Book excerpt: The Council of Europe (CoE) has played a central but neglected role in the definition of Irish attitudes to European integration. Ireland was a founder member of the Council in 1949 and participation in the work of the Council changed Irish attitudes towards broader European integration by demonstrating to politicians and officials the benefits and challenges of collective European action. This book explores the differing views of politicians on European integration and examines the changing opinions of Irish academics, businessmen, civil servants and diplomats from the late 1940s to the early 1960s.