The full story of Ireland’s neutrality and it’s support to the Allies has yet to be told.
Panther, The name of the country is Ireland in the English language and Eire in the Irish language.(1937 constitution, Deutschland/Germany!) Regarding the so called “secret airfields”in which you quote Mac Carron, yet he does not quote sources, never! During the 1930’s the Air Corps carried out a nationwide survey of airfields and landing grounds. The result of this is available in Air 10 at N/A Kew. Air 2 lists Seven sector stations covering the whole country and one fighter forward airfield at Cork. AVM Dowding stoutly argued against sending “his fighters to protect Eire” aircraft he needed himself and totally understandable. Rathduff was not a “secet”, just sensationalised by that author. It was one of a chain in the southern sector stretching from Rineanna (Shannon) to the Wexford coast. Negotiations began as early as 1938 on mutual defence and continued for the duration of the war.I have no knowledge of a German ship seeking shelter in Lough Swilly I am sure that the RN from Derry would have been waiting for it when it emerged.
Moggy, British vessels were never refused entry to Irish ports whether in distress or for normal trade.Thousands of Irish joined all the British Services including the Merchant Navy many were lost as were Irish Merchant Navy personnel.
Paul R You are quite right every effort was made to rescue men and ships in distress irrespective of nationality, shades of that brave tiny MV Kerlogue from Wexford picking up 163 German seamen in Biscay. The port of Killybegs in Donegal had the converted trawler Robert Hastie based there for search and rescue and other vessels patrolled the mouth of the Shannon, manned by British and some Irish personnel with the approval of the Irish Government.There were of course the Corridors to allow aircraft to enter and exit across neutral territory.
Maple OI The treaty ports were part of a soverign nation and in spite of what is generally believed the RN did not want the problem of the ports due to the difficulty of providing protection which would have had to include Army and RAF participation.Documents at N/A.
Aircraft which crashed or landed were not interned. An RAF officer was based in Dublin at the Air Attaches office and his brief was to assess all aircraft and decide whether to scrap or salvage. Some five aircraft were purchased and used by the Air Corps. Personnel were interned if on an obvious operational (liberally interpreted) flight, so most aircraft were on “search and rescue duties” In an incident on the west coast a Swordfish landed and the pilot was anxious to destroy his radar but an Irish Army officer pleaded with him that it was not necessary and persuaded him to phone the Air Attaches office in Dublin who confirmed that it was not necessary to destroy it and all assistance would be accorded. The Irish Government in 1942 was anxious to repatriate all internees but the RN were opposed to this on the grounds that there may be U Boat personnel amongst the German internees. All the British were gone by mid 1944 but the Germans had to stay for the duration, no way to get home! I appreciate De Valera’s condolences on the death of Hitler is a sore point but I believe it was rather a gesture to Dr. Hemple as he condidered him to be an honourable man.
Nice one Damien B.
Tony K
Sign In
