A Dog in the Fight

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When a drone crashes in Co Sligo, Ireland’s neutrality is revealed to be a fond delusion.

When an Orlan-10 Russian spy drone strays off-course and crashes, notionally neutral Ireland struggles to discreetly allow NATO analysts first dibs at examining the device.

Neutrality is an issue of almost sacred importance in the Irish Republic. From the foundation of the state, Ireland has prided itself on being militarily non-aligned, remaining at arm’s length from other people’s conflicts.   

But now, more than at any time in the nation’s history, neutrality is under review. The Irish people are starting to realise that successive governments have been less than entirely honest about some of the alliances they have entered into, behind closed doors – not least the recently revealed arrangement with the UK and RAF. And the truth, as it is gradually revealed, has implications not just for how Irish people see themselves today, but for how relations with London, Washington and Brussels may play out in the future.

So, in this new drama by Hugh Costello, when an Orlan-10 Russian spy drone strays in off the Atlantic coast and crashes, a notionally neutral Irish government struggles to find a discreet way to let NATO analysts have first dibs at examining the device, without revealing the full extent of its collaboration with NATO.

Cast:
Annie - Simone Kirby
Michael - Jonathan Forbes
Paula - Frances Tomelty
Kevin - Stephen Hogan
Fintan - Mark Lambert

Written by Hugh Costello
Produced and directed by Eoin O'Callaghan
A Big Fish Radio production for BBC Radio 4

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