1940-49

August 26th, 1940: A German bomb hits a creamery in Campile, Co Wexford, killing three women.

January 28th, 1941: The Emergency Powers Act provides for the censorship of press messages to places outside the 26 counties. "No nation can enjoy true freedom without an untrammelled press," comments an Irish Times editorial on May 11th 1945. Press censorship ends the same day.

April 15th, 1941: More than 100 tons of bombs are dropped over a Belfast residential area, killing more than 700 people. On May 4th, another German blitz on Belfast kills 150 people and devastates the harbour and surrounding shipyards. On both occasions de Valera sends fire engines across the Border to help fight the blaze.

May 31st, 1941: Dublin's North Strand is hit by a 500-pound German bomb, killing more than 30 and injuring 90. Further bombs fall on Summerhill, the North Circular Road, and the Phoenix Park, damaging Aras an Uachtarain and the American Embassy.

June 30th, 1941: Stephen Hayes, former IRA chief of staff, is kidnapped. He arrives shackled into Rathmines Garda Station on September 8th claiming he has been chained and tortured by an IRA court martial. Sean McCaughey is convicted of his kidnapping on September 18th. Hayes is sentenced to five years penal servitude for maintaining an illegal force.

January 26th, 1942: The first American GIs begin to arrive in Northern Ireland. De Valera complains that Ireland has not been consulted by Britain or the US about the landing of American troops in Northern Ireland. "Really?," is President Roosevelt's concise cable reply.

May 6th, 1942: Ration books are issued in the Free State. Private motoring has already been banned due to fuel rations, and only one train a day runs on provincial lines.

February 23rd, 1944: The Children's Allowances Act introduces payments of 2s 6d per week for the third and subsequent children under 16.

May 2nd, 1945: De Valera calls on the German ambassador Dr Eduard Hempel, to offer his condolences upon the death of Adolf Hitler on April 30th. "The Swastika at the German Legation was flown at half-mast at 58 Northumberland road," reports The Irish Times.

May 13th, 1945: In his second World War victory speech, British prime minister Winston Churchill attacks de Valera for the Irish state's neutrality: "Had it not been for Northern Ireland's loyalty and friendship, we should have been forced to come to close quarters with Mr de Valera, or perish for ever from the earth." De Valera's reply, broadcast three days later, received an ovation in the Dail: "It is, indeed, hard for the strong to be just to the weak, but acting justly always has its rewards."

June 16th, 1945: Sean T. O'Kelly (right) is elected President, the first to be elected by the people.

February 18th, 1948: Fianna Fail's 16-year reign in government comes to an end when John A. Costello is elected Taoiseach and forms the first interparty coalition government, consisting of Fine Gael, Clann na Poblachta, Labour and Clann na Talmhan.

February 23rd, 1949: In Washington, Sean MacBride, Minister for External Affairs, tells reporters that Eire cannot join NATO while Britain has claims to sovereignty in Northern Ireland.

April 18th, 1949: Ireland is declared a Republic.

May 5th, 1949: The Republic of Ireland signs the convention as founder member of the Council of Europe.