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Spying on Ireland: British Intelligence and Irish Neutrality during the Second World War
Irish neutrality during the Second World War presented Britain with significant challenges to its security. Exploring how British agencies identified and addressed these problems, this book reveals how Britain simultaneously planned sabotage in and spied on Ireland, and at times sought to damage the neutral state's reputation internationally through black propaganda operations. It analyses the extent of British knowledge of Axis and other diplomatic missions in Ireland, and shows the crucial role of diplomatic code-breaking in shaping British policy. The book also underlines just how much Ireland both interested and irritated Churchill throughout the war.
Rather than viewing this as a uniquely Anglo-Irish experience, Eunan O'Halpin argues that British activities concerning Ireland should be placed in the wider context of intelligence and security problems that Britain faced in other neutral states, particularly Afghanistan and Persia. Taking a comparative approach, he illuminates how Britain dealt with challenges in these countries through a combination of diplomacy, covert gathering of intelligence, propaganda, and intimidation. The British perspective on issues in Ireland becomes far clearer when discussed in terms of similar problems Britain faced with neutral states worldwide.
Drawing heavily on British and American intelligence records, many disclosed here for the first time, Eunan O'Halpin presents the first country study of British intelligence to describe and analyse the impact of all the secret agencies during the war. He casts fresh light on British activities in Ireland, and on the significance of both espionage and cooperation between intelligence agencies for developing wider relations between the two countries.
Rather than viewing this as a uniquely Anglo-Irish experience, Eunan O'Halpin argues that British activities concerning Ireland should be placed in the wider context of intelligence and security problems that Britain faced in other neutral states, particularly Afghanistan and Persia. Taking a comparative approach, he illuminates how Britain dealt with challenges in these countries through a combination of diplomacy, covert gathering of intelligence, propaganda, and intimidation. The British perspective on issues in Ireland becomes far clearer when discussed in terms of similar problems Britain faced with neutral states worldwide.
Drawing heavily on British and American intelligence records, many disclosed here for the first time, Eunan O'Halpin presents the first country study of British intelligence to describe and analyse the impact of all the secret agencies during the war. He casts fresh light on British activities in Ireland, and on the significance of both espionage and cooperation between intelligence agencies for developing wider relations between the two countries.
- GenresHistoryIrelandNonfiction
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2008
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About the author
Eunan O'Halpin
21 books1 followerEunan O'Halpin is Bank of Ireland Professor of Contemporary Irish History at Trinity College Dublin. He received his BA and MA from University College Dublin and received a PhD from the University of Cambridge.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 30, 2021
Fascinating review of a complex subject
O'Halpin's treatise on British intelligence efforts in Ireland during the War should be read by anyone with an interest in the Second World War and of Neutral Ireland.
I had not read any previous books on the subject but I was not left confused by the subject matter, as all necessary background matter is introduced clearly.
O'Halpin's style is predominantly academic, with almost every claim and statement dutifully referenced in the footnotes. These sources are mostly from archives, but there are priceless additional sources of interviews and private papers of key players in the history. This academic style is interspersed with humorous anecdotes, personal accounts and observations on wider geopolitical considerations.
In all, this book is fascinating and I feel has successfully navigated how to explain the complex, and at times farcical, happenings in Ireland between 1938 and 1945. The conclusion section should be read by anyone with an opinion of Ireland's neutrality during the War.
O'Halpin's treatise on British intelligence efforts in Ireland during the War should be read by anyone with an interest in the Second World War and of Neutral Ireland.
I had not read any previous books on the subject but I was not left confused by the subject matter, as all necessary background matter is introduced clearly.
O'Halpin's style is predominantly academic, with almost every claim and statement dutifully referenced in the footnotes. These sources are mostly from archives, but there are priceless additional sources of interviews and private papers of key players in the history. This academic style is interspersed with humorous anecdotes, personal accounts and observations on wider geopolitical considerations.
In all, this book is fascinating and I feel has successfully navigated how to explain the complex, and at times farcical, happenings in Ireland between 1938 and 1945. The conclusion section should be read by anyone with an opinion of Ireland's neutrality during the War.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews