By Thomas Mohr
Published in The Journal of Legal History, January 2026.
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Abstract

The arbitration courts organized by local groups in diverse parts of Ireland between 1917 and 1920 have not received the scholarly attention that they deserve. Despite their importance to the Irish revolution these local courts are often presented as a prelude to the succeeding systems of national arbitration courts and the courts of law known as the ‘Dáil courts’. This article provides the first dedicated history of these local arbitration courts that evaluates their contribution to Irish history without being overshadowed by their better-known successors. It argues that local arbitration courts were better suited to weather the storm of revolutionary conflict than succeeding systems. This article also argues that many of the successes often attributed to succeeding systems actually belong to the period of the local arbitration courts. These include publicity outside Ireland, displacement of rival courts, the prospect of women presiding over courts and a reputation for fair treatment of minorities.