Martin Gormley*

The lies told about Ireland - no particular order: Ireland has seen a staggering amount of online interest and interference over the last 5 years, to the point it now has the worlds highest external malicious bot traffic - 71%, versus 35% in the U.S for example Here are some of the regular falsehoods: 'A famine (scarcity of food) caused 1 million+ deaths in Ireland 1845-1851': Over 4000 ships carried food from Ireland in 1847 alone, the famines worst year (Black ‘47). Over 3 million livestock were exported 1846-1850. 6 million quarters of grain left 1845-1847 (about 1 million tonnes) While avoiding all deaths was unlikely, access and entitlement to food, rather than its scarcity, was a primary factor. 'Ireland was pro-Nazi in WW2'': Ireland was exclusively and extensively pro-Allied in WW2. It violated neutrality in the Allies favour completely, across dozens of ways, any of which would have led to war with Germany if they became known. 9% of the Irish population voluntarily joined the UK war effort. Zero went to Germany. The Irish state is the only neutral to exclusively aid the Allies and openly criticise Nazi actions. Ireland had lowest far right uptake in Europe. Britain's MI5 said at wars end ‘Ireland was of more use neutral’ 'Before the Anglo-Norman arrival, Ireland was not unified or coherent': Irish identity and island wide culture formed from about 500BC. No later they 500AD they called themselves Irish, differentiated foreigners and shared an island wide society and identity that worked as one on laws, language, religion, culture, origin myths & legends. They even met up to compete in national inter-kingdom sports days. Many tribes, but one people. 'Before the Anglo-Norman arrival, Gaelic Ireland was uncivilised': Ireland had the most advanced law system in Europe, a restorative learned profession with divorce, animal welfare laws & rare execution. All-Island assemblies created laws like 'The law of the Innocents', 697AD, that gave protection to women and children in times of war. Irish monasteries were a shining light amid Europe's dark ages, returning & advancing literacy & learning. A complex all-island society placed immense importance on culture. Claims of cannibalism & backwards barbarity were fabricated or exaggerated by Anglo-Normans propagandist, Gerald of Wales, to justify colonisation. 'Ireland has an inflated history of antisemitism / racism': Ireland has had the lowest levels of antisemitism in Europe since the first Jewish arrivals in the 11th century. Zero expulsions. No pogroms. No exclusion from government/societal roles. Irelands most important politician, Daniel O’Connell, fought for Jewish rights in the 1800’s. Ireland enshrined Jewish right of practise in its 1937 Constitution, a unique action in an antiemetic age. Claims Ireland exclusively excluded Jews in WW2 are false - all refugee entries were minimised. Jews made up 20% of those left in, likely the largest cohort of a small number. Ireland has no history of large scale, organised racially motivated groups or state segregation (of course racism and antisemitism existed in Ireland as everywhere) 'The IRA & its tactics represent all Irish': The Irish Republican Army fought a popular campaign for Irish independence 1919 - 1921, achieving partial independence for the country. Since then, the groups popularity waned as violent tactics were at odds with a desire for political advancement of Republican ideals. By World War Two, the group had just 2k members from a population of 3 million and were deeply unpopular with the Irish public for their tactics. Many Irish remained / remain Republicans, and desirous of a reunited Ireland, but not via violent means.