Remarkable how this English Movietone commentator was much more generous to Dev's memory at the time of his death, than most Irish commentators are to his memory nowadays.

Collins was dead 53 years when Dev died....Crazy....

The most cunning and intelligent politician of the XX Century. He restored Irish Independence 700 years after an Iron Fist oppression of the British. Nowadays he is questioned by "know-nothings" in Ireland.

You either die a hero (Collins), or live long enough to see yourself become the villain (De Valera).......

How weird is it, that most most hardened Irish republican, was a man not born in Ireland, but in New York, and did not have an Irish surname, but a Spanish one.

A complex figure. He created the 1937 Constitution, that removed references to the King from the Constitution and ensured it could only be changed by referendum. The Constitution has been criticised for including Church teachings like banning divorce and refereing to women's place in the home. But the provisions allowing for referendums to amend it allowed divorce to be legalised in 1995, and for progressive measures like marriage-equality to be introduced. The constitutional ban on abortion didnt happen until 1983, 8 years after he died, though the legislative ban dated to the 1860s Offences against the Person Act. The Constitution included a territorial claim on Northern Ireland, which was bargained away in the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland. He achieved the return of the Treaty Ports and even before 1937 the abolition of the hated Oath of Allegiance for TDs and senators and the abolition of the Governor Genersl. He managed to end the repayment of the Land Annuities, whereby Ireland had to repay loans to Britain that the latter had granted to Irish farmers to buy out the big landlords in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many felt that it was wrong we should have had to repay these loans, give the lands concerned had been stolen by Cromwell and other British and English rulers like Elizabeth, James I and William III and given to their cronies. Without the return of the Treaty Ports, Irish neutrality in WW2 and since would have been impossible. He deserves credit for this. While his stated aim of restoring Irish as the spoken language failed in his lifetime, the state supports he introduced also ensured it would survive. For me the negatives include excessive deference to the Catholic bishops, the isolationist and protectionist economic policy, the continuation of the Magdalene launderies and Industrial Schools where women and children were incarcerated often for no reason other than being poor or in women's case for not conforming to society's then conservative gender stereotypes, such as being single mothers. The decline of the Churchs political power is largely the result of the horror stories by victims of these institutions which gets blanket coverage in the Irish media (as it should).

he was of his time. massive personality in irish life...hated and loved.

It would be great if people could judge DeValera on his life and achievements rather than just his portrayl in the 1996 film Michael Collins... just saying

He played a huge part in gaining Ireland's independence from Britain, stood up to Churchill to affirm Ireland's neutrality during the second World War. Having done this he then marched his people and country into a proverbial cave. It took almost 80 years for Ireland to emerge from that cave.

I went to glasneven cementry yesterday u were a legend Ramon RIP

not sure about De Valera-fascinating character but mixed history-sentenced hunger strikers to death--gave Michael Collins an impossible task-Collins was a military man with no negotiating skills-was duped by Churchill-My parents met de Valera-he was almost blind but commented on my mother's red dress

He was of the generation that won Irish Freedom after centuries of being under the British boot heel. According to the nurse attending him, DeValera's last words were, "All my life I've done my best for Ireland, now I'm ready to go."

To be honest - apart from his erroneous views on economics, if he suddenly appeared today, I'd vote for him.

The stuff he lived through though 🤯

LONG LIVE EAMON R.I.P.

A controversial figure but nonetheless didn't create Bengal famine which killed half of my grandfather's family. Churchill's monstrosity is underrated

For those that absolutely despised De Valera's legacy (not a particular fan or hardened critic of The Long Fella myself), I shudder to think what Leo Vradkar's legacy will be like in half a century if this little island nation of ours is still above water.

Bastard died during school holidays so no day off

God Bless De Valera Sean McEntee.

Shouldn't be regarded as an Irish Hero. He was a coward and hid away from every war that there was. Our only intelligent politician as everyone knew and he didn't attend the most important treaty decision in our country's history? Some man he was haha. Sold out Collins for the glory of himself. Will always remain in Collins shadow. Shame he got to see his 90s when the true hero died in his prime.

Micheal Collins. The true president of Ireland.

Why is this movie footage part of british movietone tho?

CAN WE NOW HAVE THE DAILY PRESS BACK

A Irish hero rip

I was on my annual pilgramage from Engalnd to see both sides of the families grandparents. I remember having to stand and watch the whole funeral when all I wanted to do was go and play on the farm.

He loved his country that's for sure. He was a patriot.

Where's Bono?

People still give him shit just because he chose to live and fight with his words and pen after the rising lol de Valera regardless of your feelings did more for The Republic than you ever will. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I wish we had strong politicians today 2024 like Eamon Develara, what passes for an Irish Politician today and what they are doing to Ireland today is Disgusting. And thank you Mr Develara for Enshrining MOTHER in the constitution you wrote, they tried to remove MOTHER but failed. RIP CHIEF❤

Eamon De Valera was the blockage to the launch of the Republic of Ireland's national television service. As Irish Prime Minister, he utterly refused to have a national television service, as he thought television was evil. Once he retired in 1959 and became President, the new Prime Minister Sean Lemass kicked started plans to launch Telefis Eireann at last.

A legend, R. I. P.

He had a he'll of a lot less to answer for than that toerag Churchill.

I remember going to see him in Dublin Castle.

Just imagine how much better everything would’ve been if his family in New York sent him to Spain, instead of Ireland.

STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN OUR DEV PROBABLY IN A MERCEDES,

My beloved native land hugely improved its circumstances after both his death...and the side-lining of catholic mafia in my beloved ireland.

Eamon de Valera paid a presidential visit to the German ambassador (a personal friend) to offer his condolences on the death of Adolf Hitler.

I feel like Michael's tactics where good and they did work but it's just the thought of Irish people killing English that gives me chills but on the other hand Dev should have gone to work out the treaty but he was a bit of a snake in the grass and sent Mike I don't know what side I'm on I am leaning toward michael just coz he was trying to fight fire with fire and it did I work while Dev kinda his in the shadows plus Dev looks like a freaking Disney villain has no one notices that anyway it wasn't mikes fault that he did't get the whole of Ireland but at the same time if Dev was saying that he was the going to be the first president of Ireland before the treaty was made then he was being a bit coky

Say what you want about Eamon De Valera, but he rejected the democratic will of the people when it came to the Anglo Irish Treaty. He oversaw a Civil War that killed more Irish people than the war of Independence, and led to the assassination of Michael Collins, the man the Irish had elected to be their leader. For that reason I am not surprised that he has been given the appropriate title of Ireland’s hated hero. He was truly as disgrace

He wasn't even Irish, born in America, stabbed Collins in the back, gets far to much attention.

After the death of Hitler he paid his respects to the Nazi Embassy in Ireland. Even when word about concentration camps was out. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but often used that knife to stab his comrades in the back aka Collins.

Literally as well as politically myopic he would have left the country as a third world Banana Republic if he had not been replaced by Lemass .

A traitor con man

Irish Lives Matter

This is fecking cat altogether be jesus

....an anachronism .

Britain's greatest spy

No justice, Collins lost in his prime, this coward lived until his nineties, like I said no justice

The Easter Rising was both unnecessary and unpopular. The Home Rule bill had already passed. De Valera's actions simply helped brought about partition.

Big ol backstabber is what he was

He stabbed Michael Collins in the back

Traitor

this was a good day

dude sold out Collins

Btw I'm only 12

Collins is the true hero