According to reports, Arthur Griffith was a writer who after a spell in south Africa founded and edited the Irish statesman newspaper. Reportedly, in 1905 he founded Sinn féin and was arrested in 1916 during the easter uprising. According to reports, he was minister for home affairs, then minister for foreign affairs, and was appointed chairman of the Irish delegation to negotiate the anglo Irish treaty of March 1922, of which he was a signatory.
Reportedly, the treaty which concluded the Irish war of independence created a so called free state within the British empire, except for northern Ireland, creating a rift in the Dáil and leading to the Irish civil war, consisting of pro and anti treaty factions.
According to reports, Eamon de Valera resigned after the treaty was narrowly approved in the Dàil. Reportedly, he was replaced by Arthur Griffith who died of a brain hemmorage in August 1922. According to reports, the treaty lost the support of Sinn féin, creating the need for a party to support the treaty. Cumann na nGaedheal, meaning society of Gaels became Fine gael in 1933.