Congratulations to Oran Doyle, Professor of Constitutional Law, on his Inaugural Lecture to a packed Edmund Burke Theatre, attended by academic colleagues from Trinity and further afield, as well as members of the legal profession and senior members of the judiciary.
On 11 March 2026, Oran Doyle, Professor of Constitutional Law and Head of the School of Law, delivered his Inaugural Lecture at Trinity College Dublin.
Titled ‘Against Constitutionalism? Constitutional Interpretation on the Supreme Court’, Professor Doyle’s lecture analysed the democratic challenge to constitutionalism. Constitutional government protects fundamental rights and democratic government through legal constraints, interpreted by courts. The interpretation of those constraints raises a democratic challenge, however, because judges lack an electoral mandate.
Professor Doyle traced two prevalent approaches to constitutional interpretation on the Supreme Court, which empower judges to greater or lesser extents. Professor Doyle argued that the Supreme Court should interpret the Constitution with reference to the constitutionalist values it reflects, such as democracy and human rights. But judges should be mindful of their responsibility to foster rather than crowd out political and democratic debate.
The lecture was followed by a reception in the Senior Common Room, where Professor Doyle celebrated the occasion with colleagues, friends and family.
Please click here to visit the Faculty of AHSS Inaugural Lectures webpage to view the brochure, photos and full lecture video of Professor Doyle’s lecture.
Image from left to right: Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Linda Doyle, Professor Oran Doyle, Professor of Constitutional Law and Head of School of Law, and Professor Carmel O’Sullivan, Dean of Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.