1. The Emergency
3rd yr

2. The Emergency this refers to ireland during WW2 we stayed neutral
FF and Dev still in power
Passed the Emergency Powers Act
Gave the govt special powers during this time

3. Why neutrality? Main reason - 1. To show our independence from Br
2. War would cause more destruction and death
3. People still angry at Br for partition..
..so refused to help them in war

4. Threats to neutrality IRA bombing campaign in Br in 1939
Ira contacted German spies
Dev had to show this was unacceptable..
..so he interned 500 IRA members
even let those on hunger strike die - why?
Determined to maintain irish neutrality

5. Defence forces needed to be ready for possible invasion
army numbers increased from 7000 to 37000
local defence forces set up
young volunteers trained in case of invasion
poor trained and equipped though!

6. Food shortages Br stopped exporting goods to ireland - why?
Led to severe food shortages
Lemass made Minister for Supplies
set up Irish Shipping company
to get essential supplies from abroad
But danger from German submarines
so rationing was introduced

7. Rationing Each person got a certain amount of food
meant that everyone got a fair share
each person had a ration book for essentials
eg butter, sugar, tea, flour
farmers also ordered to grow more

8. Fuel Shortages v little petrol, coal or gas
cars forbidden, except doctors and priest
no coal coming from Br - why?
So trains were powered by turf
Less efficient - v slow
people cut turf from bogs to provide heat in winter
gas only used for cooking
glimmer man ensured only the rationed amount was used

9. Relations with Britain
Br and other allies hated us
wanted to use the ‘treaty’ ports again
Dev refused - why?
To protect our neutrality

10. Northern Ireland great help to Br during war provided fuel and ports
so northern ireland and Br became v close
Meant that Br would never re-unify ireland

11. Biased neutrality dev secretly helped the allies
1. Crashed Allied pilots sent over border to North
But German crash pilots were arrested
2. Fire brigades sent to Belfast after bombs in 1941
3. Weather reports secretly sent to British

12. Accidental bombing Germans accidentally bombed North Strand in Dub
Confused the lights for Br cities
Death and damage
but ireland avoided the destruction..
..done to other countries and northern ireland

13. End of War ireland remained neutral throughout
churchill condemned ireland
Dev responded famously
said ireland fought Br alone for 800yrs..
..just as Br had fought germany alone

14. Results of war 1. Ireland wasn’t badly damaged after war
2. But becoz of neutrality..
Ireland was distant from other countries
Other European countries became closer
3. Economy had suffered badly during war
4. Northern ireland had come v close to Br..
..and gap widened with South

15. Recap vocab (1) emergency why neutrality? Emergency powers act
LDF and army
Food shortages
Rations
Fuel shortages

16. Recap Vocab (2) Glimmer man Br response Biased neutrality
Accidental bombs
Results of emergency