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| Capital (and largest city) |
Dublin | ||||||
| Religion | Catholic, Protestant | ||||||
| Demonym | Irish | ||||||
| Government | Unitiary parliamentary Republic | ||||||
| President | Michael D. Higgins | ||||||
| Taoiseach | Gerry Adams | ||||||
| Established | 1917 | ||||||
The Republic of Ireland is a sovereign nation located in North-West Europe.
It was formally created in 1917 in one of the clauses of the Treaty of Lille, which created an Irish Republic that controlled all of Ireland.
History[]
Independence[]
During WW1, German spies supported Irish Republicans to overthrow the British Government, promising that after the war was won, they would give Ireland independence. With various attacks on the over-stretched British Forces, parts of Ireland gained de facto independence. After the Great War, Germany arranged a Irish Republic, with Thomas J. Clark as its President, and Seán Mac Diarmada as Ireland’s first Taoiseach.
During the end of the war, it was proposed that Ireland would become a Kingdom, under Prince Joachim of Prussia (1890-1964).
Prince Joachim of Prussia, proposed King of Ireland.
Due to the large majority of the Irish leaders being republicans, this was refused in favour of a republic.
Inter-War[]
During the inter-war period (1916-1944), Ireland built up its economy and developed its foreign relations, particularly between the United States of America. It also started to become a important member of the economic stage.
The strains of having two opposing groups became apparent during this period, starting a 80 year dispute among the Protestant Northern Counties and the Catholic Southern Counties. The first reports of violence started in the early-to-mid 1920s, when various royalists started organising mobs against various republican leaders.
When the President of Ireland, Domhnall Ua Buachalla, was assassinated by a member of the Ulster Liberation Army, in 1940, fighting broke out in the Protestant counties of Ireland. The ULA then declared the Ulster State, which lasted from 1940 to 1947.
Second World War[]
See Irish Front (Agadir War) for more information.
On the outbreak of World War II, Ireland stayed neutral, content with just fighting the Ulster rebels and supporting Germany. In 1945, however, Britain got involved in the Irish Civil War, and directly declared war against the Irish Republic. This led Ireland to join the war on the side of the Central Alliance.
After 7 years of fighting Ulster and Britain, Ireland finally took back the Northern Counties and kicked the British forces out. A little over a year later, Britain itself collapsed due to German blockades and the American invasion in Northern England and Scotland.
Post-War[]
UVF members, 1972
After the war, Ireland still suffered from tensions between the incredibly bitter Northern Irish Protestants and Catholics. The members of thenow banned ULA formed a new organisation known as the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force). The UVF campaigned for the Northern Counties to be returned to the United Kingdom, and had a peak membership of 8,000 in 1997. Attacks and assassinations occurred regularly, with a estimated 4,000+ Casualties. This period was branded the Terrors.
End of the Terrors[]
In 1997, the Dublin Agreement led to the increased autonomy of the Northern Counties, and the end of hostilities.
Foreign Relations[]
Economy[]
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