Ireland declared itself neutral during World War 2, a period it referred to as "The Emergency". Eamon De Valera was the Taoiseach at this time. Though neutral, Ireland still felt effects of the war through censorship of news, rationing of food like sugar and meat, and shortages of coal that limited transportation options and required alternative fuels like turf. The document discusses both the advantages and disadvantages Ireland faced in remaining neutral.

2.  World War Two began on 1 September 1939,
when Germany invaded Poland.
 Over the next 6 years, the war was fought
between the Allies (Britain, France, America
and Russia) and the Axis Powers (Germany,
Italy and Japan).

3.  Eamon De Valera was the Taoiseach of
Ireland at the time, and he called this period
‘The Emergency.’
 Ireland declared itself to be ‘neutral’ in the
war. Sweden and Switzerland also remained
neutral during World War Two.

4. Advantages of Neutrality Disadvantages of Neutrality

5.  Why do you think Ireland remained neutral?
 Do you think this was the best decision for
Ireland at the time? Why?
 America and Britain put pressure on Ireland
to enter the war? Why?
 How, do you think, would life in Ireland
have changed if Ireland had entered the war?

6.  Denmark, Norway, Holland and Belgium
were neutral at the beginning of the war.
However, they were invaded by the German
army.
 Many Irish people were fearful of an invasion
by the Germans or British.

7. Even though Ireland
was neutral, it was still
affected by the war.
How do you think this
was so?

8.  Even though Ireland was neutral, it was still
affected by the war.
 Censorship was introduced from the start of
the Emergency. This meant that people could
not comment about the war or take sides in
newspapers, books or films.
 As a result, Irish people were often unaware
of what was going on in Europe.

9.  Gas masks were distributed to the people to
protect them from poisonous gases.
 Gas masks work by allowing clean air to be
taken in. They also filtered out the poisoned
air.

10.  Many English children were
evacuated to Ireland to keep them
safe during the war.

11. Before the war, most of the food and raw materials for industry imported
into Ireland were brought in British ships. When war broke out this was no
longer possible.
Why do you think this was the case?
For this reason, the government set up its own shipping company called
Irish Shipping. Each time sailors went to sea they knew their lives were in
danger. Two ships were sunk during the war by German U-Boats.
The Irish Pine was torpedoed on 15 November 1942. 33 sailors died

12.  Food had to be rationed during the war. There
were shortages of imported foods such as
sugar, tea and flour. Fruit such as bananas
and oranges were not available. Meat, clothes
and chocolate were rationed. In 1942, bread
was also rationed.

13.  People were given ration books and only
allowed a certain amount of these items each
month. Ration books were small booklets
with coupons for different foods. People
found it hard to live on these rations because
the amounts were so small.

14.  The Department of Agriculture encouraged
people to grow vegetables during ‘The
Emergency’ – especially potatoes!

15.  During the Emergency years, there were also
fuel shortages.
 Trains began to use timber and straw as
fuel, instead of coal.
 Tram services were cut back due to coal
shortages.

16.  Private cars almost disappeared off the roads
as petrol was in very short supply.
 Doctors were allowed petrol for emergencies
only.
 People walked, cycled or travelled in horse-
drawn carriages.

17.  Gas and electricity were also rationed during
the Emergency and switched on only for a
few hours each day. Therefore, people used
more turf.
 A ‘glimmer man’ went around to people’s
houses to check that they did not use gas at
certain times. If people were caught, they
were fined immediately – and their gas
supply was also cut off!

18.  During the Emergency, there was a fear that
the Germans or British would invade Ireland.
 In 1939, there were only approximately 7,600
people in the Irish army.
 A recruitment campaign began, so the army’s
numbers increased over the war years.

19.  The Irish navy and air corps patrolled the seas
and air around Ireland – constantly on the
look out for German activity.
 Over 50,000 Irishmen served in the British
army during the war.

20.  In August 1940, a German aircraft dropped
bombs on a creamery in Co. Wexford, killing
3 women workers and injuring many others.

21.  Belfast was bombed by the Germans on 7
April 1941, killing over 700 people. It was
bombed again on 4 May when 150 people
were killed.

22.  On the night of 31 May 1941, the Germans
bombed the North Strand area of Dublin. The
first bombs were dropped at 1.30am. 38
people were killed, 90 injured and over 70
homes destroyed.
 The German government apologised for the
bombing and paid compensation to Ireland
after the war. It is said that the air raid had
been a mistake.

23. 1. Along with Ireland, what other countries
remained neutral during WW2?
2. Who was the Taoiseach of Ireland during ‘the
Emergency’?
3. Why, do you think, was censorship introduced?
4. What food was rationed during ‘the Emergency?’
5. What methods of transport did people use?
6. What did Irish people use as fuel during the
Emergency?