Editing Fort Dunree (section)

==Treaty port==
{{main|Treaty Ports (Ireland)}}
On 6 December 1921, the [[Anglo Irish Treaty]] was concluded. It provided for the establishment of the [[Irish Free State]] which happened on 6 December 1922. The Treaty included provisions by which the British would retain sovereignty over three strategically important ports known as the [[Treaty port (Ireland)|Treaty ports]], one of which being described in the Treaty as:<ref>[[Anglo Irish Treaty]]</ref>

{{blockquote|Lough Swilly
(d) Harbour defences to remain in charge of British care and maintenance parties.}}

Accordingly, even after the establishment of the Irish Free State, the [[Royal Navy]] continued to maintain its presence at Fort Dunree. Fort Dunree remained under British sovereignty until 3 October 1938 when, pursuant to the [[Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement]] of 25 April 1938, the territory was ceded to [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. On 4 October 1938, ''The Times'' reported on the handover of Lough Swilly at Fort Dunree on 3 October 1938 as follows:

{{blockquote|''FORTS HANDED OVER TO EIRE'' - Britain's last forts in Eire, those on the gale-swept Lough Swilly at Dunree and Leenan, were surrendered to the Eire Defence Forces yesterday. The ceremony at Dunree was witnessed by only a dozen spectators. The [[Union Jack]], was hauled down by two Royal Artillery N.C.O.s and the Eire green, white, and orange flag was run up by two N.C.O.s of the Coastal Artillery Defence Force. The ceremony was brought forward from October 26, the date originally fixed under the Anglo-Irish Pact, on account of the international situation. When the British troops left last evening en route for Shoeburyness, their new headquarters, they were given a cordial send off. By a coincidence Sergeant O'Flynn, of the Royal Artillery, who hauled down the Union Jack, and Sergeant McLaughlin, of the Eire force, who hoisted the tricolour, are brothers-in-law.<ref>''The Times'', 4 October 1938</ref>}}

Two brothers in-law, one hauling down a Union Jack and the other hauling up an Irish tricolour was indeed a poignant end to the long history of British military presence in the territory of the Irish state. It was also the last time sovereignty over any territory was ceded to Ireland.

The guns at the Fort were manned by the [[Irish Army]] until decommissioned following the Second World War. Fort Dunree was used by the Irish Army for training until 1990.<ref>Stevenson, Ian, 1995. ''Two Irish Loughs'', Redan: Journal of the Palmerston Forts Society, Gosport, pp11-28</ref>