"The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann Irish pronunciation: [si?sta?t e?n]; 6 December 1922 ? 29 December 1937) was the state established in 1922 as a Dominion of the British Empire under the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed by British and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand. On the day the Irish Free State was established, it comprised the entire island of Ireland, but as expected Northern Ireland almost immediately exercised its right under the treaty to remove itself from the new state. The Irish Free State effectively replaced both the self-proclaimed Irish Republic (founded 21 January 1919) and the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland. W. T. Cosgrave, the first President of the Irish Free State had led both of these "governments" since August 1922. The Irish Free State came to an end in 1937, when the citizens voted by referendum to replace the 1922 constitution. It was succeeded by the sovereign and current state of Ireland, which until 1949 was often referred to as Eire."--Wikipedia.