DLA Piper secures first presenting partner role for Irish Times
DLA Piper has become the first presenting partner of The Irish Times Debate for the 2026/27 season, securing a deal that covers the entire competition from October 2026 through to the Grand Final in February 2027.
Long-standing legacy and scope
Running continuously since 1960, The Irish Times Debate is an all-island competition open to every full-time third-level student in the Republic and Northern Ireland. The event promotes excellence in oratory and debating, and this year’s tournament is being convened by Ciara McLoughlin, who won the Demosthenes Trophy in 2024.
Registration closed on 6 October, with 268 students from debating societies and colleges across the island signing up. First-round debates have already taken place at UCD, DCU, TU Dublin, and UCC, with the second round scheduled for late November. Twelve finalists will advance to the Grand Final, where a panel of adjudicators will determine the winners.
Role of the presenting partner
As presenting partner, DLA Piper will present the trophies at the Grand Final, which will be chaired by the Attorney General, Rossa Fanning SC. The partnership reflects the firm’s long-term commitment to Ireland, recognizing the importance of building the skills, confidence, and judgment of future generations.
“The Debate has a remarkable legacy of bringing forward influential voices across law, public life and business, and that makes it a natural fit for a firm like ours, where critical thinking, advocacy and the ability to handle complex issues are central to what we do,” said Maura Dineen, country managing partner at DLA Piper.
The Grand Final adjudicating panel includes the editor of The Irish Times, the president of the host college, Prof. Brent Northup of Pax Rhetorica, and two former winners. The list of past finalists reads like a “who’s who” of Irish public life, including former presidents Michael D. Higgins and Mary Robinson, Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell, the late Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman, Ambassador of Ireland to Germany Maeve Collins, human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, broadcasters Marian Finucane and Henry Kelly, and comedian Dara Ó Briain.
While the partnership focuses on the 2026/27 season, the legacy of the competition extends beyond the island. Since 1980, the National Parliamentary Debate Association of America has invited the winners on a three-week tour of the US. The tradition is now carried on by Pax Rhetorica, Centre for Global Dialogue.
