Ireland in the war years, 1939-1945

the long version

This is a revision of the first full length book about Ireland and Irish neutrality during the Second World War. It describes how Mr. De Valera carried out a policy of neutrality in spite of the fact that Southern Ireland was a Commonwealth member and that Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, was a belligerent and in the face of increasing pressure from first Britain and later the United States to enter the war on the side of the allies. The book is based on a detailed examination of the British War Cabinet and associated papers released at the beginning of 1972 and interviews with active participants and use of contemporary newspapers. It also discusses ordinary life in Eire during the Emergency 1939 to 1945. This work is crucial in understanding Ireland's contemporary relationships with the EU and NATO in today's Europe.