Republic of Ireland Act

The Republic of Ireland Act of 1948 declared Ireland a republic, formally severing its last ties with the British Commonwealth. This act was a culmination of a long struggle for independence from British rule, which had lasted for centuries.1

Following the Irish War of Independence, the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 established the Irish Free State, a dominion within the British Commonwealth. However, this treaty also led to the partition of Ireland, with the six counties of Northern Ireland opting to remain part of the United Kingdom. The remaining 26 counties formed the Irish Free State, which later adopted a new constitution in 1937, renaming the nation Éire, or Ireland. The declaration of a republic in 1949 marked a significant step in Ireland's journey toward full sovereignty.21