Free-Stater (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
Free Stater is a term often used by opponents to describe those in Ireland who supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty
of 1921 that led to the creation of the Irish Free State
in 1922. The pro-Treaty side included members of the IRA
who had fought the British during the recent Irish War of Independence. Led by Michael Collins
and Richard Mulcahy
, it soon became the nucleus of the new (regular) Irish National Army that overcame their anti-treaty opponents during the often bitter Irish Civil War
of 1922-23.
The term is sometimes heard anachronistically in Northern Ireland for anyone from the south of the country, occasionally with a pejorative republican slant.
The term is also used across Ireland to describe people from the Republic of Ireland who do not support a united Ireland.
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
of 1921 that led to the creation of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
in 1922. The pro-Treaty side included members of the IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
who had fought the British during the recent Irish War of Independence. Led by Michael Collins
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
and Richard Mulcahy
Richard Mulcahy
Richard James Mulcahy was an Irish politician, army general and commander in chief, leader of Fine Gael and Cabinet Minister...
, it soon became the nucleus of the new (regular) Irish National Army that overcame their anti-treaty opponents during the often bitter Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
of 1922-23.
The term is sometimes heard anachronistically in Northern Ireland for anyone from the south of the country, occasionally with a pejorative republican slant.
The term is also used across Ireland to describe people from the Republic of Ireland who do not support a united Ireland.