 During its first decade , the newly formed Irish Free State was governed by the victors of the civil war . When de Valera achieved power , he took advantage of the Statute of Westminster and political circumstances to build upon inroads to greater sovereignty made by the previous government . The oath was abolished and in 1937 a new constitution was adopted . This completed a process of gradual separation from the British Empire that governments had pursued since independence . However , it was not until 1949 that the state was declared , officially , to be the Republic of Ireland . 
 During its first decade , the newly formed Irish Free State was governed by the victors of the civil war . When de Valera achieved power , he took advantage of the Statute of Westminster and political circumstances to build upon inroads to greater sovereignty made by the previous government . The oath was abolished and in 1937 a new constitution was adopted . This completed a process of gradual separation from the British Empire <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a>governments <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> pursued since independence . However , it <a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>not</mark></a>until 1949 that the state was declared , officially , to be the Republic of Ireland . 
Durin its first decade , da newly formed Irish Free State was governed by tdavictors of the civil war . When de Valera achieved power , he took advantage of the Statute of Westminster and political circumstances to build upon inroads to greater sovereignty made by thdarevious government . Thedath was abolished and in 1937 a new constitution was adopted . dis completed a process of gradual separation from the datish Empire governments done pursued since independence . However , it ain't till 1949 dat the state was declared , officially , to be the Rdablic of Ireland .