I have no respect for Eamon De Valera he only cared about himself and not Ireland he disagreed with Michael Collins's idea of making peace with Britain not to mention he was the one who started Irish Civil War so that's the reason why I have no respect for him.
I have always believed that if Collins had survived he would have found a way to unite Ireland. He was an energetic very intelligent man while Dev was little more than a very clever career politician.
a shame he didn't stay in the US .. He can never be forgiven for walking out of the Dail with his deputies after the vote for the Anglo-Irish Treaty was ratified by a majority vote. Not good enough for Dev .. oh no .. he knew better .. instrumental in destabilizing the country when it was most vulnerable. instrumental in causing the civil war that resulted in the death of the man that paved the way for independence .. a man that done the heavy lifting in the years that Devalera was dining in the Waldorf Astoria in New York .. 2 years he spent there preening and glad handing and smiling for the cameras.
Jealousy is a nasty human trait and de Valera was full of jealousy against Michael Collins. He hated and feared the brilliant fighter tactician and all around organiser of men who would go to hell and back for him. Let there be no mistake, champagne glasses were raised in the de Valera household on August 22 1922....if only history had given de Valera his bullet in 16 and Collins would have certainly avoided his assassination. RIP Mick Collins on this the centenary of your death....
I love/hate Dev. He did put his life on the line for irish freedom many times. The man was literally sentenced to death and fought in the easter rising so you can't say he wasn't a true irish patriot. However he was offered the six counties during WW2 which would have been the united Ireland SO many generations of irish men and women died for in exchange for irish aid in defeating the Germans but DeValera stayed neutral and rejected it. He had it right there in his hands. For aid in a war in which, in the end, many irish men would die fighting in anyway. Would have prevented the troubles and so much pain and destruction. He also gave WAY too much power to the Catholic church which had very negative effects on the Irish psyche. I guess most people have complicated feelings about him.
The claim that reunification was really offered is such an incredible lie that it discredits the entire documentary. The offer was so vague and cryptic as to be completely ridiculous. Dev is in no way guilty for rejecting a bizarre message from that drunkard in London.
Why would you send a soldier to do a politically job, Dev went to the USA to collect for the ‘cause he returned and gave some of the money to the cause, gave some to his family I.E the Irish Press when the donors learned of this they demanded their money back he almost admitted this near the end of his life commenting that in the fullness of time Collins contributed more to Irelands freedom than he had previously acknowledged 😢😢
