Having occasion the other day to visit a legal friend at the courts, my mind turned on the origin of the magnificent legal library which is at present housed in the Castle. At the end of the nineteenth century there was no law library. The wealthier members of the Bar had their own collections of legal works in their own homes. Their less fortunate brethren were obliged to resort to the library of the King's Inns, in Henrietta street, where they could copy the necessary particulars. Then an enterprising Dublin merchant bought a law library, placed it on trucks, and set it up every day on the quay in front of the Four Courts, where counsel might hire a legal work for sixpence a day. Later, he was given a room in the courts in which to carry on his trade. Upon his death, a committee of the Bar purchased it for the use of the profession.
This formed the nucleus of the magnificent collection which perished at the destruction of the Four Courts in 1922. Since that date rapid strides have been made in the work of replacing the books destroyed.
The Irish Times, May 22nd, 1930.