DUBLIN, Ireland: Irish officials attended a January 17 ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the British handing over the government to the Irish people.

Irish President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Michel Martin both were in attendance to recall the 1922 handover of Dublin Castle, which had been the headquarters of the British government in Ireland.

"As we honour the achievements of the revolutionary generation, we do so with pride that the state they helped to create is entering its second century of independent, democratic government," said Martin.

As part of the ceremony, President Higgins unveiled a commemorative plaque noting the site where Dublin Castle was formally handed over by the representatives of the British government in 1922.

Also in attendance was UK Ambassador in Ireland Paul Johnston, former Irish PMs Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, and former presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson.

On 6 December 1921, British and Irish delegates signed the

The Anglo-Irish Treaty, calling for the creation of an independent Irish Free State within the British Empire, with King George V as its head of state.
The treaty was signed in the cabinet room of 10 Downing Street.

The treaty also created the partition of the country, with Northern Ireland given the option of its parliament choosing whether to remain separate.

In 1922, Michael Collins was at the castle for the handover of power. At that time, he had the responsibilities of being the prime minister, though not yet the title.

However, the treaty was highly controversial and eventually led to civil war in Ireland.