Pictures from Google Image Search

Irish Free State/Republic, relations with

The Oxford Companion to British History | 2002 | | © The Oxford Companion to British History 2002, originally published by Oxford University Press 2002. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Irish Free State/Republic, relations with. Given the background of bitterness and the controversial circumstances behind the Anglo-Irish treaty of December 1921, relations were bound to be tense. The treaty left many issues unresolved: the precise definition of the South's constitutional connection with Britain; its autonomy in foreign affairs; potential changes in the border with Northern Ireland. The British government during the civil war doubted the integrity of Irish support for the treaty and frequently showed old colonial arrogance towards the Free State government. A majority in the South accepted the treaty without enthusiasm, but a minority supported the republican side in the civil war and did not agree to compromise at the end of the conflict. Partition and the constitutional status dominated Irish politics in the 1920s and 1930s: the agreement between the British and Irish governments not to change the border in 1925 hardened anti-British resentment. The two main parties in the South, Cumann na nGaedheal/Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, are best distinguished by their relative position over Britain. de Valera consolidated his electoral popularity by abolishing the oath to the crown and by refusing to pay land annuities; the British response resulted in a trade war, only settled in 1938 with an agreement favourable for Ireland, in which Britain agreed to vacate the so-called Treaty Ports. Relations soon deteriorated over Irish neutrality during the Second World War and refusal to bow to pressure to hand back the ports.

The coalition government's declaration of a republic in 1948 was made without consultation with Britain and caused the constitutional position of Northern Ireland to be reinforced by the Ireland Act a year later. Not until the 1970s, which saw Ireland and Britain in the European Economic Community and revision of the traditional nationalist ideology in the South did communications improve. In the early years of the Northern Ireland crisis, relations were put back on a footing reminiscent of the early 1920s: the Irish government talked of establishing field hospitals on the border and elements in it helped to finance the Provisional IRA in its early stages; the British embassy in Dublin was burnt down after Derry's Bloody Sunday, February 1972. As the northern conflict wore on, southern attitudes became increasingly pragmatic, particularly when Garret FitzGerald was Taoiseach (June 1981–March 1982, December 1982–March 1987). Increasing criticism within the South of the old irredentist outlook and appreciation of the need to change a conservative social framework were both part of a rapprochement with Britain. The British government came to recognize that Dublin must play an important part in any settlement of the northern question. Such developments culminated in the Anglo-Irish agreement 1985, which had disappointing results in the North, but dramatically improved Anglo-Irish communications, and was belatedly accepted by Charles Haughey, Fianna Fail Taoiseach (1987–92). With the worsening northern security situation, increasing concern in Ireland and Britain about the level of expenditure, and agreement between leaders of Sinn Fein and the IRA, British and Irish prime ministers John Major and Albert Reynolds redefined their countries' aims in December 1993 in the Downing Street declaration. Never as cold as they superficially appeared, Anglo-Irish relations since the 1960s have become progressively warmer, but many fundamental differences have yet to be settled over Northern Ireland before the past can be buried.

Michael Hopkinson

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN CANNON. "Irish Free State/Republic, relations with." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 19 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Irish Free State/Republic, relations with." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (December 19, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-IrishFreeSttRpblcrltnswth.html

JOHN CANNON. "Irish Free State/Republic, relations with." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Retrieved December 19, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-IrishFreeSttRpblcrltnswth.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles from HighBeam Research

(Including press releases, facts, information, and biographies)

Savoy Resources Corp. Announces Management Change; Savoy Holds Rights to a Vast Mineral Area.
Business Wire; 7/19/2004; 700+ words ; ...incorrect, it should read: 800-507-2869. The corrected release reads: SAVOY RESOURCES CORP. ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGE; SAVOY HOLDS RIGHTS TO A VAST MINERAL AREA Savoy Resources Corp. (OTCBB:SVYR), in partnership with the Heilongjiang...
Savoy Resources and First Institute of Geology of Heliongjiang Province, China, Solidify Joint Venture Partnership's Exploration and Development Plans.
Business Wire; 4/5/2005; 700+ words ; ...Drilling Results and Sets Future Course Savoy Resources Corp. (OTCBB:SVYR), a precious...position of Chief Executive Officer of Savoy Resources, Arthur Johnson, and other...We're very pleased to be working with Savoy's new management team, especially its...
Savoy Resources Corp. Announces the Appointment of Mr. Zhengli Ge and Mr. Daniel Mckinney to the Board of Directors and a Private Placement.
Business Wire; 8/17/2004; 700+ words ; DENVER -- Savoy Resources Corp. (OTCBB:SVYR) Savoy Appoints New Directors Mr. Zhengli (Charles) Ge is a Senior...Institute of Geology and Exploration of Heilongjiang Province, Savoy's joint venture partner in China. Under his leadership...
Savoy and the First Institute of Heilongjiang Province, China, to Celebrate Historic Signing Ceremony.
Business Wire; 4/30/2004; 700+ words ; ...DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2004 Savoy Resources Corp. (OTCBB: SVYR) ("Savoy") is proud to accept the invitation of the...by the First Institute and, under its terms, Savoy has the right to acquire up to a 70% interest...
Legendary Savoy set to regain past glory
News Wire article from: The Hindustan Times; 8/23/2009; 700+ words ; ...to this popular hill station was "The Savoy", a heritage hotel which has been a magnificent...new hotels with the latest facilities, Savoy began to falter and, perhaps, could not...Kanpur-based company. Since then, The Savoy has remained closed and people, who had...
Savoy Announces Beijing Gold Show, Work Planning, Private Placement.
Business Wire; 11/12/2004; 700+ words ; DENVER -- Savoy Resources Corp. (SVYR:OTCBB): About Savoy Savoy Resources Corp. (SVYR:OTCBB) is a precious metals and mineral exploration and mining company. Through our joint venture company, the Heilongjiang Savoy Resources Co...
Savoy Hits Initial Funding Target, Senior Management Holds Meetings with Officials in China.
Business Wire; 12/2/2004; 700+ words ; DENVER -- Savoy Resources Corp. (OTCBB:SVYR): About Savoy Savoy Resources Corp. is a precious metals and mineral exploration and mining company. Through our joint venture company, the Heilongjiang Savoy Resources Co., Ltd., in partnership...
Savoy retiring from Groves PD.
Newspaper article from: Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, TX); 1/30/2007; 700+ words ; ...It was 32 years ago this week when Steve Savoy first donned a Groves police uniform and...Apparently we did well enough," said Savoy, now 53 and the city marshal. He had...justice from Lamar University. Monday, Savoy had cleared off bookshelves and had just...
Savoy Jazz Set for Ambitious New Year: Acquires Muse and Landmark Catalogues - Acquisition Gives CME Subsidiary Commanding Presence in Jazz - Savoy Returns to Active Recording after a Long Hiatus; Savoy Acquires Muse and Landmark.
PR Newswire; 1/7/2003; 700+ words ; ...Calif., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Savoy Jazz today announced the acquisition of...Fields and Orrin Keepnews respectively. Savoy Jazz is a wholly owned subsidiary of CME...That series will be relaunched under the Savoy label in late January for Valentine's...
SaVoy Magazine Returns
Newspaper article from: Los Angeles Sentinel; 3/2/2005; 559 words ; ...Sentinel 03-02-2005 Chicago, IL- SaVoy magazine relaunched this month under the...thrilled to be a part of the rebirth of SaVoy. It's an excellent magazine and I will...sure that Jazzy Communications preserves Savoy's sophisticated, worldly, hip positioning...

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauruses

Savoy, Ann
Book article from: Contemporary Musicians Savoy, Ann Singer, guitarist, producer OffBeat magazine has described Ann Savoy as "Cajun Music's Cultural Ambassador," and...and John Fogerty. All of this is in addition to Savoy's extensive recording and live performance career...
Savoy, Duchy of
Encyclopedia entry from: Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World SAVOY, DUCHY OF SAVOY, DUCHY OF. Situated in the western Alps with its capital at Chamb é ry, the duchy of Savoy began as a county of the Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages. During...
Savoy
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Savoy , Fr. Savoie, Alpine region of E France. The boundaries of old Savoy have changed with time, but presently the region...Chambéry is the historic capital of French Savoy. The region commands many important passes connecting...
house of Savoy
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition house of Savoy dynasty of Western Europe that ruled Savoy and Piedmont from the 11th cent., the kingdom of Sicily...Italy from 1861 to 1946. Collateral branches of the house of Savoy include that of Nemours. Savoy and Piedmont Its first important...
Savoy Brown
Book article from: Contemporary Musicians Savoy Brown Rock group Despite an ever-changing lineup, Savoy Brown has been led from its beginnings by guitarist, songwriter...evolved, or drastically altered their musical approach, Savoy Brown unabashedly remained a vehicle for electric blues...

Find thousands of answers for hundreds of subjects at Smart QandA .

All answers verified by trusted sources at Encyclopedia.com

Try Smart QandA now!

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: