I don't doubt that de Valera was playing the whole crisis to get a republic, but once he played his hand he can't unplay it and act like he never supported E-8.
I don't doubt that de Valera was playing the whole crisis to get a republic, but once he played his hand he can't unplay it and act like he never supported E-8.
Instead, de Valera used the crisis created by E-8 to speed up the creation of the Irish Republic and the removal of the same from any lingering political ties with Britain. In the eye's of de Valera E-8 was a tool, a pawn, and nothing more.
The idea that de Valera would commit an ideological u-turn and think that importing an English king and installing him on an Irish throne could speed the process of making Ireland a truly independent republic is, well, silly is the kindest word I can use.
It would be akin to Hitler suddenly joining the Anti-Defamation League.