Let’s not pretend that Ireland hasn’t been US aligned since forever. Sure we’re neighbours and the US has a huge Irish diaspora. Hell we even used taxpayer money to refuel USAF jets on their way to the gulf wars despite being “neutral”.
I never met a single person here during the cold war that thought the USSR was anything other than an authoritarian hole that might wipe us off the map because we are next to the UK.
I always felt that Ireland remained “unaligned” all that time not because they really had no preference between the US or USSR, but because they could, under no circumstances, be seen as being aligned with the British.
Ha! Those days are behind us thankfully and we’re very friendly with the UK these days, even going as far as to renounce our constitutional claim on northern Ireland.
It was a large part of the thinking when the state was formed and neutrality was decided on if I remember my history correctly.
We have sent supplies to Ukraine and trained their sappers though. I mean you can’t really not pick a side on this one.
I would call us semi neutral, but way less than the likes of Switzerland.
Oh yes, I understand, I’m an American of Irish descent who prefers Guinnness unironically. Things are so much different now than they were back then, and that’s a good thing.
I went to Ireland in the 90s and had a wonderful time, but never did go to the North. I hope to go back at some point and see Belfast, no matter whose flag is flying. How much of a twist would it be if Ireland reunited not after more violence, but for economic reasons after a poorly executed Brexit?
Not US aligned or USSR aligned during the cold war
Let’s not pretend that Ireland hasn’t been US aligned since forever. Sure we’re neighbours and the US has a huge Irish diaspora. Hell we even used taxpayer money to refuel USAF jets on their way to the gulf wars despite being “neutral”.
I never met a single person here during the cold war that thought the USSR was anything other than an authoritarian hole that might wipe us off the map because we are next to the UK.
I always felt that Ireland remained “unaligned” all that time not because they really had no preference between the US or USSR, but because they could, under no circumstances, be seen as being aligned with the British.
Ha! Those days are behind us thankfully and we’re very friendly with the UK these days, even going as far as to renounce our constitutional claim on northern Ireland.
It was a large part of the thinking when the state was formed and neutrality was decided on if I remember my history correctly.
We have sent supplies to Ukraine and trained their sappers though. I mean you can’t really not pick a side on this one.
I would call us semi neutral, but way less than the likes of Switzerland.
Oh yes, I understand, I’m an American of Irish descent who prefers Guinnness unironically. Things are so much different now than they were back then, and that’s a good thing.
I went to Ireland in the 90s and had a wonderful time, but never did go to the North. I hope to go back at some point and see Belfast, no matter whose flag is flying. How much of a twist would it be if Ireland reunited not after more violence, but for economic reasons after a poorly executed Brexit?
It’s a different place now, friend. I feel like it was still quite a poor country in the 90s. Glad you had a good time though!