The Origins of the Irish Constitution 1928–1941

Abstract

The self-governing Irish state has had two Constitutions since its secession from the United Kingdom. Both of these Constitutions suffer from difficulties of image and identity. The circumstances that surrounded the adoption of the Constitution of the Irish Free State in 1922 resulted in claims that this document was actually a British imposition. The Constitution that succeeded it in 1937 has suffered from perceptions that it was heavily influenced by members of the clergy and so reflects the doctrine and ideology of the Catholic church. One of the great tasks of Irish constitutional scholarship in recent decades is the examination of the accuracy of such popular images. The Origins of the Irish Constitution 1928 -­- 1941 published by the Royal Irish Academy is the latest contribution to this field.