Vivion de Valera military service during "The Emergency", de Valera retired from the army with the rank of Major. In 1945, he embarked on a political career, being elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin North-West. He served in Dáil Éireann until 1981. He was a director of "The Irish Press" from 1932 until 1982 and managing director from 1951 until 1982. Vivion de Valera died in Bray in 1982. He was also the uncle of former ministers Síle de Valera and Éamon Ó Cuív. Vivion de Valera Vivion Laurence de Valera (13 December 1910 – 16 February 1982) was
Éamon de Valera In April 1938, de Valera and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement, lifting all duties imposed during the previous five years and ending British use of the Treaty Ports it had retained in accordance with the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The return of the ports was of particular significance, since it ensured Irish neutrality during the coming Second World War. By September 1939, a general European war was imminent. On 2 September, de Valera advised Dáil Éireann that neutrality was the best policy for the country. This policy had overwhelming political and popular support, though some advocated Irish