alternatehistory.com

1971

The Lynch administration successfully detonated a nuclear weapon off the coast of clare county. This event shocked the united kingdom who demanded that Ireland dismantle all of their nuclear weapons and allow inspectors protected by british military personal to make sure this program was dismantled, and threatened military intervention if they didn't allow this.

Nuclear Jack as he would come to be called told them that if they invaded it would cost them London. Then in an act that many said destroyed his political career Prime minister Edward Heath told Lynch to give him one reason why Ireland needed nuclear weapons.

The Lynch administration responded to that quote by having a team of Irish historians list every known atrocity the british inflicted on the Irish people. Then Heath asked what it would cost to get rid of the Irish nuclear program.

The Lynch administration said the complete nuclear disarmament of the UK, would be acceptable.

For obvious reasons the UK refused, instead they used their fincial influence to try to convince Ireland to get rid of their nuclear program telling them that they would not be allowed to join the EU until they got rid of it.

Irish nationalists felt insulted and accepted that they would never be allowed to join.

Its been over 30 years and Ireland still has around a hundred nuclear weapons, the republic is still not a member of the EU, but they are still an independent nation.

But what if Ireland didn't get the bomb how would that change Irish and world history?
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