Applications open for 2026 Corn Adomnáin
Applications are now open for this year’s Corn Adomnáin, which is open to law students across Ireland.
The Corn Adomnáin is an international humanitarian-law (IHL) competition organised by the Irish Red Cross for those with an interest in this area of law.
The competition gets its name from the Cáin Adomnáin or the ‘Law of Innocents’, as it is often referred to. The Cáin Adomnáin is an early Irish IHL treaty that was signed in Birr, Co Offaly in 697 AD.
Teams from the Law Society have won the last two competitions.
Case study
The competition involves a fictitious case study of a conflict, and participating students take part in role-plays and simulations to explore key elements of IHL, such as the use of autonomous weapons, urban warfare, protection of women and children, and healthcare.
Their performance is evaluated by a judging panel composed of highly experienced people in the field of international law.
Students need to form teams of three and submit an application form to ihl@redcross.ie before 31 January to take part.
Multiple teams from a university or institution can apply.