Changes

==History==

==History==

The republic was declared in 1948. The State itself was founded in 1937, although a semi-independent state had existed in the South of Ireland since 1922.

 

The island of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom until 1921. After that the island was partitioned by the British into two states, Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. The proposed self-rule government of Southern Ireland never formally came into being and instead a provisional independent government, the Provisional Government of Ireland was established following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921. The Irish Free State, a dominion nation, was established in December 1922 following ratification of the treaty by Dail Éireann, the Irish parliament.

 

The Irish Free State ceased to exist in 1937 when the current constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann was adopted. After that the southern state was known as simply "Ireland". However the British and Northern Ireland governments disliked this name and would refer, incorrectly, to the state using its Irish language name, Éire.

 

The Republic of Ireland was declared in 1949. At this point the Republic of Ireland left the British Commonwealth, severing all political ties with Britain.

==Politics==

==Politics==