Molly May Kelly of Coláiste Bríde in Clondalkin, Dublin and Brenna McElvenna of Queen’s University Belfast emerged as winners of the LILA Trailblazers Mooting Grand Final last week.

Tom McIlroy of Queen’s University Belfast and Erin Lynch of St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, Newry were runners-up.

Judge Angela Rafferty KC, who presided over the moot in Court 1 of the Old Bailey, told the runners-up that they had missed the top spot “by a whisker”.

“The Trailblazers Programme remains a huge source of pride for LILA, and a real testament to the sense of community and commitment to social mobility from across the London Irish community, the London legal industry and our partner schools and universities, and of course to the passionate, extraordinary talent across the island of Ireland the programme aims to identify and uplift,” LILA said.

Carter-Ruck, Charles Russell Speechlys, the UK Supreme Court and the Irish Embassy were thanked for their assistance with the competition and the finalists’ legal tour of London, as well as Deminor Litigation Funding, “whose very generous sponsorship makes it all possible”.

LILA’s AGM also recently took place, where Kerri McGuigan and India Fahy were gain returned as co-chairs, along with Jonathan Lyness returning as secretary and Tomas McGarvey as treasurer.

The ordinary members of the 2026 executive committee are Alicia Nash, Darren Dunn, Gerald Byrne, Jack Heron, Matthew Nuding, Megan Millar, Michael Walker and Victoria Sterritt.