Law School receives gift to bolster Centre for Constitutional Governance

Trinity Law School has received a significant gift from alumnus Craig Verdon to support the Trinity Centre for Constitutional Governance (TriCON).  

Founded in 2020, TriCON provides an intellectual hub for research, discussion, and public engagement on cutting-edge issues of constitutional law and government. discuss the challenges facing constitutional democracy today.    

Craig Verdon (below right), who visited Trinity this week to celebrate the news, said: “As a graduate of Trinity Law School, I am delighted to support the Trinity Centre for Constitutional Governance, reputed globally for its leading role in the field of constitutional law. I enjoyed and benefited enormously from my education at Trinity, and through this support, I hope to contribute to a lasting legacy for the School for future generations of law graduates.”  

Professor David Kenny, Head of the School of Law (on right in top image), said: “Ireland has long played an outsized role in global debates about constitutional governance and Trinity, too, has led in this field, with its alumni holding public office as politicians and judges and with its engagement in rigorous scholarship to advance public debate. This generous gift will enable the School of Law to take TriCON to the next level in its development and we are enormously grateful for the support.”  

TriCON Director Professor Aileen Kavanagh (above left) said: “We are delighted to receive this generous gift which will strengthen TriCON's role as a leading intellectual hub and site of public engagement on issues concerning constitutional government, democracy, and the rule of law. With this support, we can provide a rich programme of activities, including the Verdon annual public lecture delivered by a world-leading expert in the field of constitutional governance, as well as a fully funded PhD scholarship to support the next generation of constitutional scholarship."

Founded in 1740, Trinity Law School is consistently ranked among the 100 best in the world and counts among its graduates Professors Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, who both served as President of Ireland. 

The School has embarked on an ambitious development project, in which TriCon plays an important role. As well as hosting an international seminar series, TriCON has been the institutional home for two large research projects; the COVID-19 Law and Human Rights Observatory and NSLMap,