Daniel Bryan
Encyclopedia
Colonel Dan Bryan was an officer in the Irish Army
and head of G2
(the Irish Army's intelligence section) during World War II
, known in neutral Ireland
as "The Emergency".
Daniel Bryan (more often known as Dan) was born in Dunbell, Gowran
, County Kilkenny
in 1900. From 1916, he studied medicine for two years at the National University of Ireland
. In November 1917 he joined the Irish Volunteers
to fight against British rule in Ireland.
The Irish Free State
was created in 1922. During the subsequent Irish Civil War
Bryan opted to join the National Army
(later known as the Irish Army
). He was commissioned to the rank of Captain in September 1923. He would remain in the Irish Army until his retirement in 1955.
For much of his career he served with the Headquarters Staff, specialising on intelligence. In 1942 he succeeded Liam Archer as Director of G2; he exercised a decisive personal contribution towards the detection and arrest of German spies in Ireland, such as Hermann Görtz
and Günther Schütz
. Bryan remained head of G2 for the remainder of the War. He closely co-operated with Richard Hayes, Director of the National Library of Ireland
, in the breaking of German codes.
In 1952 he was appointed Commandant of the Irish Military College.
In 1983, RTÉ
made a dramatised television series ("Caught in a Free State
") about German spies in Ireland during World War II. A character closely based on Dan Bryan - "Colonel Brian Dillon" - was played by the Irish actor John Kavanagh.
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
and head of G2
G2 (Republic of Ireland)
G2 or G-2 is the national intelligence agency of Ireland. It is the military intelligence branch of the Irish Defence Forces, and also helps protect Ireland's national security. G2 is used in several western and NATO forces to refer to the Intelligence and Security branch of the staff function...
(the Irish Army's intelligence section) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, known in neutral Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
as "The Emergency".
Daniel Bryan (more often known as Dan) was born in Dunbell, Gowran
Gowran
Gowran is a village and former town in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Gowran Park race course is located nearby. Gowran is located on the N9 national primary road where it is crossed by the R702 regional road.-History:...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
in 1900. From 1916, he studied medicine for two years at the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
. In November 1917 he joined the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
to fight against British rule in Ireland.
The Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
was created in 1922. During the subsequent Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
Bryan opted to join the National Army
National Army
The term national army has many meanings around the world, and is used typically, but not necessarily, to mean the lawful army of the state as distinct from rebel armies or private armies that may operate there.National Army may also refer to:...
(later known as the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
). He was commissioned to the rank of Captain in September 1923. He would remain in the Irish Army until his retirement in 1955.
For much of his career he served with the Headquarters Staff, specialising on intelligence. In 1942 he succeeded Liam Archer as Director of G2; he exercised a decisive personal contribution towards the detection and arrest of German spies in Ireland, such as Hermann Görtz
Hermann Görtz
Hermann Görtz was a German spy in Britain and Ireland before and during World War II.-First trip to Broadstairs:Hermann Görtz arrived in Britain on the 29 August 1935 with a secretary, Marianne Emig. They spent a few weeks in Suffolk and eventually moved to Broadstairs and rented a house...
and Günther Schütz
Günther Schütz
Günther Schütz was a German citizen who performed a mission for German Intelligence in World War II, as part of Britain's Double Cross System.-Early life:Schütz was born on 17 April 1912 in the Silesian town of Schweidnitz...
. Bryan remained head of G2 for the remainder of the War. He closely co-operated with Richard Hayes, Director of the National Library of Ireland
National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
, in the breaking of German codes.
In 1952 he was appointed Commandant of the Irish Military College.
In 1983, RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
made a dramatised television series ("Caught in a Free State
Caught in a Free State
Caught in a Free State was a dramatised television series made by RTÉ in 1983. This four-part series was about German spies in neutral Ireland during World War II, known in Ireland as "The Emergency".-Production:...
") about German spies in Ireland during World War II. A character closely based on Dan Bryan - "Colonel Brian Dillon" - was played by the Irish actor John Kavanagh.