Keith, I don't agree that the circumstances surrounding the beginnings of Irish 'Independence' are irrelevant.

That independence (such as it was) developed gradually between the election of the first Dail in 1919, through the treaty and civil war in 1922-3, the formation of Fianna Fail and the abolition of the Oath of Allegiance in 1937 through the period of wartime neutrality and the eventual departure of the 26 counties from the Commonwealth in 1948 following John A Costello's decision to cut the last remaining ties with the British Crown (Following that decision King George VI wrote a letter to Costello wishing the Republic well for the future and thanking Irish people for their contribution to the war against Nazi Germany).

During that period a corrupt, nominally nationalist political class and a confessional state developed in the 26 counties at the same time as an equally corrupt loyalist state developed in the North. Viewed in that context, the history of Ireland over the last 90 years can be viewed as the story of two failed experiments: partition and 26-county 'Independence'.

I think the word I'm looking for is 'Discuss'. Probably a waste of breath, though.