1937 Constitution (Buneacht Na hEireann)

Question 1

When did De Valera/Fianna Fail take power?

Answer 1

March 1932

Question 2

What terms did De Valera dismantle from the Anglo-Irish treaty and how?

Answer 2

1. The IRA was legalised and attacked Cumman na nGaedheal members, but then in 1936, they were declared illegal again
2. In November 1932, London recalled Governor-General James MacNeill, as Fianna Fáil members were sobbing him
3. The removal of the oath act, passed in May 1933, removed the oath of allegiance to the monarch
4. In May 1933, the constitution stopped people appealing Irish court in the privy council. London challenged this in 1935, but the 1931 statute of Westminster gave De Valera these powers
5. De Valera used the 1936 abdication crisis to pass:
   The constitution act, which removed all reference to the British monarch and Governor-General from the constitution
   The external relations act, which ended the monarch’s official role within IFS

Question 3

What were the key terms of the 1937 constitution?

Answer 3

1. The IFS would become known as Eire
2. The title of head of government would be Taoiseach
3. The head of state would be the president. Elections would happen every 7 years for the role
4. Irish was recognised as the official language
5. The Catholic Church was given a ‘special position’ although ‘freedom of conscience and free profession and practise of religion’ was granted to other faiths
6. Article 2 claimed the right to rule over the whole island
7. Article 3 added that until partition ended, Eire’s laws would only apply to the 26 countries currently governed by Dublin

Question 4

What was the impact of the 1937 constitution on relations between Britain and Eire?

Answer 4

London decided that these changes didn’t alter its relationship with Eire

Question 5

What was the impact of the 1937 constitution on relations between Northern Ireland and Eire?

Answer 5

The unionist government strongly criticised it, in particular it:
Condemned Article 2
Denounced the particular mention of the position of the Catholic Church and the Irish language

Question 6

What did lord craigavon do after the constitution was released?

Answer 6

In 1938 he called a snap general election, resulting n an even stronger Protestant majority

Question 7

What did nationalists make of the 1937 constitution?

Answer 7

It could be argued even they had a lot to be dissatisfied with, as removing all the links with Britain could have strengthened partition