Photo: GettyIreland only agreed to allow Defence Forces personnel take part in a special parade in France to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II after being assured other neutral countries were taking part. President Mary Robinson was invited to attend special ceremonies in Paris to mark a half century since the end of World War II. However, the 1995 ceremonies were exceptionally high profile given the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. “We were militarily neutral in World War II but we were certainly not unaffected by the war,” he said. Ireland's neutrality in World War II, and sensitivities in the Anglo-Irish context have led governments in the past to decline such invitations,” Richard Townsend of the DFA wrote at the time.

Source: Irish Independent December 28, 2025 17:33 UTC