Dear Editors
Katy Mullin (February 2022) tells us that Arthur Griffith became President of the Irish Free State in January 1922.
The Irish Free State came into being in December 1922.
Griffith died in August 1922.
No such office as President of the Irish Free State existed during its fifteen year existence.
The head of the State’s cabinet was called the “President of the Executive of the Irish Free State”
Over him was the (unelected) Governor General, successor to the Lord Lieutenant, who had graciously, on behalf of King George V, bestowed governmental authority on a Provisional Government.
Arthur Griffith was elected President of the democratically elected Irish Parliament (of the democratically-established Irish Republic – Dail Eireann- in January 1922 on the resignation from that office of Eamon de Valera.
The current teaching of history is a nightmare from which I hope to awake.
Yours sincerely
Donal Kennedy
London)
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