CORN ADOMNÁIN
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW COMPETITION
OFFICIAL RULES 2015
SECTION 1: ORGANISATION OF THE COMPETITION
1.1 General
The Corn Adomnáin International Humanitarian Law Competition (“The Corn
Adomnáin”) is a mooting competition established to promote the study and
understanding of international humanitarian law (“IHL”) among university students
in Ireland.
1.2 Awarding Committee
There will be an Awarding Committee composed of interested stakeholders to assist
the Irish Red Cross in the organisation of the Corn Adomnáin. Participation in the
Corn Adomnáin is by invitation of the Awarding Committee.
SECTION 2: ELIGIBILITY
2.1 Eligibility
Teams comprised of students enrolled in undergraduate and masters courses in law
in Ireland may apply to participate in Corn Adomnáin. For the avoidance of doubt,
this category includes students enrolled in (a) the Professional Practice Course at
the Law Society of Ireland; (b) the Diploma in Legal Studies or Degree of Barristerat-law at the Honourable Society of King’s Inns; and (c) the Irish Defence Forces
cadets at the Military College. Other classes of students may apply and a decision
will be taken on eligibility on a case by case basis.
2.2 Team Composition
Teams shall be comprised of three (3) student members. All members of the team
must be enrolled at the same institution. Teams may select one substitute member
at their discretion. Teams may be self-selected or selected by the institution at
which they are studying.
2.3 Applications to Participate
Applications to participate in the Corn Adomnáin shall be made in the form
prescribed by the Award Committee.
2.4 Invitations to Participate
The number of teams invited to participate shall be determined by the Awarding
Committee. In deciding which teams to invite, the Awarding Committee shall
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endeavour to ensure (a) the highest standard of participants and (b) participation
by teams from as many institutions as possible.
2.5 One Competition Rule
Team members may compete in one edition of the Corn Adomnáin only. Failure to
receive an invitation or withdrawal prior to the Competition will not prevent
students from competing in future editions.
SECTION 3: COACHING AND MENTORING
3.1 Background materials
The Awarding Committee may provide teams with lists of suggested reading in
advance of the competition.
3.2 Team Coaches
Teams may appoint coaches or mentors to assist them prepare for the Corn
Adomnáin. The role of such coaches is to assist his or her team prepare for the
Corn Adomnáin Competition. He or she may assist the participants in terms of
improving role-play skills, organisation and distribution of work within the team,
and quality of argument and oral expression. Coaches, however, will not be
permitted to assist participants on the day of the competition and shall not be
allowed into the preparatory rooms before each simulation.
Coaches must disclose their position as coach to the Awarding Committee and will
not participate in the selection of the best teams during the Competition; this task
falls solely on the jury, and the coaches will not engage in any discussions with the
members of the jury concerning this matter.
SECTION 4: COMPETITION FORMAT
4.1 The format of the competition shall be prescribed by the Awarding Committee.
4.2 The Corn Adomnáin focuses on the practice of international humanitarian law (IHL).
Other factors, however, are also taken into consideration. Teams are evaluated on
the following criteria:
 Primarily their knowledge of IHL and capacity to use it (conceptualise and
analyse information available to determine critical elements which directly
relate to the implementation of IHL).
 Knowledge of public international law.
 Demonstrated ability to work within the simulations including the capacity
to position oneself within the given scenarios; grasp the ‘big picture’ and
identify the strategic issues, opportunities and risks, ability to understand
the complexities of the events and the assigned roles during the various
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simulations; demonstrated understanding of the political dynamics while
maintaining an IHL focus; use of the given information without inventing
new facts.
Team work.
Advocacy skills (appropriate combination of legal analysis with emotion and
passion; conviction in presenting arguments, use of law in creative and
innovative ways).
Oral Communication Skills (including inter alia the ability to be convincing,
articulate, logical; the ability to convey feelings when appropriate in
simulations; having the capacity to communicate across cultures; ability to
translate complex issues and ideas into understandable concepts).
SECTION 5: JUDGES
5.1 The judges of the competition shall be suitably qualified persons appointed by the
Awarding Committee.
5.2 Members of the Awarding Committee may serve as judges.
5.3 No person who serves as a team coach may act as a judge in any part of the
competition in the same year.
5.4 The decision of the judges shall be final.
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