Eamon de Valera interview on Irish Independance (1955)

[@ManufacturingIntellect]

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[@padraicryan7981]

The legendary Dan Breen said it best: "independence came 100 years too late for Ireland. Had the 1798 rebellion succeeded, we'd be a very different animal today. Those men were of character to steer the ship properly."

[@brianmorgan5739]

“I entered into the service of the French republic with the sole view of being useful to my country. To contend against British Tyranny, I have braved the fatigues and terrors of the field of battle; I have sacrificed my comfort, have courted poverty, have left my wife unprotected, and my children without a father. After all I have done for a sacred cause, death is no sacrifice. In such enterprises, everything depends on success: Washington succeeded - Kosciusko failed. I know my fate, but I neither ask for pardon nor do I complain. I admit openly all I have said, written, and done, and am prepared to meet the consequences. As, however, I occupy a high grade in the French army, I would request that the court, if they can, grant me the favour that I may die the death of a soldier.” Theobald Wolfe Tone.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

Had the rebellion succeeded the people probably would have steered away from it. Ireland was not France, they may even have asked the British for help, remember William Pitt the Younger joined the Crowns with Irish and Catholic support.

[@mrcoconut1148]

So true

[@MarkHarrison733]

Breen was an actual Nazi.

[@Jeremy-y1t]

Breen was an actual Nazi.

[@philiolynott4886]

Unbelievable how we spend endless hours in Irish school pouring over Irish History but we never take the time to hear these amazing leaders in their own words. This needs to change!

[@naturehuman]

Well said

[@sweynforkbeard8857]

I just finished reading "The Twelve Apostles" by Tim Pat Coogan. It seemed in the book that Michael Collins did all the dangerous work in the revolution while de Valera spent his time in the U.S., only to come back to Ireland in time to backstab Collins in an attempt for control (with Collins ultimately being killed). How is Collins viewed in the revolution by the Irish?

[@illyboulder2557]

We should call it the Norman civil war, not the Irish civil war. Is De Valera an irish name?

[@robinclarke9978]

@@illyboulder2557 also born in the US. The biggest chancer in history.

[@johnmc3862]

@@robinclarke9978 What!

[@praisebewibble]

The graciousness of both the interviewer and Mr de Valera is really impressive. Today's politicians and media could learn a lot from this interview.

[@eoincaomhanach1983]

De Valera was a f snake and a coward, the SOB would be perfect in our current government.

[@ciaranwalsh96]

Very rare to see him in an interview, and definitely to see him this animated.

[@gearoftones8585]

How interesting would it be to listen to his stories from back then? I love this stuff.

[@PaddleDogC5]

He was right on many other partitioned countries

[@johnboylan3591]

He was the man who single handly destroyed the revolution and caused the civil war

[@jonnyd.2047]

What he forgot to say was that Ireland was one unit for 800 years UNDER BRITISH RULE. In 1920 the people in the north of the island wished to RETAIN that position under British sovereignty. All 3 parties lodged an agreement with the League of nations. The Sinn Feiners (De Valeras natural heirs) never accepted this, including rejecting the legitimacy of the Dail.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@jonnyd.2047 The last part was Republican policy for Stormont. Also bear in mind that there were Nationalist communities in the North. In that environment claiming the whole island is understandable if not needlessly inflammatory.

[@plusultra6199]

Only the planters agreed. A typical English tactic of rule and divide.​@@jonnyd.2047

[@Mynsinger]

Fantastic footage and surprisingly good quality too. It should be part of every Irish child's history lesson. 12:05 is an important clip: "The restoration of the Irish language". deV would be sick if he could see how FF/FG are continuing their long term goal to wipe out the Irish language.

[@TroyaE117]

Well, if you want to learn it, then learn it. There is no-one stopping you. The problem is when you try to compel someone else to learn it. It is not spoken outside of Ireland, and not commonly there either. It is almost absent in Northern Ireland, despite the road signs.

[@dannunakifuque7795]

@@TroyaE117 That's no reason to let a language older than Greece to go extinct.

[@stefanpieper3757]

In what way do FF/FG try to wipe out the Irish language? And what is their motive in doing so?

[@joeschipper6465]

@@dannunakifuque7795 they should build plenty of infrastructures to learn it and encourage people to but forcing kids to learn a hard language 99.99% have 0 interest in learning wont do it any favours

[@dannunakifuque7795]

@@joeschipper6465 So under a nationalist push to promote Irish rooted culture they should fund Irish Fantasy Myth Movies spoken in Gaelige. Then play them in Irish Language class. So the children will become enthralled in Irish culture, mythos, cosmology, and language. It would be exciting and alluring. Irish poetry, and hiphop would promote the language, figuring out how to interlock rhyming syllables is always a good way to promote love of a language, and is good for memorizing language.

[@basichistory]

Ireland of 2022 badly needs a man like Éamon de Valera to lead it through the turmoil at present.

[@onthewattle]

no it needs the Jims at the least. Bugger Dev

[@eamondevalera3126]

Thank you Basic History

[@paulbrown7374]

No thanks..

[@jerrydineen6819]

Take your meds clown

[@peterdoyle1591]

@@paulbrown7374 What would you know Paul? What do you know of Ireland at that time? Go away and order pizza and stare at your iPhone.

[@eddieportmore1]

It comes across ,Eamon de valera. Thinking and under stood .All that mattered. Was status. Being a big hitter/power .And he knew that, in the 20s, ireland got the best. That it could receive ,out of a long hard brutal existence.

[@Dechieftian]

well said sir.

[@RobertK1993]

American interviewer should have said did you greenlight the assassination of the Irish patriot Michael Collins 1890-1922

[@jamespower8234]

In 1903 under the land act of the time the Irish people were given opportunity to own there property in fee simple free from the British landlords. The land Commission who were set up and financed by British governments was later taken over by the so called Irish free state but by 1909 over 13 million acres of Ireland were sold already and less than 7 million acres remained, this was not changed by the formation of the Irish state in 1923 . So you might say our future was planned by the British and brought forward by the free state who never really told how easy they rolled over . History shows that in 1923 the land grabbing started only to line the pockets of Anglo Irish people for the first ten years of the Irish state. The free state paid the English oppressors in full for the land Commission / Ireland's land, rivers and foreshore.

[@jamespower8234]

@Leo D'Arcy the Brits were not paid until 1960 and they were paid in total. And every bit of land sold under the english land acts is every deed and title in this country still accepted by Irish law signed and agreed in 1922 . Dev was dirt. Lined his pockets with what was left after the blue shirts robbed there lot for their own.

[@jamespower8234]

@Leo D'Arcy we never won our country back we took it on a mortgage and only got 14 % of the land mass handed to the 1923 government

[@barryquinn5840]

A small correction to the notes above. Éamon de Valera was the President of the (revolutionary) "Irish Republic" of 1919-1922. Unfortunately, that particular state was not recognised and it was not until 1922 that the "Irish Free State" was formed. The Free State from 1922-1937 was a constitutional monarchy over which the British monarch reigned (from 1927 with the title "King of Ireland"). Éamon de Valera was not the first president of the Republic of Ireland, this was Douglas Hyde 1938-1945, he was in fact the 3rd President of the Republic of Ireland from 1959 to 1973. Stages of independence from the United Kingdom • Proclamation 24 April 1916 • Declaration 21 January 1919 • Anglo-Irish Treaty 6 December 1921 • 1922 constitution 6 December 1922 • 1937 constitution 29 December 1937 • Republic Act 18 April 1949

[@andrewmoran357]

and now the EU are the boss of Ireland what a waste of a revolution

[@Dechieftian]

Excellent ! The sequence of key events from 1916 though to 1949 are 33 years of fascinating Irish history.

[@patkwalsh4778]

Great to be able to se Eaton de valera a great man

[@timward3116]

Very good clarifications, Barry. Nice to see someone was paying attention! I do forgive anyone who forgets, or is confused, about who was president of what and when, though. I had never watched a normal interview with Dev, and I was pretty impressed. I suspect that he aged rather gracefully and that, as he began to be more aware of his own mortality without the taint of ambition, he may have had some great and humbling moral regrets, particular regarding the civil war and Collins, whose image, story, and goals I appreciate.

[@markhaslem2518]

Correct, sir!

[@whitetigress7448]

My first impression is of a man with a heart filled with fire living in a time when -- for practical purposes -- only a cold nature would do.

That’s a good way of putting it!

[@mcgrudo]

Collin's had that cold heart, and it drove de Valera into open rebellion against is efforts

[@billygray6757]

Watch a movie called the treaty staring Brendan gleeson as Michael Collins made in 1991 it's more to the truth than the movie Michael Collins with liam neeson

[@michaelhughes9067]

This man betrayed Ireland. Put his former comrades in jail.They got 26 counties and betrayed there Northern brothers and sisters to Protestant power.The true Irish never forget.32 or nothing.

[@Jeremy-y1t]

Collins betrayed Ireland.

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

@@Jeremy-y1tCollins didn’t betray Ireland!

[@Jeremy-y1t]

@@Whizzy-jx3qe Yes he did, in December 1921 and June 1922.

[@Robbie7441]

MICHAEL COLLINS ❤🙏🏻🙏🏻🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@Jeremy-y1t]

@@Robbie7441 Collins murdered his own people.

[@gfficomable]

What a great interview. The questions beautifully asked, just as Mr deVelera wrote them. No mention of James Connolly or Michael Collins of course, no mention of 'wading through Irish blood'. Instead we get him talking about his incredible embroidered ring. Naturally he was happy to mention Pearse because Pearse had no political or social ideology. This made him acceptable to the church. That and being a harmless old bloodthirsty lunatic. I am Irish, so I allowed say these things.

[@Smudgeroon74]

No mention of Douglas Hyde either. Hyde was a great scholar.

[@wikipediaintellectual7088]

Plenty of men died expendable soldiers in movements throughout history. Michael Collins was one of the few you actually hear about. It’s a necessary evil.

[@fiachramaccana280]

yeah well if we were waiting for you to win Irish freedom for us..... we would wait an eternity. Thats the difference between a revolutionary.... and an armchair critic. The armchair critic never risks a thing.... but still confers on themselves the right to judge others....

[@geraldneary1948]

Are you gay or something troll.

[@fiachramaccana280]

@@geraldneary1948 wanker

[@Sean-sn9ld]

Thank you sir

[@thomassheehan4193]

He didn’t mention The reason he was not executed was he was spared because he was an American. The others weren’t so lucky.

[@sean864]

I've never heard him in an interview, very interesting.

[@dermototoole1762]

No doubt De Valera was a very intelligent and driven man whose name is ingrained in the history of my country Ireland... But his flaws were to send Michael Collins to do an impossible job and ultimately end his life after the treaty signing. This he recognized in 1966. "In the fullness of time the greatness of Michael Collins will be recognised and will be at my expense". Truest words ever spoken.....

[@liammcbride9063]

No evedence exists to prove that he ever said that

[@hughslevin7120]

Wheather he said it or not its certainly true As for what he said who gives a dam

[@castleofsong9620]

Plus he harnessed The Irish State to a Catholic Church that abused and exploited the Irish people. He was an accessory to the many crimes that were subsequently revealed.

[@mcgrudo]

@@hughslevin7120 Historians, perhaps? Idiot

[@patdeVerse]

Good man Dev. He never once mentioned that in 1955 approx. 80,000 people were emigrating every year to find find work, or that Cork, Limerick and Dublin had some appalling slums in the 1950s either. He is much vilified today, but was loved by more than half the population in his day. For my own father, he was 'the Chief'!!!

[@robertemmet7756]

Michael Collins was the better Irishman

[@jamesfitzgerald6636]

My dad hated him

[@jamesfitzgerald6636]

Dev that is

[@robertemmet7756]

@@jamesfitzgerald6636 Hate Michael Collins or Éamon De Valera

[@johnnotrealname8168]

It is of course correct to mention but England also had slums.

[@elizabethdimmock868]

Fascinating.💫

[@Thomas...191]

Agreed... but a little weird as well. So many camara angles; which points to a heavily curated and written programme considering the cameras of the time.. that's my intuition anyway.

[@tulligman]

Oul Dev must be spinning in his grave seeing how Ireland has turned out.

[@johnmc3862]

What do you mean ‘turned out’, Ireland was a 3rd word country when dev was around.

[@Canwepleasehavefun1]

Ridiculous comment

[@merrybutcher2978]

He would love the mess it's in the evil bastar*.

[@Canwepleasehavefun1]

Ireland was a backwards shit hole under his rule dominated by the catholic church. We have made massive progress

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

True story the lads would’ve probably stayed in bed.

[@malachimovies]

A wasted opportunity, asking Dev for an elementary history lesson.It's bad enough that he bores us, unforgivable that he bored Dev.

[@jimj4583]

What do Eamon de Valera, Boris Johnson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Donald Trump have in common? They were all born in New York City.

[@phil2003ashleigh]

They were all cunts too !

[@jamescardoness3037]

As me old mum used say " he was a Spanish onion in an Irish stew" !

[@dannunakifuque7795]

Our people have always had a way with words.

[@WH-um2gx]

@Shane Gallagher Yes, quite lovely

[@ciaranmaguidhir7858]

@Shane Gallagher how is that racist? Do you even know what that word means?

[@michealcollins979]

He a trator should been impailed

[@johnboylan3591]

No she didn't Winston Churchill did

[@joshmcgeough6823]

This man is an Irish hero but I’ll never get over the fact he sold out my boy Michael Collins in 1921

[@dannunakifuque7795]

If he sold out Michael Collins then fuck 'em, traitors are the biggest enemy of the Irish to this day!!

[@johnboylan3591]

De Valera was a coward by sending Michael Collins to negotiate the treaty when he should have gone himself and a traitor when he walked out of the Dial after the treaty had ratified this single act caused the civl war

[@johnmc3862]

It was ether that or civil war.

[@joshmcgeough6823]

@@johnmc3862 it was exactly that which caused the 1921 Irish civil war

[@patrickporter1864]

He was afraid of cathal brugha who is known to have stated him and Collins that the Irish people had no right to do wrong in terms of going back on the declaration of the Republic in 1916. Brugha, a known hard man, threatened to shot any one who considered it. He knew he could not get a Republic from Lloyd George so he sent Collins and the others with conflicting instructions to the negotiations. They were plenipotentiaries who were to refer things back to him before they signed anything. Brugha always hated Collins who was brughas equal in ministerial terms but his subordinates as head of intelligence in the dept. Of defence. Brugha thought Collins got too much credit for what happened during the war of independence. De valera played on this hatred. It was only after brugha was killed that de valera tried to stop the civil war but then Liam lynch got in his way. When lynch was killed devalera got control and it ended.

[@jonnypostman]

Micheal Collins didn't make the mantlepiece. A story that my father told me having grown up in the hungry fifties, when the church decided that we couldn't eat fish on Friday, some wag commented, that's OK they don't eat it the rest of the week.

[@robertemmet7756]

Michael Collins did more for Ireland then cunning American De Valera

[@danbreen6946]

@@robertemmet7756 Dev Was A Cowardly Snake

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@danbreen6946 He was not cowardly as the revolution proves and he had to be devious. Fox is probably a better animal. Also the Church decided no Fish on Fridays centuries before the 1950s.

[@sweatymrkim4578]

A man that lived through and survived turbulent times with belief, bravery and the determination for a people to be freed from 700 years of tyranny. Show this in schools. Let the youth of today listen this man. Just a pity Collins didn't live to be interviewed in his twilight years. Really enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@3storiesUp]

A man who was happy to have people living in the dark ages under the control of the Catholic church .. not a leader .. a power hungry advocate of the worst type of reversionism ..

[@sweatymrkim4578]

@@3storiesUp It was the dark ages. Michael Collins 100 years ago today. The man in the video had a lot to do with his demise.

[@3storiesUp]

@@sweatymrkim4578 Are you lauding or denigrating him .. you can't really seem to make up your mind. I'll leave you at your delusions.

[@sweatymrkim4578]

@@3storiesUp He wasn't the same man in later life. In his younger days he was a profiteer and his ideals were flawed by a poor unplanned vision of Irelands future. But the man himself intrigues me historically.

[@sweatymrkim4578]

@@3storiesUp You don't seem to grasp the man at all. Maybe that will come when you mature a bit.

[@colmbrady8350]

He has some cheek speaking about Irish women having known well the torture suffered in the magdalene laundries

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

If I had my life to live all over again, I would learn to play the HARP like the lady at the beginning of this film, I would stand on every high street in the town and city all over this land and play my music for the people, I am very proud of Eamon de Valera did during the 2nd world war, he declared Ireland natural, well over a quarter of a million Irish people including 2 of my uncles fought in the British side during the war and is only in the past few years their great effort was recognized, The Irish people also helped to feed the British people during those bad years. It was right and proper that the Irish fought against Hitler and his brutal killers

[@374c3]

Never too late to start learning the harp😊❤️

[@73reider]

De Valera a common thief, Stealing money from donations given to set up the Irish press newspaper instead the money went into his pocket, An immoral tramp, Quite in keeping with Irish Republicanism..

[@johnnotrealname8168]

Yeah, he was very neutral but with a clear preference.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

@@374c3 Thanks, I agree

[@andrewhayes9913]

KZbin and primary sources like this should be shown to history students if not all. Dan Breen, Tom Barry etc...

[@edwardgriffin3922]

Would not trust him as far as I'd throw him, machiavellian is an understatement

[@robswarbrigg2740]

De Valera was not the first president. He was the third. First was Douglas Hyde (he was not recognised internationally because ireland was still officially a british dominion at that time) but ireland became a republic while Seán T O Kelly was President in 1949. De Valera wasnt elected president until 1959

[@murpho999]

He’s talking about being president after 1919 election where an unofficial Irish Republican government was formed. Different to what happened when independence came.

[@SnabbKassa]

If you want to manufacture intellect, try spelling Independence the right way

[@adrian_V99]

Loved the Gaelic comments about women. Note that they are not one-sided.

[@Sean-sn9ld]

"And please tell me, sir, did, the people, sir......"

[@delmanpronto9374]

this man was, much like gandhi and nehru were to india, a british agent. without michael collins for ireland and subhas bose for india, neither of these two countries would have secured independence.

[@Jim54_]

Say what you want about Eamon De Valera, but he rejected the democratic will of the people when it came to the Anglo Irish Treaty. He oversaw a Civil War that killed more Irish people than the war of Independence, and led to the assassination of Michael Collins, the man the Irish had elected to be their leader. For that reason I am not surprised that he has been given the appropriate title of Ireland’s hated hero. He was truly as disgrace

[@Jim54_]

James Henderson the pro treaty side won the election, therefore confirming public support for the treaty

[@evanmurray6509]

Jim 54 there is no evidence that de Valera ordered the assassination of Collins. Aswell he had no control over the anti treaty ira during the civil war. So he couldn’t have ordered the hit. So stop spouting your ignorance and do some reasearch

[@Jim54_]

Evan murray I never stated that De Valera ordered the killing of Collins, so don’t put words in my mouth. I also understand that he didn’t have control over the IRA in the Civil War, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t partly responsible for their actions. He did make speeches recruiting supporters and egging them on before the war started after all. Also, he bears much similarity with the American president James Buchanan, with regard to the fact that, although he was not directly responsible for the civil war, he didn’t do anything to stop it, and in many ways his incompetent rhetoric and policies only added more fuel to the fire of the situation, so to speak.

[@Jim54_]

James Henderson Lincoln did not cause the civil war. The south launched an unprovoked attack on the federally owned fort sumpter. Also, he inherited a deteriorating situation from previous presidents. In the 1820s the Missouri compromise had divided the United States on which states could have slavery. Even Thomas Jefferson, who was still alive at this time, said this would lead to Civil War. Also, the idea that an election being partitionist somehow makes it illegitimate directly contradicts with the fundamental basics of democracy. Every election is partitionist in some way, but that is the nature of democracy. Also, De Valera and Collins had agreed to hold an election and to respect the final results. De Valera did not honour this agreement

[@Jim54_]

James Henderson as I have already stated, that war had been inevitable for decades. In fact there were a few occasions before Lincoln’s election when it almost took place

[@ThefightingCelt]

His nationality saved himself from the British bullet . He used Michael Collins as his patsy .

[@fcb9950]

His nationality had nothing to do with saving his life. Asquith ordered a stop to the executions the night before he was due to be shot. He even had his goodbye lette written to his wife. He was simply a lucky bastard.

[@ThefightingCelt]

@@fcb9950 His nationality had everything to do with it .The British Government realised that they could not execute an American born citizen , and De Valera , an eductaed and wise individual , was only too well aware of that fact .

[@shredder9536]

@@ThefightingCelt nonsense they let others off without execution

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

@@shredder9536 nope 👎

[@shredder9536]

@@grlfcgombeenhunter2897 read your own history. Lots were let off from execution. Joe Plunketts brother George being one

[@hughciarancolgan9180]

The man who assisted in creating a civil war on not taking an oath and than took the oath.

[@MrDaiseymay]

De--Vil.

[@manusbyrne8972]

He was the worst Taoiseach in Irish history

[@fitzer1881]

@@manusbyrne8972 you’re joking

[@manusbyrne8972]

@@fitzer1881 I think Murdering 15,000 Irish men for a power grab makes you the worst taoisearch on its own. name me one taoisearch who did more damage to the nation than him

[@fitzer1881]

@@manusbyrne8972 he had nothing to do with the ira in the civil war that was Liam lynch

[@RichMitch]

I hear he paints houses...

[@gfficomable]

I've read a few biographies of DeVelara, some impressive academic studies, however this comment is the best one yet.

[@Dechieftian]

Dev didn't paint houses .. he had Micheal Collins and The Squad execute the interior decorating.

[@santeel]

@@Dechieftian coming from the great niece of Frank Teeling and had the great honour of sitting by the fire listening to his stories as part of Michael Collins trusted squad ,I totally agree. Yes in later years he became an alcoholic. But as he said it wasn't easy to kill another human but necessary. His heart was also broken. I won't say why as that conversation is between him and a 8 year old girl sitting by the fire .

[@Dechieftian]

@@santeel what a wonderful comment - thank you. I am honored to have had a reply from a descendant of Michael Collins.

[@bmcg8888]

Seems like a humble old man but I say he had that ruthless yank mentailty a master of self preservation to the detriment of his comrades and country.

[@Barbarous_Wretch]

Talking about Leinster House but he doesn't mention the Bishop's Palace in Drumcondra. To where he devolved a lot of the governance and policy of the state.

[@MrDaiseymay]

de Valera should have been asked why HE, was the only head of state to call on the German Embassy to sign the Book of Condolenses, over Hitler's death ?

[@Twentythousandlps]

Churchill was aware of his fondness for AH and had made very clear that any moves on that ground would meet with a severe response by him. It worked, but even at the very end de Valera showed where his inclinations lay.

[@MrDaiseymay]

@@Twentythousandlps My question is, WHY did he do it? the war was lost for the Germans, no need to pretend to seek the dubious promise of neutrality. Had the Nazis won the war, and it was quite possible, had we lost the Battle of Britain. NONE--of the so called neutrals would have escaped the occupation and tyranny of the mad evil Nazis.

[@anothertime1282]

Important enough I should have thought to at least spell 'independence' properly in the title heading.

[@sands7779]

no photo of Michael Collins

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

He was jelly of him

[@eamondevalera3126]

The Church and Collins stole my limelight

[@fintonmainz7845]

Dev speaking of religious tolerance was the height of hypocrisy.

[@jonnyd.2047]

He was a proponent of murder and mayhem like his nationalist heirs in Belfast, Derry and Drogheda...

[@robertmonaghan5366]

The reporter should have asked him about Michael Collins see he reaction

[@adamender9092]

Fun fact: He was born as an Hispano-Hiberno-American named “George De Valera” then changed it to “Edward De Valera” and then finally to “Éamon De Valera”

[@user-tz8pf4pd4q]

lol what?

[@billieboybuddha4238]

I suggest you not to waste your time on wikipedia...

[@myowngenesis]

@@billieboybuddha4238 never is it a waste of time to accumulate knowledge.

[@billieboybuddha4238]

@@myowngenesis Wikipedia is incorrect many times...

[@myowngenesis]

@@billieboybuddha4238 yet they have sources backing up their claims. And if sources are lacking, it tells you outright

[@vinadamswood586]

Btw… the interview was conducted in 1958… not 1955…

[@Gary_OC]

Absolutely fascinating.

[@keneblana]

Notable the the treaty and war of independence were off the table for discussion...

[@Michael43713]

Independence.

[@finbarrcorcoran9342]

When does Mr. Cholmondley-Warner arrive?

[@gatehanger1385]

He is a young looking 73 years in that interview! Looks like the interviewer has a briefcase fetish😁

[@aidanmcnamara3304]

Yes. And he is Stephen Colbert's grandfather.

[@recipio6561]

After 1932 he hadn't a clue about economics but that didn't stop him from enforcing a Catholic state turning Ireland into a backwater. We are still reversing his worst policies .

[@geraldneary1948]

Are you gay or something troll.

[@Dechieftian]

I totally agree. Great comment! The sad part - on the economics point specifically - is not alone did he not have a clue he interfered with those that did have a clue and assured the disaster that followed. Comely maidens playing in the field with happy children - and lots of 'em. Devalera and Cardinal John Charles McQuaid destroyed the young republic in it's infancy.

[@christophermcguire27]

He isn't nor am I, no adoption well can't have a Catholic bairn adopted by a Protestant family when all the poor wee bairn needs was is unconditional love

[@paddypenman2682]

@@christophermcguire27 and today we just kill them

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Ahh the church done some good aswell tbf few bad apples in every bunch.

[@unclestuka8543]

And still the wrangling goes on, for Gods sake sort it and have a United Ireland ! it will come eventually.

[@anthonywhelan5419]

The Presbyterians and Church of Ireland promoted spoken and written Irish in the 17th Century. I'm Irish Catholic, by the way. Scots Irish and Native Irish could converse with each other until the freemason/ orange or sowed the seeds of hatred.

[@Hgfds897]

He set up collins. Praising the men who were executed. Saying they fought and died for Ireland. When he himself was taken prisoner he declared himself as an American so as he wouldn’t be executed.

[@Jeremy-y1t]

Collins betrayed Ireland.

[@sniperpd9505]

Why didn't the interviewer ask about Hitler.

[@AnnetteMurphyger]

well said Dev

[@Greenwillow]

To think if Michael Collins had lived it could of been him doing this interview. I still wonder would Ireland have been any different if he had lived🤔

[@eibhlinni3598]

Yes I think Ireland wouldn’t have been so subservient to the Catholic Church he would have kept the country more secular , Dev loved the alter rails

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@eibhlinni3598 Bear in mind nearly everyone was a Catholic and actually liked that for the most part. Plus he did not establish a state religion.

[@robmil6444]

​@@johnnotrealname8168Mother and baby homes, Magdalene laundries, Reformatory and Industrial Schools, repressive legislation, rampant abuse and exploitation of children ..

[@susannamarker2582]

Today, Ireland gets more than half its legislation from Brussels. And the RTE D4 set won't talk about it. Ireland's new colonial master. The EU works on an old german foreign policy model called limited sovereignty.

[@susannamarker2582]

@@666mrdoctor Yes, but the price is too high. With the EU, Ireland is not an independent nation. The Dail in the EU is like what Irish Home Rule would have been like in the UK back in the 1880s.

[@Ricardo-mr3bg]

@@susannamarker2582 Ireland was a third world shithole up to the 1980s. A place where nobody wanted to live. So yeah, the Eu has been very good.

[@susannamarker2582]

@@Ricardo-mr3bg Good for trade, but not for Ireland's sovereignty. I think Ireland has grown up as a country, and could leave the EU. The UK has concluded a deal with the EU, why not Ireland ? The RTE D4 set won't talk about it.

[@paddypenman2682]

@@Ricardo-mr3bg It's pretty much a third world shithole today too and a morally redundant one to boot, prostituting itself to EU bureaucrats for a few motorways. But look at the bright side, at least the spuds haven't rot in the ground this time.

[@Ricardo-mr3bg]

@@paddypenman2682 It's not third world now, it has problems but the country improved massively.

[@Antoward]

He never says any one else name like he did it all himself

[@Dechieftian]

A huge character flaw in my judgement. In Dev's mind he was the embodiment of Ireland. He dismissed the results of the 1922 election where the people of the island of Ireland voted by a margin of 3-1 in favor of the Treat. But Dev knew better I guess.

[@ianashby6294]

Allen rickmen was a great choice to portray him in Michel Collins

[@Dechieftian]

@James Henderson what you think they should have done is academic. What the majority of the Irish electorate did was vote in favor of the Anglo - Irish Treaty. Everybody took issue with the Treaty. Nobody was completely satisfied. But the essence of democracy is the people decide. Not, Griffith or Collins, not DeValera and Cathal Brugha. The Irish people voted for the Treaty.

[@Dechieftian]

@@ianashby6294 I thought Rickman was superb

[@Dechieftian]

@James Henderson Michael Collins was the candidate for Armagh .. all 32 counties were represented in the vote for ratification of the treaty. The Treaty included a section that partitioned Ireland.

[@brianking3565]

How can any Irish person hold there head up and claim independence,whilst six counties still lie under British occupation .no person can say this is Ireland until it’s 32, that’s what the Brave fought for,

[@Jeremy-y1t]

Ireland reunited with the UK on 1 January 1973.

[@johnburman966]

For strategic reasons the British needed northern Ireland to avoid threat of invasion on two fronts. Now this threat doesn't seem relevant as warfare has changed, and neutrality respected.

[@RobertK1993]

Appease Ulster Protestants who where clenching thier fists threating Civil War.

[@DerekTJ]

This has been stated under Blair too

[@michaelp5031]

He would turn in his grave if he knew what "They" have done to Ireland.

[@renebecher147]

He was voted in by the Irish People. The eu should take stock .Foreign dignitaries have no place to inflict another dictatorship when they were not voted on a Irish ballot sheet.

[@NikCan66]

FF aka Frankfurts Fools with FG aka Frankfurts Gestapo and Labour sold out Irish people years ago and Michael Martin and Leo Varradkar the epitome of Quislings

[@clanravencub]

We voted our MEPs, no dictatorship. The vast majority of the Irish people have consistently supported our part in Europe. Self-determination means we decide our parliaments ourselves, and through referenda we have spoken. And take part in Europe through the elections of our representatives

[@NikCan66]

@@clanravencub Well so called Irish MEP's representatives and the whole Irish media and political parties ignored the will of the Irish people with regards the Nice & Lisbon treaties referendums were rerun. The premise was abortion and corporation tax were opt outs to swing the re runs. We have seen abortion and now higher corporation tax rates being agreed across-the-board and the Irish political parties willing participants. The treaties opt outs were broken so nobody should accept any remits of the EU. Irish small farming and rural communities were screwed over and natural resources given away.

[@johnmc3862]

@@Hesgoneandwrittenitdown So was Johnny.

[@JayLong136]

I've heard a story of Collins death, it was that de Valera ordered Emmett Dalton to shoot Collins. The nurse on her death bed confessed during autopsy she noticed gun powder all over Collins neck and shirt collar. Meaning it had to have been from point blank range. We'll never know

[@oisinmtom]

"Eamon de Valera-first president of the Republic of Ireland-converses with Grinnell College" Are you sure that your description is correct. Dev wasnt the first president of the republic. Now he was the final President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State when it was still the free state prior to the Constitution being ratified.

[@christianpatriot125]

He was the first elected President. Pádraig Pearse was the first president. That fact was ratified by the first Dáil, the same Dáil that elected Éamon de Valera. The executive of the free state followed the treaty and the ceremonial presidency was introduced Dev’s constitution in 1937.

[@christianpatriot125]

You could say that he was the first president following the establishment of an elected government, but it is more accurate to describe him as the second president. However the first president, Pearse, regarded himself as a provisional president.

[@joesoap1960]

How could you describe this place a republic ?

[@christianpatriot125]

Joe Soap Ireland today is a lawless dictatorship being ruled outside constitutional limitations. Like Trump’s election challenges, the courts have so far refused to hear a constitutional challenge. As in 1923 the republic has been overthrown with terror, deceit and brute force. Dev was the president of a democratic republic, subject to the will of the people. Don’t confuse Dev with Mícheál Martin.

[@joesoap1960]

@@christianpatriot125 i see your point..i should have read your previous comments more carefully

[@jeffsmith2022]

Interesting interview, I was 5 years of age...

[@thevillaaston7811]

Anyone care to know what de Valera was doing on the 2nd May 1945?..

[@gosch89]

Taking a big dump and having a nice cup of tea?

[@thevillaaston7811]

@@gosch89 Doubtless both of those... It is known for certain that he took a trip to sign the German Ambassador's book of condolences for Adolf Hitler on that day. In this interview, de Valera failed to mention the Limerick boycott of Jews between1904 and 1906.

[@gosch89]

@@thevillaaston7811 nahh... there's no way that happened

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

@@thevillaaston7811 had his reasons

[@thevillaaston7811]

@@grlfcgombeenhunter2897 No doubt. He was a supporter of Hitler, and he was an anti-semite, were two of those reasons.

[@KimPhilby203]

During this interview the Church was running Ireland

[@odonnchada9994]

No Sinners Where Trying To Ruin The Church. As Christ Said The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against It.☘🇮🇪

[@odonnchada9994]

Hail Glorious Roman Catholic Saints And Martyrs Of Éireann.💚

[@KimPhilby203]

A ghoulish religion...

[@odonnchada9994]

@@KimPhilby203 Mr Bean.😄

[@odonnchada9994]

@Leo D'Arcy No Milesian Gael Celt Irish My People Stayed. They Had The English Shaking In Their Boots Back In The Day. You Sound Like A Traitor Pagan Are You?☘🇮🇪

[@clanravencub]

He's wearing the fáinne.

[@Albert-Arthur-Wison225]

I do so wish that we had footage available of Mr De Valera visiting the embassy of Germany in Dublin in 1945, in order to offer his condolences ‘ upon the death of Herr Hitler ‘.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

He used to write to his relatives in a mathematical code of his own devising. He is said to have telegrammed Berlin on the announcement of Hitlers death and he may have even had Mass said for him.

[@jamesgreene4811]

So true he was the First head of state to send his condolences to Berlin when Hitler died that says a lot about the Great man, I wonder what would he think of Ireland today, it would probably break his heart truth be known

[@hmq9052]

Was he sending his condolences?

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

@@hmq9052 I am not quite sure of what exactly he said and sent. The fact that he did so suffices both his admirers and detractors so it would seem. Ireland was not in the War against Germany and presumably channels were wide open for all sorts of communication.On a tangent the IRA maintained a branch office in Berlin all through the conflict and writers like Francis Stuart have become notorious for doing things like setting their novels action after an Axis victory and saying things very redolent of fascist sympathies .

[@hmq9052]

@@rhodiusscrolls3080 It does seem extraordinary that given the choice between the end of freedom and Britain, Ireland couldn't decide which they preferred for the duration of the war.

[@gosch89]

@@jamesgreene4811 why would it break his heart?

[@ogrebattle22763]

COWARD.... of the first order... Collins should have never gone... should have forced this coward to go himself....

[@ricotubbs5229]

Is “ independance” like dancing solo ?

[@johnboylan3591]

Being a wanker you'd know all about dancing solo

[@brianfitzell1664]

Please learn to spell, at least for the title. I bet if I made such an error in a Gaelic word, the Gaeltacht would tear me to pieces.

[@ogrebattle22763]

This man was a coward... an outright coward... Collins should have never gone... he should have stood his ground & made De Valera go himself... the man was a coward... he sent Collins to do the job he should have done or was in the position to do.... I have no admiration for men who use others to save their own necks... de Valera had already known what was going to be put forth on the table & knew damn well what the outcome would be... he wanted Collins to look like the traitor... how can people have admiration for a man who passed off his role to someone else knowing fully well what the outcome would be... he knew damn well what he was doing to Collins...

[@ogrebattle22763]

@James Henderson You're completely missing my point...

[@dukadarodear2176]

Collins was a born and bred fighter, not a diplomat nor a politician. Collins did most to achieve Irish independence and died a young man at the hands of his own. He should have been kept in reserve at home with the soldiers while the "Polititions" went to London to politicise. RIP.

[@sands7779]

passive tense for the country was cut off with govt of Ireland act

[@wstevenson4913]

The bloke was a fascist ..condolences on the death of the führer

[@merrybutcher2978]

Brought the English hangman back to Ireland.

[@OALM]

How fascinating that an American-born led Ireland through its independence movement! Similar to Golda Meir who grew up in the US and later led Israel.

[@eoinocnaimhsi2598]

The difference being that De Valera didnt murder civilians deliberately, as much as he wasnt a great lad.

[@Ricardo-mr3bg]

@@eoinocnaimhsi2598 Exactly, completely different leaders.

[@Skymaster.47]

Unlike De Valera, Golda Meir left Milwaukee for a settler colonial state that displaced and killed the native population.

[@electricrussellette]

Is that Stephen Colbert's dad doing the interview?

[@brianscates5225]

I have Irish inheritance; I support a unified Eire; I also have relatives in the USA where a lot of the people of Irish inheritance say that they have a right to be Irish; true. However, was De Valera really Irish when after hearing about the suicide of Adolf Hitler he went to the German embassy in Eire and offered his condolences to the Nazi's resident there still? Forgive and forget I suppose. Quite.

[@brianscates5225]

@Leo D'Arcy Is Eire the wrong word to use? You distort the truth of De Valera's meaning and neutrality; if you offer condolences to the Nazi's you offer condolences to mass murder and genetical engineering of 'race' - The British Isles were marked personally by Hitler to become a vast eugenics baby farm if they had conquered; all of the Irish Celts were to be ruthlessly euthanised; a fact of historical truth. I visited Ireland in 1979 and did a complete motoring tour of Southern and Northern Ireland; I encountered problems; so what?

[@ryanquinn5557]

De Valera upheld Ireland’s neutrality and offered his condolences to President Roosevelt when he passed and when he learned of Hitler’s suicide. Some say he was a Nazi sympathiser and it’s simply untrue, he upheld “neutrality”.

[@blueneptune825]

"Is deValera still Irish"? Yes. Yes, our flaws cannot render us less than Irish and if they could the Irish would've been wiped from the earth long ago. We can all rest easy that our Irishness is sufficient to accommodate our imperfections.🇮🇪💚✌🏼🇮🇪

[@ogrebattle22763]

I don't understand what you are talking about.... what do you mean when you say the "right" to be Irish?

[@typower9]

@@brianscates5225 Sounds interesting. Never heard about this. Where did you get the information from?

[@Madnotmad69]

It was bad back then but it’s worse now

[@jmccullough662]

Ridiculous man. He acts as if Ireland played no part in agreeing to partition, but Ireland affirmed partition in 1921, its electorate further endorsed it in 1922, and Ireland sold out on the border commission in 1925 by proposing that the border/partition was made permanent in return for a release from the sovereign debt agreed in the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Irish people need to own their decisions and stop playing the victim.

[@tjmoran579]

Would have been looked at more favourably if he didn’t make Collins his scapegoat

[@sidmccarthy83]

Sold out on the big fella micheal Collins

[@paulmckenna9492]

The Spanish Man from New York

[@jpmoses6208]

Comment on title of this intellectual film clip - the word is 'Independence' it's not a 'dance'

[@joemulhall5202]

Interesting interview and his perspective is rather telling. He was a visionary certainly, but being a visionary he didn't seemed to consider the dire economic situation that the Republic of Ireland was in in the 1950's when this interview was recorded. The isolationist self suffiency economic programme that 'Dev' followed since he first came to power in the 1930's, while it might have made some sense in the second world war, by the time this interview took place an economic isolationist small nation in Western Europe was a failing policy. The Taoiseach (his official title at the time of this interview) mentioned the population of 4.3 million. By the 1960s it was 3.5 million heading for 3 million as men and women emigrated for economic reasons. It wasn't until his successor in his political party took over (Sean Lemass) and open up the Irish economy to greater inward investment and international trade that Irelands long economic recovery, really since 1922, began. Today thanks to the likes of Lemass, Lynch, Cosgrave, Fitzgerald and even Charlie Haughey in a perverse way, Reynolds, Bruton, Ahern, Kenny, Vradkar and Martin, and membership of the EEC and EU, we have a nation with greater opportunities and wealth (one of the highest GDP per capita in the world) for its people than we have ever known before. There still are many problems such as housing shortages, Health care , and current economic challanges caused by Brexit, COVID, and Russian war in Ukraine, but the point us we have the ability and resources face the challanges as a proud independent country within the EU. Not to denigrate the contribution De Valera made to establishing our nation, and his aspirations for Ireland, genuinely and honourably held. His scrupulous honesty and ethical approach to government is an example to modern Irish politicians.

[@johnmurdoch8534]

Thanks to the scum and traitors that followed him, ireland has the opportunity to cease to be irish and has taken it. Dev was far from perfect but man, ireland was better off with poverty than the strange notion of prosperity you seem to see.

[@tonymcmahon_historybear]

My grandmother was a huge fan of De Valera but I wonder if Ireland would have been better off with Michael Collins at the helm - De Valera was too inward looking and conservative.

[@robertemmet7756]

It would have been better off.

[@derrivreen]

half cuban spanish cold robotic , gallant to the ladies then whispering snake,

[@vinadamswood586]

EdV comes over very well. But what a sycophantic interviewer… who never asked him a single tough question.* Btw… I see that the American was 47 at the time of the filming… and EdV was 75 at the time of filming… but the American lived only another 11 years… whilst our main man lived another 17… Liked his story of the lapel ring. Are they still to be seen today? * no questions on the ROI's WW2 neutrality against Nazis for Godsake… let alone asking him why he signed that notorious book of condolence in the German Embassy, two days after Hitler's suicide…!!

[@TroyaE117]

Yes, and Devalera already knew of the horrors of the Holocaust when he expressed sadness with the death of Hitler.

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Pity we didn’t listen to the man we wouldn’t be in this mess now. I reckon it was to piss of the Brits and the small fact he was sending over guns.

[@bmf7807]

Although it's fascinating to hear him speak, I doubt anyone could claim he was a good leader.

[@patrickporter1864]

@@bmf7807 Sean lemass was your only man but dev would not get out of his way.

[@mrgabagoo580]

I agree, he wasn't a good leader. He was a great leader.

[@bmf7807]

@@mrgabagoo580 could you tell me more and why you think that? I am fascinated to learn more about Irish politics.

[@mrgabagoo580]

@@bmf7807 Happily, if you are willing to engage in good faith.

[@bmf7807]

@@mrgabagoo580 yes of course. I'm sad the Internet is such a sad place that we even have to ask that, but yes I'm being serious. Everything I've read and seen of Dev made me think he was an opportunistic conservative but I'm not Irish and not sure I'm entitled to that view. So please educate me to your views of him.

[@davidlawtie6088]

How the f**k did we end up here... from there? We are going backwards.

[@gerryhannan9463]

My thoughts exactly

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Sad but true

[@tommercury3349]

@@grlfcgombeenhunter2897 but you support it

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

@@tommercury3349 what are u on about

[@ChrisinHove]

Fascinating. It’s diabolical how virtually no Irish history has ever been taught in British schools.

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

It was pretty much the same, if not quite, in Scotland.I had a wee bit on the wars of independence, not much. Hee haw on the Scottish reformation, nothing on the union of the crowns or the union of parliaments in 1707 & again nothing on the Scottish enlightenment that truly shaped Scotland's thinkers & led the way for the explosion of Scottish excellence. Our large role in empire was again not taught, we were disproportionately massive in empire though the Irish provided a good more fighting men. The English get the blame for empire but deserve to, after all, in all my experiences & of course most peoples mindsets, the world refer to the collective British as English. So have it you Saxonite BawBags!

[@vortexx555]

Including many northern Irish schools...

[@sham5280]

The history and geography of Britain was very prominent when I was in school and still is. The Norman invasion, the plantations the war of independence and everything in between. As regards geography, all the major cities, rivers, mountains, industry.

[@jmccullough662]

@@vortexx555 I went to school in Northern Ireland and we learnt Irish history.

[@mrcoconut1148]

Why would they