Irish Spies in World War II
Irish History Podcast
Fin Dwyer
4.7 • 1.8K Ratings
🗓️ 6 July 2020
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Ireland remained neutral in the Second World War. However by the summer of 1940 a German invasion seemed increasingly likely. Having conquered Western Europe the Nazis prepared Operation Sea Lion, an invasion of Britain which would inevitably have led to an invasion of Ireland.
While preparations were made for a defence of the country, Ireland's intelligence community increased their surveillance on potential Nazi collaborators. Chief among these was Eoin O'Duffy who had fought for the fascists in the Spanish Civil War. This podcast is based on a dossier which remained secret for decades. Created by the Directorate of Military intelligence the reports in the dossier which feature in this podcast are a fascinating look inside the world Ireland's military intelligence agency during the Second World War.
The intelligence reports are read by Aidan Crowe.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | May I have your attention please you can now book your train tickets on Uber and get |
| 0:08.0 | 10% back in credits to spend on your next Uber ride so you don't have to walk home in the brain again. |
| 0:16.5 | Trains now on Uber. T's and C's apply. Check the Uber app. Hey this is Paul Russell and you are listening to my single Lil Buthang listen on spot |
| 0:27.3 | and I'm the one one. |
| 0:28.3 | Do my little boot thing so I'll give a hook what you do say girl like no you a little too tain. I'll be shooting that shot like |
| 0:36.0 | tooth-k girl like no time I'm I'm next |
| 0:39.2 | tell them you're fine. Hello and this is Irish Spies in World War II. |
| 0:45.0 | Hello and welcome to the Irish History Podcast. |
| 0:50.0 | My name is Finn Duwara and this is Irish Spies in World War II. |
| 0:55.0 | The summer of 1940 was a worrying time in Ireland. |
| 0:59.0 | Many feared the Irish Free State, which had only gained its independence 18 years earlier, was about |
| 1:04.7 | to be invaded again. |
| 1:06.2 | Nine months earlier, in September 1939, Nazi Germany had invaded Poland, a move that |
| 1:12.0 | prompted Britain and France to declare war. |
| 1:15.1 | Initially Ireland and most smaller states in Western Europe had hoped they could remain |
| 1:19.6 | neutral. |
| 1:20.6 | However, one by one Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, all of whom had adopted a policy of neutrality like Ireland were invaded by the Nazis. |
| 1:31.0 | Then by June 1940 an invasion of Ireland seemed imminent. |
| 1:35.0 | After the fall of France in that summer the Nazis began to prepare what was called Operation |
| 1:40.9 | Sealine, an invasion of Britain which would inevitably have led to an invasion of Ireland. |
| 1:46.0 | The Irish army made what preparations they could, although few had any illusions that this small force could fend off a German invasion. |
| 1:54.0 | Indeed, the Irish government were already in negotiations with the government of the United Kingdom, |
... |
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