Éamon de Valera

Éamon de Valera, former taoiseach died on 29 August 1975. Believed to be of saxon heritage. Both a U.S. and Irish citizen, he survived execution after the easter rising and reportedly left for the u.s. In 1924 the IRA had curtailed their activities and de Valera re-entered Ireland from the north where he was re-arrested. During his time in jail he is said to have decided against abstentionism. Seemingly pro-treaty, he was reportedly one of the signatories of the original Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921, a believed to be ambiguous document said to recognise the Irish free state within the British empire. Stalemate. Was reported that millions of pounds changed hands as part of the agreement. Negotiations were described as aggressive and acrimonious.

Part of the members of the government, that is the original Sinn féin refused to sit in the Dáil following the signing of the treaty. They formed a second Dáil which aimed to represent all of Ireland and were at war with the u.k. Wrongly classed as a civil war. Éamon formed Fianna fail with his colleagues, known also as the republican party. He reportedly refused to swear allegiance to George V on entering the Dáil as was the practice.

Fine Gael emerged from the Irish army who were pro-treaty and unpopular in the west. Known as the blue shirts, they were known for marching visibly. In Ballina the people reportedly threw things, including cabbages in protest at the treaty. Following the treaty there was much conflict.

During his term, Éamon de Valera replaced the position of governor-general with a president of Ireland though also believed to be the queen’s envoy. He reportedly rejected the idea of Catholicism as the state religion, but elements of catholic social teaching were held in the Irish constitution. He was criticised for the Anglo-irish trade agreement. During his term there was a lot of poverty. Ireland was classed as a third world country.