Irish Free State

Name of the former state of southern Ireland 1922-37, established as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921). It was replaced by Eire in 1937 and the Republic of Ireland in 1949. The treaty established a 26-county dominion, which exercised a significant degree of autonomy but was formally subordinated to the British crown through the appointment of a governor general and an oath of fidelity to be taken by its representatives.

The Irish Free State Constitution, a liberal democratic document with safeguards for the Protestant minority, was approved by the Dáil (parliament) on 25 October 1922 and ratified by Britain on 5 December. The Free State was formally inaugurated the following day, in the midst of the Irish Civil War (1922-23), with William Cosgrave as first president of the executive council The Free State was not recognized by republicans, who set up a rival government under Éamon de Valera, leader of Sinn Fein, in 1922. It was not until Fianna Fáil entered the Dáil in 1927 that the Free State's legitimacy was fully established. After leading Fianna Fáil to power in 1932 de Valera instigated a series of reforms including the abolition of the governor general and substitution of the 1922 constitution with his own, which effectively dismantled the Irish Free State by 1937.