30 April –
Éamon de Valera introduces the new
Constitution of Ireland. It recognises the institution of marriage and the family and prohibits
divorce, as well as recognising the special position of the
Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. It also recognises Judaism and other minority faiths. Although drafted in English, the Irish translation, made initially by
Mícheál Ó Gríobhtha, will have legal priority.
11 May – the Constitution Bill receives its second reading in
Dáil Éireann.
Éamon de Valera dismisses claims that the Constitution provided for a dictatorship.
11 December – the Kelly Line steamer Annagher sinks at Ballymacormick Point with the loss of nine crew and only one survivor.
29 December – the new
Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hÉireann) comes into force. The
Irish Free State becomes known as "Ireland" (or Éire in the Irish language), and
Éamon de Valera becomes its first
Taoiseach (prime minister). A
Presidential Commission (made up the Chief Justice, the Speaker of Dáil Éireann, and the President of the High Court) assumes the powers of the new presidency, pending the election of the first
President of Ireland in June 1938. A 21-gun salute is fired from the
Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the tricolour
flag of Ireland flies over all public buildings.
30 April –
Éamon de Valera introduces the new
Constitution of Ireland. It recognises the institution of marriage and the family and prohibits
divorce, as well as recognising the special position of the
Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. It also recognises Judaism and other minority faiths. Although drafted in English, the Irish translation, made initially by
Mícheál Ó Gríobhtha, will have legal priority.
11 May – the Constitution Bill receives its second reading in
Dáil Éireann.
Éamon de Valera dismisses claims that the Constitution provided for a dictatorship.
11 December – the Kelly Line steamer Annagher sinks at Ballymacormick Point with the loss of nine crew and only one survivor.
29 December – the new
Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hÉireann) comes into force. The
Irish Free State becomes known as "Ireland" (or Éire in the Irish language), and
Éamon de Valera becomes its first
Taoiseach (prime minister). A
Presidential Commission (made up the Chief Justice, the Speaker of Dáil Éireann, and the President of the High Court) assumes the powers of the new presidency, pending the election of the first
President of Ireland in June 1938. A 21-gun salute is fired from the
Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the tricolour
flag of Ireland flies over all public buildings.