Ireland, Republic of
- a country comprising approximately four fifths of Ireland; pop. 4,203,200 (est. 2009); languages, Irish (official), English; capital, Dublin.爱尔兰共和国（国土面积占爱尔兰的五分之四; 2009年估计人口4,203,200; 语言爱尔兰语［官方语言］, 英语; 首都都柏林）。亦称I
RISH R EPUBLIC.
The Anglo-Irish Treaty by which Ireland was partitioned in 1922 gave southern Ireland dominion status as the Irish Free State. The treaty was followed by civil war between the Free State government and republicans, led by Eamon de Valera, who rejected partition. The war ended in victory for the government in 1923. A new constitution as a sovereign state (Eire) was adopted in 1937. Eire remained neutral during the Second World War; in 1949 it left the Commonwealth and became fully independent as the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland joined the EC in 1973.