The Anglo-Irish Treaty established the Irish Free State, and the following year in 1922 partitioned the country via a provisional “six-counties” Border. At the time, there was an expectation by the nationalists and the Irish government that the final Border would be adjusted in favour of the Irish Free State. Tracy was commissioned by the Nationalist Association of Derry to prepare a case for the inclusion in the Irish Free State. However, by the time the brief was finalised, the nationalists recommended that the Waterside be retained with Derry city in the Irish Free State. What if Derry city was included in the Irish Free State or Donegal included in Northern Ireland?

Source: The Irish Times November 15, 2025 06:13 UTC