Why a Russian embassy expansion alarmed the Irish Government

[Dublin321]

6. Subterranean area

Indeed.

I was also very intrigued by the reference to the expulsions of embassy staff back during the Cold War era:

And, in 1983, three Soviet embassy staff were expelled when a spying operation was uncovered. At the time, the expulsions were not explained publicly, and most presumed they were linked to Soviet-IRA links.

But, in his memoirs, former taoiseach Garrett FitzGerald revealed that the Irish Government had been briefed that Soviet spies were exchanging information with a US double agent in the Stillorgan Shopping Centre in Dublin.

Partially because the shopping centre referred to is 5 mins from where I live!