FINDING MICHAEL COLLINS
During the Irish Civil War, Michael Collins, Commander in Chief of the National Army, was killed in an ambush in Béal Na Bláth by anti treaty IRA forces, while travelling in convoy towards Bandon.Each year commemorations are held on the nearest Sunday to the anniversary of his death. A memorial cross stands at the site of the shooting on a small dirt road 1 km south of the village. A small white cross marks the spot where he fell.
Words cannot describe the feel good factor of “finding” a tribute plaque to THE Michael Collins 1890- 1922 on a pillar buried among the stones of the old mill in our back garden.
“That’s Michael Collins” I said excitedly as I translated the Irish inscription” Micheál Ó Coileáin 1890- 1922”
- The original plinth and inscription for the Michael Collins memorial in Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork.
“Not at all” said the Eddie the Digger and Paul the landscaper who were building a flood wall barrier in the garden….”Tis too early to be him” !
I’m not ashamed to say that I was never good with dates so we carried on regardless and hoisted it into the allocated spot. I then got my son to Google the inscription as I was convinced it must be “someone important”… and it WAS ACTUALLY MICHAEL COLLINS !
- The Irish inscription beneath the original plinth.
It is the original pillar used to hold the bronze bust of Michael Collins by famous Blackpool sculptor Seamus Murphy RHA, (Irish Sculptor and Stone carver, 1907 – 1975) and was officially unveiled in Fitzgerald’s Park by President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh. It was replaced with a newer plinth but we are as yet unsure as to the when/where/why and how of this switch. It came to rest in our old stone mill in Blackpool so maybe the Maguire family actually cut the replacement plinth and simply brought the original back to pasture where it lay, covered in moss and overgrowth for years.
- The bust of Michael Collins on the newer version of the pillar in Fitzgerald’s Park today.
Certainly none of this generation were aware of its lofty beginnings. It now stands beneath the magnificent 8 arch structure of Shaw’s Bridge, minus the bust of a national hero but proudly bearing the original plaque. It is certainly a matter of opinion but there is something a lot more appealing about the original pillar that resonates with the time that has passed since an iconic leader in Irish history was assassinated at just 32 years of age in Béal Na Bláth on 22 August 1922..
- Michael Collins original plaque & pillar stand beneath the magnificent 8 Arch Bridge in Blackpool
