kids encyclopedia robot

Irish cabinets since 1919 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Government of Ireland is the name for the main group of people who lead the country of Ireland today. This name has been used since 1937, when the Constitution of Ireland was put in place. Before that, Ireland had different types of governments. From 1919 to 1922, during a time when Ireland was trying to become independent, the government was called the Ministry of Dáil Éireann. For a short time in 1922, there was also a Provisional Government. After 1922, when the Irish Free State was formed, the government was known as the Executive Council of the Irish Free State until 1937.

How Ireland's Government Changed Over Time

Ireland's government has changed a lot since 1919. Here's a look at the main types of governments and when they were in charge:

  • Ministry of Dáil Éireann: This was the government of the Irish Republic, which was not officially recognized by other countries at first. It ran from January 1919 to December 1922. The leader was called the President of Dáil Éireann.
  • Provisional Government: This government was set up in 1922 after the Anglo-Irish Treaty was agreed upon. It also ended in December 1922. The leader was called the Chairman.
  • Executive Council: This was the government of the Irish Free State, which existed from December 1922 to December 1937. The leader was known as the President, and there was also a Vice-President.
  • Government of Ireland: This is the current government of Ireland, which started in December 1937 with the new Constitution of Ireland. The leader is called the Taoiseach, and the second-in-command is the Tánaiste.

Leaders of Ireland's Governments Since 1919

Over the years, many important people have led Ireland's governments. Here are some of the key leaders during different periods:

  • During the Irish Free State (1922-1937):
    • W. T. Cosgrave was the President of the Executive Council for many years, leading several councils.
    • Éamon de Valera also became President of the Executive Council in the later years of the Irish Free State.

Northern Ireland's Governments

Northern Ireland has its own government, which is separate from the Government of Ireland. This government is called the Northern Ireland Executive. It was set up under the Good Friday Agreement, a peace agreement signed in 1998.

How Northern Ireland's Government Changed Over Time

Northern Ireland has had different ways of being governed since 1921:

  • Executive Committee of the Privy Council: This was the first government of Northern Ireland, from 1921 to 1972. The leader was called the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.
  • Direct Rule: For long periods, Northern Ireland was governed directly by the United Kingdom government in London. This happened from 1972 to 1974, again from 1974 to 1998, and from 2002 to 2007. During direct rule, the Northern Ireland Office and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland were in charge.
  • Executive (1974): A short-lived government was formed in 1974. The leader was called the Chief Executive.
  • Northern Ireland Executive: This is the current devolved government, which has been in operation on and off since 1999. It is led by a First Minister and a Deputy First Minister.

Leaders of Northern Ireland's Governments Since 1921

Here are some of the key leaders who have headed Northern Ireland's governments:

  • Prime Ministers (1921-1972):
    • James Craig was the first Prime Minister.
    • Other Prime Ministers included John Miller Andrews, Basil Brooke, Terence O'Neill, James Chichester-Clark, and Brian Faulkner.

More to Explore

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Irish cabinets since 1919 Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.