One hundred years ago today, Northern Ireland rejoined the United Kingdom.
On 6th December 1922, Ireland became an independent nation once again with the creation of the Irish Free State.
The Anglo-Irish Treaty had transferred numerous powers to the Provisional Government in Dublin in early 1922 but the legislation still had to pass Dáil Éireann and the British Parliament.
Westminster also passed the Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act 1922 which gave Northern Ireland the right to exclude itself from the new State.
The unionist-dominated Parliament of Northern Ireland met to exercise this right on 7th December and it took members less than half an hour to agree an address to King George V.
"We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects… do, by this humble address, pray Your Majesty that the powers of the Parliament and Government of the Irish Free State shall no longer extend to Northern Ireland."
King George V and Queen Mary arrive for the opening of the Parliament of Northern Ireland in Belfast. 23rd June 1921.Prime Minister Sir James Craig was dispatched to Great Britain with the address and the King received it at Sandringham on 8th December.
Legally, Ireland had been both independent and united for a whole day.
Main image: NI Cabinet on 17th September 1924. Picture by: Alamy.com
