Irish Law Journals and the Emergence of the Irish State, 1916-1922

Abstract

This article assesses the value of Irish law journals as historical sources for the transition between 1916 and 1922 that saw most of the island of Ireland leave the United Kingdom. It presents these law journals as sources that have not always received the attention that they deserve from historians and political scientists. The article also uses these sources to examine the response of the Irish legal professions to the six years of revolution and upheaval. This response is interesting because the legal professions and their journals spanned the traditional nationalist/unionist divide in Irish politics. The most important source is a journal called the Irish Law Times and Solicitors’ Journal (now known as simply the Irish Law Times) although other journals of lesser significance are also be considered.