the Irish Free State
/ði ˌaɪrɪʃ ˈfriː steɪt/
/ði ˌaɪrɪʃ ˈfriː steɪt/
- a state consisting of the whole of Ireland except Northern Ireland. It was created by the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, and the state came into existence in 1922. Its name was changed to Eire in 1937 and to the Republic of Ireland in 1949.