The Emergency was the time during World War II in Ireland. Any reference to the war was avoided and Ireland publicly kept a strictly neutral role throughout the war. This was because of the political and nationalist tensions in Ireland at the time, in particular the Anglo–Irish War and the Irish Civil War having left simmering tensions.
During this time the Nazis made contact with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) men who were regularly interned at the Curragh. Eamon de Valera was the Taoiseach during this period and introduced the Emergency Powers Acts and the Offences Against the State Acts to combat the Irish Republican Army and other dangers.
Contrary to popular opinion at the time and for decades since the neutrality was biased to the Allied Powers. For instance British servicemen were allowed to return to the United Kingdom through Northern Ireland. Additionally weather reports were provided to the Allies, and the chief German diplomat in Ireland had his radio confiscated in 1943 to prevent him passing information.