In Ireland, anger and distrust toward the UK was still strong (the brutal Irish war of independence was still fresh in people's memories) and officially they preferred to be neutral, rather than ally themselves with the UK. That said, there were many Irish citizens that crossed the channel and enlisted in the British army to fight the Axis.

Hitler was fine with Ireland remaining neutral, as it helped isolate the UK. I was told by an Irishman—not sure how true it is—the Germans had at some point accidentally bombed an Irish port city (fog of war, literally; the bombers were trying for Liverpool or Manchester but got lost in the channel fog) and Hitler actually sent a formal letter of apology to the Irish government because he didn't want to risk getting them angry and joining the fight.

In Ireland, anger and distrust toward the UK was still strong (the brutal Irish war of independence was still fresh in people's memories) and officially they preferred to be neutral, rather than ally themselves with the UK. That said, there were many Irish citizens that crossed the channel and enlisted in the British army to fight the Axis.

Hitler was fine with Ireland remaining neutral, as it helped isolate the UK. I was told by an Irishman—not sure how true it is—the Germans had at some point accidentally bombed an Irish port city (fog of war, literally; the bombers were trying for Liverpool or Manchester but got lost on the channel fog) and Hitler actually sent a formal letter of apology to the Irish government because he didn't want to risk getting them angry and joining the fight.

In Ireland, anger and distrust toward the UK was still strong (the brutal Irish war of independence was still fresh in people's memories) and officially they preferred to be neutral, rather than ally themselves with the UK. That said, there were many Irish citizens that crossed the channel and enlisted in the British army to fight the Axis.

Hitler was fine with Ireland remaining neutral, as it meant one less country country to fight, and it helped isolate the UK. I was told by an Irishman—not sure how true it is—the Germans had at some point accidentally bombed an Irish port city (fog of war, literally; the bombers were trying for Liverpool or Manchester but got lost on the channel fog) and Hitler actually sent a formal letter of apology to the Irish government because he didn't want to risk getting them angry and joining the fight.