Irish cabinets since 1919 facts for kids

The government of a country is like the main team that makes decisions and runs things. In Ireland, this team is called the Government of Ireland. It has been known by this name since 1937, when the country adopted its Constitution. Before that, Ireland had different types of governments as it became independent.

From 1919 to 1922, during a time when Ireland was fighting for its independence, the government was called the Ministry of Dáil Éireann. This government was not officially recognized by other countries at first. At the same time, a Provisional Government was set up in 1922 after an important agreement called the Anglo-Irish Treaty. When the Irish Free State was formed in December 1922, these earlier governments stopped. From 1922 to 1937, the government was known as the Executive Council of the Irish Free State.

How Ireland's Government Changed Over Time

Ireland has had several different types of governments since 1919. Each type had a different name and was led by different people.

Different Government Types Since 1919

Here's a quick look at the main types of governments Ireland has had:

Leaders of Ireland's Governments Since 1919

This table shows the main leaders of Ireland's governments and the political parties they belonged to. The "Dáil" refers to the Irish Parliament.

Northern Ireland's Government

Northern Ireland also has its own government, which makes decisions for its region. This type of government is called a "devolved" government, meaning some powers are given from the main UK government to Northern Ireland.

The current government in Northern Ireland is called the Northern Ireland Executive. It was set up under an important agreement called the Good Friday Agreement. This Executive has been working on and off since 1999.

Before this, Northern Ireland had other devolved governments:

• The Executive Committee of the Privy Council from 1921 to 1972.
• The Northern Ireland Executive of 1974.

Sometimes, when the devolved government isn't working, Northern Ireland is governed by "direct rule" from the UK government. This happened from 1972 to 1974, 1974 to 1998, and 2002 to 2007.

Types of Government in Northern Ireland Since 1921

Here are the different types of governments Northern Ireland has had:

What is Direct Rule?

Direct rule means that the UK government directly manages Northern Ireland. This happens when the local Northern Ireland government cannot agree or is not working. The Northern Ireland Office, led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, takes charge. This system was first set up by special laws in 1972 and 1973.

Leaders of Northern Ireland's Governments Since 1921

This table shows the main leaders of Northern Ireland's governments and the political parties they belonged to.

More Information

• Irish heads of government since 1919
• Dáil election results
• Dáil vote for Taoiseach
• Elections in the Republic of Ireland
• History of the Republic of Ireland
• Politics of the Republic of Ireland
• Elections in Northern Ireland
• Politics of Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Assembly
• Parliament of Northern Ireland