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The Long and the Short of It

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Factual: History

Tim McGarry and Dr David Hume investigate Irish history from different perspectives.

Tim McGarry, a six-foot-four comedian, joins vertically challenged Orangeman and historian Dr David Hume to investigate Irish history from different perspectives.

BBC Radio Foyle

The Long and the Short of It: Series 4

The Long and the Short of It: Series 4: Episode 6: Should Eire Have Stayed Neutral in World War II?

Episode 6

Episode 6: Should Eire Have Stayed Neutral in World War II?

Series 4

Should Eire Have Stayed Neutral in World War II?

BBC Radio Ulster - The Long and the Short of It, Series 4, Should Eire Have Stayed Neutral in World War II?

Tim McGarry and Dr David Hume come from different perspectives to explore Irish history.

Tim McGarry and Dr David Hume examine Eire's decision to remain neutral during World War II.

In this final episode, Tim and David ask if Eire should have stayed neutral in World War II. Tim believes that the new Irish state had no choice and was right morally and politically to stay neutral as taking part in the war would have left the country extremely vulnerable to attack at a time when it was simply unable to defend itself.

There's no doubt that lingering anti-British feeling also played a part. Tim also has a personal connection as his great-aunt was interned during the war in an Armagh jail. David argues that if the Nazis had plans to invade Eire at the time they would not have conformed to the niceties of neutrality. However, the politics were such that it was difficult for the state to enter the war with her old adversary the UK.

Eire though could have set aside the politics of partition and opted for a common good, especially as many of her citizens joined the British in the army and spied for the allies. Tim and David both visit the World War II Memorial in Belfast, Tim's in Derry to find out more about the Donegal corridor and how Eire helped with the conflict north of the border and David heads to St George's market in Belfast which played an important part in history following the Belfast Blitz.

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Investigating little-known Ulster-Scots stories and well-known historical events.

Tim McGarry, a six-foot-four comedian, joins vertically challenged Orangeman and historian, Dr David Hume, to investigate little-known Ulster-Scots stories and well-known historical events.

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Episode 6: Should Eire Have Stayed Neutral in World War II?

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