When we are not talking about “Ireland” in general (really a geographic term only), we differentiate between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But when did the 26 counties of “Southern Ireland” become a republic? Did this happen during the Easter Rising, after the Anglo-Irish War, or after the Irish Civil War? One thing is for sure, the part of Ireland that does not belong to the UK today is a republic. But no one seems to be so sure since when. There seems to be a lot of confusion about the exact date, apparently not helped by really very confusing Irish history and the somewhat optimistic and premature one-sided proclamation of a republic in 1916.
Add several important dates and your mind is reeling. Here are the basic facts you need to know:
From the United Kingdom to the Republic
The steps leading up to Ireland, in the early 20th century, part of the United Kingdom, to become a republic are best described in a quick list of major events:
- 1916 – Rebels led by Patrick Pearse organized an armed insurrection on Easter Monday (the “Easter Rising”). On April 24, Pearse read the “Proclamation of the Republic” to confuse onlookers outside the Dublin General Post Office. This proclamation had no legal status whatsoever, it should be seen as a “declaration of intent” and was effectively overturned by the British victory.
- 1919 – An “Irish Republic” was declared and independent from Great Britain. This was more or less a theoretical exercise, with a real power shift in the following years. The Anglo-Irish War (or War of Independence) occurred.
- 1922 – After the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, the Union was dissolved and Ireland received ‘Dominion’ status, with a British Governor General. The ‘Irish Free State’ was formed, including Northern Ireland … which immediately seceded from the Free State and declared its own independence as part of the United Kingdom. The King of England was still King of Ireland, North and South.
- 1937 – A new constitution was adopted, changing the name of the state to a simple “Ireland” and eliminating the office of the Governor General, replacing it with the President of Ireland. However, in external affairs, the King of England still functioned as the executive authority.
1949 – Ireland finally becomes a republic
Then came the Republic of Ireland Act of 1948, which declared Ireland a republic, plain and simple. It also gave the President of Ireland the power to exercise the executive authority of the state in its external relations (but only on the advice of the Government of Ireland). This act became law at the end of 1948… but only entered into force on April 18, 1949, on Easter Monday.
Only from now on could Ireland be seen as a fully developed and fully independent republic.
As the entire process leading up to the Republic of Ireland Act already made most of the major changes and also established a constitution, the actual text of the act was very brief:
The Republic of Ireland Act, 1948
An act to repeal the Executive Authority (Foreign Relations) Act, 1936, to state that the description of the State shall be the Republic of Ireland, and to allow the President to exercise executive power or any executive function of the state in or in relation to with your external relationships. Originally aired December 21, 1948.
Be enacted by the Oireachtas as follows:
1. The Executive Authority (External Relations) Act of 1936 (No. 58 of 1936) is repealed.
2. – The description of the State is declared to be the Republic of Ireland.
3. – The President, under the authority and council of the Government, may exercise the executive power or any executive function of the State in or in relation to its external relations.
4. – This Law shall enter into force on the day that the Government so orders it by order.
5. – This Act may be cited as the Republic of Ireland Act 1948.
By the way, the Constitution of Ireland does not yet have a passage that implies that Ireland is actually a republic. And some dissenting Republicans deny that Ireland has the right to call itself a republic until Northern Ireland reunites with the 26 counties of the so-called South.
