Senator David Norris believes IRA hero Michael Collins may have been gay

@bocktherobber Even geniuses make boo boos Kitty Kiernan it is.

As the previous poster said who cares.Surely west Brit Norris is not equating himself to Collins.

who cares if Michael Collins was gay....BIG DEAL....it doesn't take away from what he did....that was his personal thing.....it sounds to me, as if someone is trying to DISCREDIT him.....jmo. alisa

Happyhippo -- I never knew Collins was friendly with Mrs O'Shea. Did Parnell hear about this? Obviously Mick didn't mind the 45-year age difference.

Give me a break...more revisionist history to pander to the "homosexual community."

This is more kite flying by Norris,most likely to get some promo for his book,which he hopes will help pay off the cost of his failed election bid debt,Collins was known to be friendly with various women,chief of which was Kitty O Shea.

What a ridiculous fellow is that Norris. He has to try and hug the spotlight every so often and make sure he is not on his little 'owny owe' in the homosexual box. He will never get over the people rejected him as president - he was so cocky and sure the people would love him enough - yuck!

Pearse and Jesus too they say, as was Alexander the Great - he loved his boys.

WoundedKnee -- I see you've added mind reading to your many other gifts. Good idea -- it saves you the trouble of listening to people.

What!? Next you'll be telling us King Billy was probably gay too!

Bock: "Many Irish people believe it was a mistake to leave the UK at that time". I suspect you're extrapolating from your own minority views, Bock. I have never met an Irish person who thought as you claim many do. In fact, the number of Irish (26 Counties) who thought it was a mistake to leave Britain is probably about the same as the number of Americans who thought it was a mistake to leave Britain.

Boring. Whether or not Michael Collins fooled around with guys is immaterial to his historical importance. The only thing I find fascinating is how many of the poster on this thread still think that someone being gay is a bad thing. Shows just how out of touch with reality they are.

Really, who cares? Pearse too? Really? I'm the furthest thing you could find from a homophob, but this entire thing seems a little far fetched and more than a bit speculative! Mr. Norris seems to be looking for a "hero" from the old days.

ancavker -- In other words, you made it up. Many Irish people believe it was a mistake to leave the UK at that time, but accept the political reality and continue to be loyal citizens of the Republic. Norris is a member of our Senate and recently ran for the Presidency, neither of which is open to anyone who denies the legitimacy of the State.

bocktheknocker: In an interview some years back he stated that Ireland leaving the U.K. was a mistake, that to me implies that he does not recognize the legitimacy of the Irish state.