Michael Collins: Born October 16,1890

[SiobhanClancy]

Michael Collins is widely regarded as the most charismatic political leader in the history of twentieth century Ireland. His premature and violent death was deeply mourned at the time and has been regarded by many historians since as an irreparable loss for the newly independent nation.

Collins was born near Clonakilty, County Cork. After joining the civil service, he moved to London in 1906 and worked there in the post office and in a stockbrokers` firm and at the Board of Trade. Quickly developing a keen interest in Irish politics among exiled nationalists, he joined the Gaelic League and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). He became convinced that independence could only be achieved by force. Aware that a rising was being planned, he returned to Ireland and served as aide to Joseph Plunkett in the GPO during Easter week. Afterwards he was interned at Frongoch, north Wales, released at Christmas 1916 and came back to Ireland. Immediately he set about the rebuilding of the IRB. In 1917, he was elected to the executive of Sinn Féin and was returned as an MP for the party as the representative for both South Cork and for Tyrone at the general election in December 1918. Meanwhile he came effectively to control the re-formed Irish Volunteers. When Dáil Éireann was established in January 1919, he was appointed Minister of Home Affairs and in April Minister of Finance. In this role he organised the Dail loan which financed the republicans’ alternative government.

During the Anglo-Irish war Collins played a vital part in co-ordinating the IRA`s military campaign. His undercover network especially in Dublin was renowned; his ‘squad’ eliminated the British government’s intelligence sources in the city. He was a reluctant Sinn Féin delegate during the Treaty negotiations. Together with Arthur Griffith, he dominated the Irish representatives and extracted most of the concessions secured from Lloyd George. Revealing his instinctive pragmatism, he regarded the settlement as a ‘first step’ towards obtaining a 32 county republic and played a vital part in gaining Dail ratification of it. In January 1922, he was appointed Chairman and Minister of Finance of the provisional government which was responsible for the establishment of the Irish Free State. Over the following months he played a decisive role in devising a constitution, creating security forces and appointing a civil service.

While Griffith regarded civil war with the Treaty’s opponents as inevitable, and wanted to crush the enemy as quickly as possible, Collins sought to avoid conflict with former comrades and acted as a restraining influence. The delay gave his government time to prepare its forces and improved its moral position, as it was evident that the conflict had been forced upon it. When war began, Collins became Commander-in-Chief of the Free State Army and helped lay down the military strategy which enabled the pro-Treaty troops to emerge triumphant.

Collins was shot dead at Béal na mBláth County Cork on 22nd August 1922, while on an inspection tour of Munster and searching for a basis for peace. There has been much speculation regarding what Ireland would have been like had he lived. This emphasizes his view of the Treaty as a stepping-stone, his progressive social views and his potential to reunite a divided republican movement. Undoubtedly the pro-Treaty side lost its most inspiring leader.

Pragmatic,far-seeing and tireless,many people would agree with his biographer,Tim Pat Coogan,who called Michael Collins "The Man Who Made Ireland"

Or perhaps he was only one of many young men(his accomplishments occuring mostly in his 20s and dead at 31)who have given their lives over the centuries for the cause of Irish freedom.

[MaineDem]

1. Sláinte Mícheál

Come listen all me true men to my simple rhyme
For it tells of a young man cut off in his prime
A soldier and a statesman who laid down the law, and,
To die by the roaside in lone Beal na Bla
When barely sixteen to England crossed o'er
For to work as a boy in a government store
But the Volunteers call he could not disobey
So he came back to Dublin to join in the fray

-Chorus-
At Easter nineteen sixteen when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion roved out
And in the post office they nobley did show
How a handful of heros could outfight the foe.

To Stafford and jails transported they were
As prisonners of England they soon made a stir
Released before Christmas and home once again
He banded old comrades together to train
Dail Eireann assembled our rights to proclaim
Suppressed by the English you'd think it's a shame
How Ireland's best and bravest were harried and torn
From the Arms of their loved ones and children new born.

For years Mick eluded their soldiers and spies
For he was the master of clever disguise
With the Custom House blazing she found t'was no use
And soon Mother England had asked for a truce
Oh when will the young men a sad lesson spurn
That brother and brother they never should turn
Alas that a split in our ranks 'ere we saw
Mick Collins stretched lifeless in lone Beal na Bla

Oh long will old Ireland be seeking in vain
Ere we find a new leader to match the man slain
A true son of Grainne his name long will shine
O gallant Mick Collins cut off in his prime.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. A great man he was indeed, Siobhan.

And Coogan's biography was excellent. If you have not read it, I recommend Coogan's "Wherever Green Is Worn", a history of the Irish diaspora around the world.

[SiobhanClancy]

3. I have indeed read it

I'd also recommend The Path to Freedom by Michael himself. It's an excellent view of the workings of his mind,and his plan for Ireland.

[Braden]

4. Happy birthday Michael Collins

I was in Clonakilty in February. Folks if you've never been to West Cork, then you just wouldn't believe it.

[Maeve]

5. "...then you just wouldn't believe it."

I think that is a fair statement about the whole of Ireland, but I'm prejudiced!

To the Big Fella! :toast::beer::toast:

[qwertyMike]

6. My Hero

:toast:

[HEyHEY]

7. ANother Slainte - no accent, can't figure that out

[Zolok]

8. Dear old Grand-Father's favorite so I'm told

"I'm for the big fella" he said.

Yeah poor old Michael...made Trotsky and Castro look like pikers in the guerilla warfare department.

[SiobhanClancy]

9. Guerilla warfare..

The only way a small,long-occupied country can hope to win against a large,powerful one....and you're right,he excelled at it:)

[Zolok]

10. I wasn't criticizing guerilla warfare

merely enrolling Collins among the greats of that branch of warfare.
Guerilla warfare can be judged only in terms of it's outcomes....if a stable secular liberal democratic state is the result then it is justified.
But of course there is a disconnect there, all the guerilla warfare in the world doesn't guarantee a democratic outcome....
Anyhow peace to Michael Collins' ashes.

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