Irish Free State

The Irish Free State Saorstát Eireann
1922–1937
Flag Coat of arms
Capital	Dublin
Government	Constitutional monarchy
• 1922-1936	George V
• 1936	Edward VIII
• 1936-1937	George VI
Governor General
• 1922-1927	Timothy Michael Healy
• 1927-1932	James McNeill
• 1932-1936	Domhnall na Buachalla
President of the Executive Council
• 1922-1932	W.T. Cosgrave
• 1932-1937	Éamon de Valera
Legislature	Oireachtas
• Upper house	Seanad Éireann
• Lower house	Dáil Éireann
History
• Anglo-Irish Treaty	6 December 1921
• Constitution of the Irish Free State Act	6 December 1922 1922
• Bunreacht na hÉireann	29 December 1937 1937
ISO 3166 code	IE
Preceded by Succeeded by Southern Ireland Irish Republic Republic of Ireland

The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was the name of the Republic of Ireland from 1922 to 1937. It replaced both the Irish Republic and Southern Ireland.

The government was called the Executive Council, and it was headed by the President of the Executive Council, instead of a Prime Minister.

The Free State was the first Commonwealth Realm. Until 1927 it was ruled by a Governor General on behalf of the King of the United Kingdom. After a row between the Governments in London and Dublin it was decided that the Governor General represented the King of Ireland, not the King of the United Kingdom, even though they were the same person.

The change meant that the King and the Governor General were advised by the Irish government about what to do in Ireland, and stopped the British government from having any control over Irish affairs.

The constitution of 1937 changed the name of the country to Irish: Éire, or English: Ireland, but the King stayed head of state until 1948.

Preceded by Irish Republic 1919 - 1922	Irish Free State 1922 – 1937	Éire 1922 - date
Preceded by Southern Ireland 1921-1922