this year, to prepare for the Gala Moot.  Alyson O’Kelly Lynch, Michela Thenahandi, Conor McQuillan and Sarah O’Keeffe are a credit to the Law School and to their families.  They worked together as a team and were diligent and industrious in their preparations and delivery. Congratulations to Sarah who was chosen by the judges as the recipient of the accolade of ‘Outstanding Speaker’. The prize was kindly sponsored again this year, by Ms. Sally Donegan in memory of her late father Mr. James D Donegan and this has been a feature of the Gala Moot for many years. We are very grateful to have had that support.

The Gala Moot was a result of a team effort by the students, my colleagues in the Law School and the staff of the Courts Service who graciously gave their time again despite the very busy time in the court calendar.   Ms. Mary Clare Kearney and Mr. JP O’Connor in particular, made us feel very welcome, as always, in the courthouse in Washington Street.

The students presented their submissions before Her Honour Judge Helen Boyle and His Honor Judge Dermot Sheehan.  It was an extraordinary opportunity for the students to meet with judges who took the time to engage with students in a real courtroom setting.  The judges made such an impact on the experience of the students which will benefit them throughout their careers.  We are very grateful that they took the time to hear the submissions.”