SNIPPET: "The Emergency" -- In neutral Ireland, this was the name given to the period of WWII, 1939-1945. Despite pressure from Britain and, when it had declared war, the United States, Ireland also maintained formal diplomatic relations with Germany and Japan. As in previous centuries, Irish volunteers fought both for Britain and for Britain's enemies; and many crossed the Irish Sea to England, to earn money in the war economy that could not be earned in Ireland. The flow of emigration of course came to a complete halt. Ireland suffered as a result of the German blockade of the British Isles, and there were shortages of every important commodity. These were borne with typical wry humor and a tendency to blame the government. "By the year 1942...it was illegal to sell flour without a licence. As far as we knew there were no ships which were prepared to risk the mine-swept seas to bring us wheat. So the Government made an order that the millers were to get 100% flour from the wheat. The result was black or brown bread... "Bless them all, bless them all, The long and the short and the tall; Bless de Valera and Sean McEntee For giving us the black bread and the half-ounce of tea. but we're saying goodbye to them all, As back to the barracks we crawl, If we don't get cocoa we're going to go loco, So cheer up, me lads, bless 'em all." -- Eamonn MacThomais, "The Labour and The Royal" Market day, 1940 - Despite wartime shortages, life in the Irish Free State went on much as normal. In 1940, stalwart members of the Irish army stood guard at Maryborough (now Portlaoise) railroad station. In 1941, heavy German air-raids in Belfast. Damage from German bombs in Dublin killed 30 people. -- Excerpts, "Through Irish Eyes" & "A Short History of Ireland"