The Irish Free State was a self-governing dominion of the British Empire established in 1922. It emerged from the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which ended the Irish War of Independence. The Free State covered most of the island of Ireland and had its own parliament, known as the Oireachtas, allowing for local governance while still recognizing the British monarch as the head of state. In 1937, the Irish Free State adopted a new constitution and was renamed Ireland (Éire). This change marked a shift towards full sovereignty, and in 1949, Ireland declared itself a republic, fully severing its ties with the British monarchy.