Éire (Irish language name since 1937) Names of the Irish state

as mentioned above, article 4 of constitution of ireland, gives state 2 official names, Éire in irish , ireland in english. each name direct translation of other. 1937, name Éire used in english language.

in may 1937, when president of executive council, Éamon de valera presented first draft of constitution parliamentary committee on constitution, article 4 provided: name of state Éire . there no reference ireland @ all. opposition politicians proposed word ireland substituted word Éire throughout english text. argued ireland name known every european country; name should not surrendered; name ireland might instead adopted northern ireland; , choice of Éire might damage status of state internationally drawing distinction between state...and has been known centuries ireland . responding, de valera stressed irish text of constitution foundation text. in light of this, said name Éire more logical , mean irish name become accepted in english language. however, said had no strong views , agreed in english translation name of state [would be] ireland .

when de valera subsequently tabled amendment give effect concession, proposed article 4 s current wording: name of state Éire, or, in english language, ireland. in doing so, remarked irish text fundamental text [it well] Éire used here , there. no debate, wording agreed , subsequently became law of land.

it said de valera wished reserve names republic of ireland or irish republic day when united ireland might achieved. these names not discussed in parliamentary debates on constitution. however, reason de valera gave in debates omitting reference word republic throughout constitution thought constitution gain broader support if did not refer republic.

after adoption of constitution, de valera s government encouraged use of name Éire (rather ireland) not always. government appreciated significance of name ireland. example, when irish ambassador in berlin, charles bewley sought instructions concerning new name of state, advised joseph p. walshe, decades top civil servant in irish department of external affairs that:

when informing german government of change of name of state, should not emphasise irish form. change of name not, of course, have same political or national significance if Éire used foreigners. aware, hope of in country use of ireland describe twenty-six counties have definite psychological effect in favour of unity of country on both irish , foreign minds.

ireland uses Éire country name on current postage stamps.

thus, while encouraging use of name Éire in english, de valera s government insisted @ other times on use of name ireland. united kingdom disputed irish adoption of name ireland (below). de valera s decision use name Éire severely criticised poor choice of name. argued confusing. others said name Éire might strengthen claim of government of northern ireland ancient name of ulster state. however, name Éire (generally appearing eire in english) became accepted in english. nevertheless, fuelled more criticism of name, once free in english language, evolved – leading opposition politicians stated sneering titles such eirish . these criticisms aired @ length in oireachtas when republic of ireland act being debated. de valera s use of name Éire wording of article 4 sharply criticised. taoiseach of day, john a. costello said tremendous confusion ha[d] been caused use of word Éire in article 4. misuse malicious people of word, Éire, have identified twenty-six counties , not state set under constitution of 1937. despite these criticisms, de valera called proposed irish description of state, poblacht na h-Éireann inserted english text of act in same way both irish , english names of state used in article 4. however, de valera subsequently retreated position , in may seen implicit acceptance of criticisms made of wording of article 4 itself, de valera accepted better not use irish description in english text. despite not changing name, when republic of ireland act passed, name Éire fell disuse (except in irish language). name continues linger on, particularly in united kingdom. constitution review group s 1967 report discusses article 4:

throughout years since 1937 term Éire has been misused in english name of state. use can point article justification, arguing word or in english text of article indicates ireland merely alternative english form of name. there is, perhaps, @ least ambiguity in article provides colourable pretext misuse. in light of past experience feel opportunity might taken remove difficulty declaring in irish text Éire ainm don stát , in english text name of state ireland . there seem no objection simplification since both texts of equal validity (except in case of conflict), , word ireland english equivalent of irish word Éire .

historically, eire commonly used state-name variety of organisations. example, in 1938, irish amateur athletic union (iaau) changed name amateur athletic union of eire (aaue) , affiliated international amateur athletic federation (iaaf) under country name eire . in 1967, aaue merged of rival naca form bord lúthchleas na hÉireann (blÉ). blÉ requested iaaf change country s name ireland . happened in 1981.