During the run up to World War II and the Cold War, did Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union ever try to make Ireland an ally against the UK? It was neutral throughout and there was also a large anti-British sentiment in the mid 20th century, and it was also an extremely poor country throughout the Cold War, which are more likely to turn to Communism.
The Irish government was never sympathetic to either the Nazis or the Soviets. In WWII, an Allied victory was clearly in Ireland's interest so Irish Neutrality was skewed in favour of them.
The Nazis did collaborate with the IRA hoping to use them as a fifth column if Germany decided to invade. In the event, the Irish and Northern Ireland governments suppressed the IRA through internment and Germany aid was not as generous as the IRA wanted. This was pretty standard practice by the Germans in using nationalist groups for their own advantage. The IRA were applying a simplistic logic of 'England's difficulty is Ireland's opportunity'.
The Soviets considered Ireland to be in the US sphere and were generally correct as both the government and population were anti-communist due to their Catholicism. The USSR did support some left wing parties, most notably the Worker's Party which was linked to the Official IRA. They had some electoral success in the late 1980s before splitting.
Sources
Brian Hanley, '‘Oh here’s to Adolph Hitler’?…The IRA and the Nazis', in History Ireland 3, May/June 2005.
Brian Hanley, Scott Millar, The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers' Party