I do not doubt that you heard your apocryphal story (that you posted as fact!) many times.
It is Irish Republican, anti British, made up propaganda.

I ask again, would you prefer the war came earlier and we lost?
We so nearly lost as it was.
In 1940 our army was defeated, we could not prevent the destruction of our cities, and our vital Merchant Marine all but wiped out.
Everyone from Churchill down expected invasion and defeat.
But we chose to fight on.

A true anti fascist would be filled with gratitude and admiration.
Where is yours Jim?