Eighty-eight years ago, rifle shots rang out over a lonely West Cork road and claimed the life of Ireland's seemingly invincible leader. Few names conjure up so much passion as that of Gen Michael Collins. Gunned down just two months short of his thirty-second birthday, Michael Collins' death closed a page of history for a generation of Irishmen. Whether because of shame or rife emotion, no one wanted to discuss the man who was perhaps the brightest star in Ireland's crown, the man who almost single-handedly brought the mightiest nation on the face of the earth to its knees.
He took charge of a country, reeling from 700 years of oppression, and divined for it a new, a better future. That was itself, a Nostos, a homecoming to ourselves, the soul family, after centuries of uncharted exile in our own land.

Collins has given us a compelling inheritance of politics and leadership as they should be, redolent of courage, openness, daring, and above all, about humanity and humility. Even more compelling is that this political inheritance should come from someone who loathed politics and considered himself, above all, a soldier.

I've always been struck by the fact that three of the greatest soldiers in the modern world were all born within weeks of each other: General Dwight D Eisenhower, General Charles de Gaulle and General Michael Collins.

General de Gaulle became leader of the Free French in Exile and later President of the Fifth Republic.

General Eisenhower became Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in World War 11 and later President of the United States. To be succeeded by one John F Kennedy.

But for the third, General Michael Collins, the impulsive order
"Stop! And we'll fight them", meant there would be no later, just this, the last place on an extraordinary journey.Bealnablath

JohnGrace1989 (Donegal) - Posts: 472 - 22/08/2010 10:31:26    752582

He didn't take charge of a country. He took charge of three quarters of a country still in the Empire. That's why there was a Civil War. And nor was he in charge of the country. That was in the hands of draft dodgers, anti republicans and British holdovers. Too much mythology john.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 22/08/2010 10:55:51    752595

hurlingdub
County: Dublin
Posts: 2237

He didn't take charge of a country. He took charge of three quarters of a country still in the Empire. That's why there was a Civil War. And nor was he in charge of the country. That was in the hands of draft dodgers, anti republicans and British holdovers. Too much mythology john.

If he had of been left alone to carry out his life's ambition, the northern part of this island wouldn't be in the UK as it is today. Instead he was murdered by mindless idiots, inspired of course, by the war mongerer De Valera. Collins was a realist who made sacrifices and compromises on behalf of his own political aspirations, in the hope that they would bring about further change at a later stage. There was no way he was going to live out his later years in an Ireland split in two. Strange the way De Valera, for all his anti-partition rhetoric during the civil war, never seemed to mention partition during his 20+ years in public office.

Scruffy2Donut (Cavan) - Posts: 1112 - 22/08/2010 11:52:44    752639

RIP - Michael. i have no doubt if the cowards who shot michael haddnt done so, we would have a united ireland today.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11549 - 22/08/2010 11:59:13    752645

He made a massive schoolboy error by not fleeing the scene when fired upon that day in cork.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 22/08/2010 12:56:41    752694

His last words before leaving whereever he was before he was killed

"I'll put an end to this war if it's the last thing I f***in do"

dammon (Meath) - Posts: 1291 - 22/08/2010 14:40:48    752759

yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 1492

752645
RIP - Michael. i have no doubt if the cowards who shot michael haddnt done so, we would have a united ireland today.

it was sonny o neill who shot him.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 22/08/2010 15:59:03    752826

RIP Michael Collins.Its no good calling those that were against him cowards though,he knew himself the opposition he would face from former comrades.Just another tragic episode in the story of Irish history.

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 22/08/2010 17:58:32    752910

Collins was part of a Government that included Cosgrave (who hid in a monastry during the Tan War), Higgins (who was openly contemputous of the IRA and the IRB), Griffith (who lived openly during the Terror and was opposed to the Rising), and was run by civil servants who had been in Dublin Castle. Oh, and his army was made up mostly of former British Army and was fighting the IRA which was 75% opposed to the Treaty. But, sure don't let facts get in the way of Neil Jordan history.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 23/08/2010 11:16:20    753374

Always admired Collins and felt he was caught on the side he wouldnt have chosen in the civil war only for circumstances beyond his control. RIP Michael.

Goodfella, Tir (None) - Posts: 1652 - 23/08/2010 13:55:12    753606

I have a lot of respect for Michael Collins, he was the architect behind freeing the 26 counties and would have probably went a long way in getting the 6 back aswell had he been given the chance. It was amazing what he achieved considering he had to do it with basically no support from another very prominent contemporary who subsequently tried to take most of the credit after Collins was assassinated.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 23/08/2010 14:24:38    753651

It would be common courtesy when pasteing to give credit to the "real author"

Omar.d (Cavan) - Posts: 1141 - 23/08/2010 14:40:05    753675

Ah, a thread about Michael Collins - let the love in with little or no basis in historical fact commence.

Single handedly beat the Brits......, his last words were....., he would have freed the north.....

hurlingdub is spot on, a generation of Irish people are under the illusion Neil Jordan's film was a real time documentary recording.

artisan (Down) - Posts: 1794 - 23/08/2010 14:59:30    753696

Brolly
County: Monaghan
Posts: 1730

752694 He made a massive schoolboy error by not fleeing the scene when fired upon that day in cork.

Yes, because we all know the thing to do when caught in an ambush from a hill above is to run away from the cover of the vehicle and out into the open!

Corrxxx (Kerry) - Posts: 584 - 23/08/2010 15:00:18    753699

Ah come on lads, fact have an awful habit of ruining a bloody good story, so lets not go all pc on it alright.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 23/08/2010 15:17:31    753721

But, sure don't let facts get in the way of Neil Jordan history


well said mate.

Rhodejim (Offaly) - Posts: 2888 - 23/08/2010 15:28:15    753737

hurlingdub
County: Dublin
Posts: 2246

753374
Collins was part of a Government that included Cosgrave (who hid in a monastry during the Tan War),

Sure De Valera hid in the back of an ambulance to save himself from the street fighting in Dublin during the civil war. Ironic that they both went on to lead the country.

Scruffy2Donut (Cavan) - Posts: 1112 - 23/08/2010 16:15:32    753819

People mighnt necessarily concur with the original post but the fact is Michael Collins achieved and did a hell of alot more in his life than any posters on this website who criticise him.

Goodfella, Tir (None) - Posts: 1652 - 23/08/2010 16:50:50    753876

Goodfella, Tir
County: All
Posts: 468

753876 People mighnt necessarily concur with the original post but the fact is Michael Collins achieved and did a hell of alot more in his life than any posters on this website who criticise him.

That would be very dependant on what one considers an achievment.

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 23/08/2010 17:42:19    753972

Fair enough point dhorse, perspective is everything! Do you not consider him to have achieved much?

Goodfella, Tir (None) - Posts: 1652 - 23/08/2010 17:57:04    753995