A Brief History of Corrigan & Corrigan
Corrigan & Corrigan was established in 1906 by Michael Corrigan Snr. He was later joined in the practice by his younger brother William Corrigan Snr., the grandfather of our Partner Michael Corrigan and former Partner Jean Corrigan (now retired).
After the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922, Michael Corrigan Snr. left the practice to become the first Chief State Solicitor, with William Corrigan remaining. William was joined in the 1950s by his son, also William Corrigan, father of Jean and Michael. Jean joined the practice in the 1970s and Michael Corrigan in the 1980s.
Corrigan & Corrigan now comprises six Partners, five Solicitors, one Trainee Solicitor, and a support staff of eighteen. The office is still housed in the original building at 3 St Andrew Street in the heart of Dublin City.
Solicitor, Soldier, Negotiator
William, co-founder of Corrigan & Corrigan, fought in the 1916 Rising and played an instrumental role in the struggle for independence, helping to arrange the first negotiations between the rebel leadership and the British government. These negotiations took place at 3 St. Andrew Street, where the office is still located. Pic by Alva MacGowan of the South Dublin Union (now St James's Hospital) where William fought and was injured.
First Ministry of Finance
The Corrigan & Corrigan offices at No. 3 St Andrew Street were the site of Dáil Éireann's first Ministry of Finance, at a time when Irish politicians could only meet in groups or twos and threes, working in private houses or offices. This is where Michael Collins, Ireland’s first Minister of Finance based one of his main offices. During his tenure, he was responsible for the National Loan that financed the infant nation.
First Chief State Solicitor
After the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922, Michael Corrigan Snr. left the practice he founded to become the first Chief State Solicitor. In 1923 the Republican Army Executive bombed his house in Rathmines (pic) – he was seen by anti-treaty forces as being an influential supporter of the Free State.
