My brother creates his own headed writing paper using an embossing machine.A shortcoming of this economical device arises when one’s address is changed by An Post, the state-owned Irish postal service. Recently An Post introduced seven digit post codes for example. To digress, these codes are recognised by Google Maps making navigation a doddle. I used to know my way around familiar haunts in counties Louth and Meath but thanks to the EU’s generosity and the Celtic Tiger, a beast now almost extinct, I get lost. I cannot de-code these post codes but I suppose there is some logic. Should you happen to know, do tell.
Anyway, my brother’s embossing machine has the correct address for Barmeath but where the post code should be I.F.S. appears. If you are Irish you will know this stands for Irish Free State. After a three-year civil war, the Irish War of Independence, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in 1921 and led to the creation of the IFS in 1922. Not everybody accepted this treaty. Technically the IFS applied to the whole island of Ireland but Northern Ireland was quick to opt out.
“MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN, We, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Senators and Commons of Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled, having learnt of the passing of the Irish Free State Constitution Act, 1922, being the Act of Parliament for the ratification of the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland, do, by this humble Address, pray your Majesty that the powers of the Parliament and Government of the Irish Free State shall no longer extend to Northern Ireland.”
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) did not accept the treaty either and waged a bloody civil war against the Provisional Government of Ireland between June 1922 and May 1923. An Irish Republic had been unilaterally declared in 1919 but the IFS was a very watered down compromise and it is surprising it lasted for fifteen years. Members of the Irish parliament were required to take an Oath of Allegiance.
“I… do solemnly swear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the Irish Free State as by law established, and that I will be faithful to His Majesty King George V, his heirs and successors by law in virtue of the common citizenship of Ireland with Great Britain and her adherence to and membership of the group of nations forming the British Commonwealth of nations.”
The IFS was a Dominion, as Canada is; a monarchy represented by a Governor-General. From 1927 the Irish government was able to choose the Governor-General and it became in effect a ceremonial role. The IRA wanted a full-blown republic to apply to all of Ireland, sowing seeds of discord and violence unresolved to this day.
The first Irish stamps in 1922 featured the head of George V overlaid with an IFS stamp. These were quickly followed by this design the first real Irish postage stamp.
You are correct re the Eircodes Christopher – there is no logic to them. Our postman (in Dublin) has told us they can not used for letter delivery. They ARE used by couriers and by me when I need to get the location of a house or building pinpointed on the Eircode map. They are also very useful when ordering taxis and, perhaps more importantly, ambulances.
A reader in Ireland has sent this link that unravels the An Post Post Code Mystery.
https://www.eircode.ie/what-is-eircode.
IFS sounds deliciously old fashioned – rather like addressing envelopes NB (ie North Britain) which are bound for Scotland.
When I was a boy growing up in Northern Ireland in the 50s & 60s, most people still referred to the twenty-six counties of Southern Ireland as ‘the Free State’ – even though, as Christopher says, the IFS was technically abolished in 1937, being replaced by a mysterious pseudo-republic called ‘Eire’ (& then by a full republic in 1949).
I like the crest on his headed writing paper, it has a Celtic look about it. (Not as in the football club)