Democratic Reform
For a New Republic

The Irish Republic;

For a thousand years the Irish People have struggled for, the right to determine our own path and destiny in the freedom and security of Nationhood. Our Nation is now a respected member of the United Nations.
Article 1 of the Irish Constitution state's.
The Irish Nation hereby affirms its inalienable, indefeasible, and sovereign right to choose its own form of Government, to determine its relations with other nations, and to develop its life, political, economic and cultural, in accordance with its own genius and traditions.
Over the next few years the Irish People are going to have to choose how they wish to be governed. European integration or a Sovereign Independent Nation. Once upon a time, our leaders dared to dream, of a Nation unfettered and free. Where stand our current Leaders.

Our Struggle for Independence;

After a centuries old struggle against colonisation by the British, Irish Independence was declared in 1916. Although at the time the rebellion did not have public support, the aftermath and ruthless reprisals by the British against the rebels, led to growing anger and support for the Republican Cause. In 1922 following a six year war of independence, in which De-Valera and Collins fought side by side, a treaty was agreed with the British Government. The terms of the treaty caused division within the republican movement. Some led by De-Valera, (the Political Idealist) wanted to continue to fight for an all Ireland solution, while others supported by Collins (the Pragmatic Soldier), saw the treaty as a stepping stone to an independent Nation. The Official line is that Collins while in negotiations in London was threatened by Loyd George that economic chaos would be visited on the Irish people if they did not accept the proposed treaty.

It seems we are always being threatened with economic chaos if we don't say “Yes”.

Descent into Civil War
Following the Signing of the Treaty, by the provisional Government, the political arguments went on, but then events took on a momentum of their own, The assassination of Sir Henry Wilson in London, led to calls for retaliation from the British, and the subsequent capture of the deputy chief of staff of the Free State Army (J.J.O'Connell) by the IRA, gave the new Irish Free State Government, eager to demonstrate its authority, a reason to attack the republican side. The resulting civil war has scarred Irish society ever since.
After the Civil War
Although the Pro-Treaty forces are generally considered to have won the civil war, it was De-Valera who eventually won the political battles, which led to the dismantling of the “Free State”, leading to the Constitution of 1937. The founders of the Irish State were a product of a different era, an era between two world wars, and dominance of our culture by religious intolerance, and divided loyalties. With Fascism on the rise in Europe and in Ireland, (Eoin O'Duffys Blueshirts), and continued dependence on Britain (our former rulers) for our economy.
Birth of the Irish Republic (1948)
In 1948 the Inter Party Government, under the leadership of John A Costello (Fine Gael), withdrew from the British Commonwealth finally ending British domination over Irish affairs. For a period of only twentyfive years, the Irish Nation, was truly independent. This was the period between our withdrawal from the British Commonwealth, and our entry in 1973 to the European Union.

(A good reference book on this subject is “An Outline of Modern Irish History” by ME Collins which was published by the Educational Company.).