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ARTICLE · 21 MAY 2025

Force Majeure In Construction Contracts

Matheson
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In light of the multiple weather events in Ireland since the start of 2025, force majeure provisions are warranting increased consideration in construction contracting.

United KingdomReal Estate and Construction
Rhona Henry
Rhona Henry
Alison Bearpark
Alison Bearpark
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In light of the multiple weather events in Ireland since the start of 2025, force majeure provisions are warranting increased consideration in construction contracting.

In construction contracts, force majeure provisions are put in place to allow a party to be relieved of its obligations following the occurrence of an event that is unforeseeable, exceptional or beyond the control of contracting parties.

Force majeure in contracts

Force majeure has no legal meaning in common law. This means that it can be only claimed as a specific contractual right and cannot be implied into a contract as a matter of law. If a contract does not specifically include a force majeure clause, relief for force majeure cannot be claimed.

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