Irish Public Service Broadcasting - 1940s: De Valera and Broadcasting

De Valera and Broadcasting

Eamon de Valera was one of the first Irish politicians to recognise the potential of both sound recording technology and the broadcasting medium. He recorded his first political speech on disc as early as March 1920 and within days of first taking office in 1932 he was broadcasting on Radio Éireann (on the theme of a united Ireland). Indeed, it is his 1943 St Patrick's Day address on Radio Éireann, in which he referred to a land "bright with cosy homesteads...and the laughter of happy maidens," that is used most often to define his vision for the nation, rather than any words he authored in print.

His finest on-air moment was undoubtedly his reply to Winston Churchill on 16 May 1945, after Churchill made critical references to Ireland's neutrality in his VE Day broadcast speech. It is said that even de Valera's opponents spoke of their pride in his words.

In 1947, Taoiseach de Valera decided to promote the cause of short wave broadcasting. Accordingly, a major expansion of Radio Éireann was authorised, a powerful transmitter was purchased and extensive tests were carried out, but in the end broadcasting on short wave was never developed into a regular service. However, as a result of the investments of that year, Radio Éireann was, inter alia, able to develop its symphony and light orchestras, repertory company, a mobile recording unit and scriptwriting staff. Although the short wave project was abandoned in 1948, staff who had been recruited for the new service were retained. This resulted in a marked improvement in the standard and range of programmes on Radió Éireann.

Eamon de Valera responds to Winston Churchill : 16 May 1945

On 13 May 1945, towards the end of the Second World War, Winston Churchill in his Victory in Europe speech, broadcast to the world, was critical of Taoiseach Eamon de Valera and Ireland's policy of neutrality throughout the war.

"Owing to the action of Mr de Valera, so much at variance with the temper and instinct of thousands of Southern Irishmen who hastened to the battle-front to prove their ancient valour, the approaches and the Southern Irish ports and airfields could so easily have guarded were closed by the hostile aircraft and U-boats. This was indeed a deadly moment in our life, and if it had not been for the loyalty and friendship of Northern Ireland we would have been forced to come to close quarters with Mr de Valera or perish forever from the earth."

Three days later, de Valera, in a much anticipated reply, outlined Ireland's right as an independent state to remain neutral. His response was praised widely in Ireland for its strength, dignity and restraint.

In this extract from de Valera's broadcast, he gives credit to Churchill for not violating Irish neutrality:

"It is indeed fortunate that Britain's necessity did not reach the point when Mr Churchill would have acted. All credit to him that he successfully resisted the temptation which I have no doubt many times assailed him in his difficulties and to which I freely admit many leaders might have succumbed. It is indeed hard for the strong to be just to the weak but acting justly always has its rewards".

To illustrate his decisions on neutrality, de Valera poses a hypothetical question: if Germany had won the war and occupied England for a number of years, finally giving freedom to England with the exception of six southern counties, would Churchill be prepared to "lead this partitioned England to join with Germany in a crusade".