There have been various names of the Irish state, some of which have been controversial. The constitutional name of the contemporary state is Ireland, the same as the island of Ireland, of which it comprises the major portion. In 1949 it declared itself a republic and adopted the term Republic of Ireland as its official description while keeping the name Ireland.
The United Kingdom (part of which, Northern Ireland, constitutes one sixth of the territory of the island of Ireland), objected to the political implications of the adoption of the name Ireland on the basis that it constituted an irredentist claim to sovereignty over the entire island of Ireland. However, that name was internationally recognised by the early 1960s and since the end of the 1990s has been accepted by the United Kingdom.
Read more about Names Of The Irish State: Constitutional Name, Legal Description, European Union, Abbreviations, Alternative Names, Name Dispute With The UK
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