Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Irish Republic
Ireland finally entered a phase of peace. Without an armed struggle to pursue - at least not
one pursued by the majority - the IRA became a marginalised force in independent Ireland
and Sinn Féin fell apart. In 1926, de Valera created a new party, Fianna Fáil (Soldiers of
Destiny), which has been the dominant force in Irish politics ever since. Over the following
decades, Fianna Fáil gradually eliminated most of the clauses of the Treaty with which it
had disagreed (including the oath of allegiance).
In 1932, a freshly painted Dublin hosted the 31st Eucharistic Congress, which drew vis-
itors from around the world. The Catholic Church began to wield disproportionate control
over the affairs of the state; contraception was made illegal in the 1930s and the age of con-
sent was raised from 16 to 17.
In 1936, when the IRA refused to disarm, de Valera had it banned. The following year
the Civil War-tainted moniker 'Free State' was dropped in favour of Eire as the country's
official name in a rewrite of the constitution.
Despite having done much of the groundwork, Fianna Fáil lost out to its rivals Fine
Gael, descendants of the original pro-Treaty Free State government, on declaring the 26
counties a republic in 1949.
Author and treaty negotiator, Robert Erskine Childers was executed by the government on November 24,
1922. Opposed to the final draft of the Treaty, Childers joined anti-Treaty forces during the Civil War when
he was found to be in possession of a gun, the penalty for which was death.
