The Irish Free State refers to the political entity that emerged in 1922 after the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty between the United Kingdom and the provisional government of Ireland. With the establishment of the Irish Free State, Ireland gained a significant degree of self-government while remaining a dominion within the British Empire.
The Irish Free State encompassed around 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland, excluding six counties in the northeast, which ultimately became Northern Ireland and remained part of the United Kingdom. The capital of the Irish Free State was Dublin, and it had a parliamentary system with a bicameral legislature.
Under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, the Irish Free State had its own government, responsible for internal affairs, including education, law enforcement, and administration. However, certain areas such as defense, foreign policy, and trade remained under the control of the British government.
The Irish Free State lasted until 1937 when a new constitution transformed it into a sovereign state called Ireland, or Éire in the Irish language. The new constitution abolished the Irish Free State and renamed the country as simply Ireland, cutting all remaining links to the British Empire.
The Irish Free State played a crucial role in Ireland's journey towards independence, laying the foundation for the fully independent Republic of Ireland that exists today.
