Enactment of the 1937 Irish Constitution...
Item # 726482
December 30, 1937
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Dec. 30, 1937
* Irish Constitution enacted
* End of Irish Free State era
* Eamon de Valera's speech
* Dublin, Ireland - Dail Eireann
Page 2 has a two column heading: "New Constitution Embodies Plans Of Ireland of de Valera's Dream" with subhead.
Also a one column heading reads: "ULSTER'S INCLUSION BARRED IN BRITAIN" with subheads.
And text of Eamon de Valera's speech with heading: "Eamon de Valera's Speech on Inauguration of Constitution". (see images)
Complete with 40 pages, light toning at the margins, nice condition.
Background: The enactment of the Irish Constitution on December 29, 1937, represented a watershed moment in the pursuit of Irish self-determination, effectively ending the Irish Free State era and asserting a new, republican-leaning identity within a sovereign framework. Driven by Éamon de Valera, the document was designed to dismantle the lingering legal ties to the British Crown established by the 1921 Treaty—notably replacing the Governor-General with a popularly elected President—while asserting a controversial territorial claim over Northern Ireland in its original Articles 2 and 3. Its historical significance is anchored in its unique blend of liberal democratic structures and the prevailing Catholic social ethos of the 1930s, creating a legal bedrock that defined the state’s moral and political character for decades. Furthermore, by requiring a mandatory public referendum for any future amendments, the 1937 Constitution ensured that the evolution of Irish law remained directly tethered to the will of the people, eventually facilitating the nation’s dramatic 21st-century transition from a conservative confessional state to a modern secular society.
* Irish Constitution enacted
* End of Irish Free State era
* Eamon de Valera's speech
* Dublin, Ireland - Dail Eireann
Page 2 has a two column heading: "New Constitution Embodies Plans Of Ireland of de Valera's Dream" with subhead.
Also a one column heading reads: "ULSTER'S INCLUSION BARRED IN BRITAIN" with subheads.
And text of Eamon de Valera's speech with heading: "Eamon de Valera's Speech on Inauguration of Constitution". (see images)
Complete with 40 pages, light toning at the margins, nice condition.
Background: The enactment of the Irish Constitution on December 29, 1937, represented a watershed moment in the pursuit of Irish self-determination, effectively ending the Irish Free State era and asserting a new, republican-leaning identity within a sovereign framework. Driven by Éamon de Valera, the document was designed to dismantle the lingering legal ties to the British Crown established by the 1921 Treaty—notably replacing the Governor-General with a popularly elected President—while asserting a controversial territorial claim over Northern Ireland in its original Articles 2 and 3. Its historical significance is anchored in its unique blend of liberal democratic structures and the prevailing Catholic social ethos of the 1930s, creating a legal bedrock that defined the state’s moral and political character for decades. Furthermore, by requiring a mandatory public referendum for any future amendments, the 1937 Constitution ensured that the evolution of Irish law remained directly tethered to the will of the people, eventually facilitating the nation’s dramatic 21st-century transition from a conservative confessional state to a modern secular society.
Category: The 20th Century
