Agreement, without the courtroom.
Ireland's trusted mediation practice for separating couples, workplaces and families. Impartial, confidential, and resolved in weeks rather than years.
A dignified alternative to litigation.
Mediation keeps the decisions in your hands. We keep the conversation calm, fair, and focused on what happens next.
Cost efficient
A fraction of the cost of court, with fees normally shared between both parties.
Swift
Most cases resolve in weeks, not the months or years litigation can take.
Solution focused
We work toward practical outcomes everyone can accept, not old arguments.
Impartial
Independent, neutral mediators. No party is favoured at any point.
Whatever the dispute, there is a calmer path.
Separation & divorce
We help separating couples reach their own fair agreement on parenting, property and pensions, with dignity kept at the centre. Family sessions use two mediators, one male and one female, so everyone feels heard.
Start with a free call →Workplace conflicts
Disputes between employees, teams or employers, handled discreetly. On site or online, we restore communication and working relationships.
Talk to us →Will & estate disputes
Support for relatives in dispute over a loved one's will or estate. A careful approach that helps families agree and avoid the strain of court.
Arrange a call →Three steps to an agreement.
A free connection call
A relaxed 15 minute call to understand your situation. No pressure, no obligation.
Individual consultations
Each party signs the Agreement to Mediate, then meets us privately, so everyone is heard and prepared before any joint session.
Guided mediation
Calm, fair discussion toward a written agreement. You stay in control of every decision.
Clear, value for money packages.
Costs are normally shared between the parties. Exact pricing is confirmed on your free call.
Family, divorce & separation
- Most cases resolved in 3 to 6 sessions
- Individual consultations included
- Held online, with in person options
Workplace mediation
- Individual consultations, then a joint session
- Flexible scheduling, on site or virtual
- Tailored to resolve disputes and rebuild communication
The questions people ask us first.
If you are weighing this up at 2am, these are usually the ones on your mind.
My ex will never agree to mediation.
This is the single most common thing we hear, and it is often wrong. People assume the other party will refuse, never ask, and end up in court by default.
You do not have to be the one who asks. With your permission we can make the approach ourselves, neutrally, explaining what mediation is and what it costs. Coming from an impartial third party it lands very differently to coming from you.
It also helps to know what the alternative looks like. Court is slower, far more expensive, and hands the decision to a judge who does not know your family. Many people who say no at first change their mind once that is spelled out.
Is the agreement legally binding?
The document you leave with will be a legal document. It is not yet a court order. It records what you have both agreed.
For separation and divorce, this is called a Separation Agreement. It is legally the same thing as a Deed of Separation, the two names are interchangeable. It is not a step towards something else, and it does not later become a Judicial Separation.
For the Agreement to be upheld by the Court if it is ever challenged, both parties must have provided full and mutual disclosure of their financial circumstances, supported by documentation such as bank statements, pension statements, and property valuations.
We always recommend each of you gets independent legal advice before signing anything. That protects the agreement as much as it protects you.
What happens if mediation does not work?
You lose nothing but the time and the fee for the sessions you attended. Every other option stays open to you.
Mediation is voluntary from start to finish. Either of you, or us, can stop at any point. Nothing said in the room can be used against you afterwards.
In practice, even mediations that do not settle everything usually settle something, which narrows what is left to argue about and reduces what any later process costs you.
Do we have to be in the same room?
No. Plenty of our mediations are conducted with the parties in separate rooms, or separate video calls, with us moving between you.
Every process begins with individual consultations anyway, so you will have spoken to us privately before you are ever in a joint session. If being in the same room is not right for your situation, say so at the first call and we will structure it differently.
Is it confidential?
Yes. Confidentiality is protected under the Mediation Act 2017, and everything discussed stays in the process.
There are narrow exceptions set out in law, principally where there is a risk to the safety or welfare of a person, particularly a child. We will explain these clearly before you begin.
Do I still need a solicitor?
The Mediation Centre drafts your Separation Agreement for you, using the IPMO template. You do not need a solicitor to formalise the outcome, that is part of our service as mediators.
We do recommend each of you gets independent legal advice from a solicitor before signing. Their role is to explain your legal rights and make sure you understand what you are agreeing to, not to prepare the document itself.
How long does it take?
Most separation cases resolve in three to six sessions, typically over a few weeks. Workplace matters are often shorter, sometimes a single joint session after individual consultations.
You control the pace. If you need time between sessions to get advice or think, you take it.
Is mediation suitable if there has been abuse or a big power imbalance?
Not always, and we will tell you honestly if we do not think it is. Mediation depends on both parties being able to speak freely and negotiate safely.
We screen for this in the individual consultations before any joint session. Where there are concerns but mediation may still work, we can adapt: separate rooms, separate arrival times, support people present. Where it is not appropriate, we will say so and point you elsewhere.
What people say.
“Mediation helped me and my partner split up in a fair and decent way. I felt supported and it all went smoother than I thought.”
“The workplace session was very effective. It was well facilitated and it has made a real difference in our team dynamics.”
“I had been stuck in a long running row with a supervisor and mediation really helped. The mediator kept things calm and fair.”
Meet the mediators.
Founded by Kieran Hickey, we work with a select team of independent mediators to deliver empathetic, neutral, and effective resolution.
Kieran Hickey
An ARC trained mediator, also trained with the Mediation Foundation of Ireland, Kieran sits on IPMO's Family Committee. He holds a degree in Human Rights from the University of Limerick and an auditing qualification from the Institute of Public Administration. Twenty years in front line law enforcement gave him deep experience in de-escalation, impartial fact finding, and supporting people through emotionally charged situations.
Ciara Stapleton
Ciara believes difficult conversations can lead to positive change. Her calm approach creates a safe space where people communicate openly and work toward fair solutions. Having completed training accredited by the Irish Mediators' Institute and the Irish Professional Mediators' Organisation, she went on to complete a Family Law qualification from the University of Limerick, with a background in mental health work that brings real empathy to family dynamics.
Rachel Cunningham
An accredited mediator trained by the Mediation Institute of Ireland and the Mediation Foundation of Ireland, Rachel brings a calm, methodical approach shaped by over two decades in regulatory compliance and dispute resolution, most recently as Higher Executive Officer in the Conciliation, Advisory and Mediation Services unit at the Workplace Relations Commission. She holds a BA (Hons) in Applied Taxation and an Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Media and Social Media Law from King's Inns. Her background in audit and investigations gives her a sharp ability to separate fact from assumption and help people reach fair, workable agreements.
Begin with a free 15 minute call.
A relaxed, no obligation conversation about your situation and how mediation can help. Book online, phone us, or message on WhatsApp.
We are looking for associate mediators.
The Mediation Centre works with a small panel of independent, accredited mediators. If you are qualified and looking for referred work without giving up your own practice, we would like to hear from you.
What we are offering
- Referred family, workplace and estate cases
- Co-mediation on family files, paired to keep teams co-gendered
- Scheduling, case documentation and administration handled centrally
- Online and in person work, flexible to your own diary
What we are looking for
- Accreditation with the IPMO, MII or MFI, in good standing
- Completed family mediation training for family panel work
- Your own professional indemnity insurance
- Availability for evening or weekend sessions is an advantage
Associate mediators work on an independent, self employed basis. Each associate contracts for their own cases and remains responsible for their own practice, professional membership and insurance. This is not a partnership, and no partnership is offered or implied.