Ireland gained independence through a series of key events. It first declared independence on January 21, 1919, when Irish politicians formed the first Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) and proclaimed an Irish Republic. This declaration sparked the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) against British rule. The conflict ended with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire. The Irish Free State officially came into existence on December 6, 1922, comprising 26 counties, while six counties in Northern Ireland opted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Full republic status was later declared on April 18, 1949.
