35 Comments

• RobinForester | Jan 20, 2013, 01:32 PM EST

  The death of Michael Collins was a great blow to Irish Statesmanship and to the principle that politicians or men wishing to hold public office should be men of respect, which statement rules out men who are active leaders or members of the IRA. I think it would be right to say that no one really understands the Irish, even the Irish themselves. And that's why it's such a lovable country with such a huge array of diverse talent. Suffice to say around the world and, mostly in the USA, you have Internationally respected men and women of Irish ancestry, and it might be wise for a Council of 40 such men and such women, 20 men and 20 women, drawn from all over the world' to hold an advisory-role-voice advising the Irish Government officially or unofficially on the way forward in all fields of endeavour including finance and business. I know it's fashionable to castigate the English, and to blame them for Ireland troubles, but would ask is this not more myth than fact? No matter what outsiders may think 'the special bonds between Ireland and England are well strong, welded together, and these bonds form a 'special relationship' between both countries which no one wishes to damage, put aside or destroy. If you wish to dispute this then please loook carefully at the trade between these two nations, and if I may say so 'the price the Irish charge us for their yearling racehorses and greyhounds, and cheese or beef indicates, sometimes we don't always get the best deal from them. What's really needed is to improve the Irish Tourist Industry, and to encourage every person in the world with a drop of Irish blood in them to visit Ireland,

• vintary | Dec 14, 2012, 01:32 PM EST

  I think the photo is fliped the wrong way round, the car should be right hand drive

• vintary | Dec 14, 2012, 01:28 PM EST

  (Regarding the last photo taking of Michael Collins) A lot of interest lately in Michael Collins, he seems to be all over the media & internet. Can’t claim to know much about the politics or the facts of Irelands bloody past. I have an interest in the vehicles of the period and a keen eye for studying old images. To the best of my knowledge the Leyland motor company only produced a very small number of the Leyland eight touring car and none of them were left hand drive. If the did I can’t imagine there been one in Ireland.

• firehawk | Dec 09, 2012, 07:34 AM EST

  Either way its great to have photos of this era, remember all, the centenary of 1916 easter rising is looming fast and fabulous commemorative coins available from 1916uprising.ie Lasting mementos.

• Tír Eoghain | Dec 08, 2012, 12:17 PM EST

  Im afraid the photo above is not a new find. Check out the book "The day Michael Collins was shot" by Media Ryan, first published in 1989. This photo is one of a number published in the book. It was taken outside Lee's hotel in Bandon Co Cork on the day Collins met his death. They were setting off back to Cork city which would take them via Béal na mBláith. And sadly we all know what happened there.

• seanomelb | Dec 07, 2012, 06:43 PM EST

  The only "b2tch Collins was interested was his best friends gal and he had him executed. And executions were committed by both sides such is the tragedy of civil war. I have no doubt if Collins lived he would not have accepted the division and would've enforced the treaty to the letter.

• oldboreen | Dec 07, 2012, 01:39 PM EST

  What are ye on darrah S?

• ancavker | Dec 07, 2012, 12:00 PM EST

  darragh: I have no idea what you are talking about.

• darragh S | Dec 07, 2012, 08:15 AM EST

  The defeated state often considers the outcome merely as a transitory evil, for which a remedy may still be found in political conditions at some later date said no one ever.

• anglo-norman | Dec 06, 2012, 04:55 PM EST

  ancavker- Yes he was.. as Churchill said to Collins Ireland is the mistress of her own house..in plain words you are our bitch!!

• ancavker | Dec 06, 2012, 11:36 AM EST

  2nd: Collins was no Psychpath, and Dev's AMerican birth did not stop him from execution. he was not executed, because by the time his turn came, the Irish people were disgusted witht the executions, and the British government stopped them.

• ancavker | Dec 06, 2012, 09:10 AM EST

  Anglo-clueless Michael Collin's was no ones B@tch as you say. I wish some people who post here would acyually have some understanding and knowledge of Irish history.

• darragh S | Dec 06, 2012, 05:46 AM EST

  Sean McGarry was Mr Collins right hand man right! Look what the IRA did to McGarry, tried to kill him to only they killed his son. The IRA at the time were also not phased by the threat that the British Empire would come through and do what King Edward of Holland ordered Oliver Cromwell to do to King James, which is what Collins was threatened with during the treaty talks. That's the way I understand it. Given Wolfe Tones instruments in setting up the IRA that's hardly surprising coming from a conspiracy theory perspective. Other wise the death of Mick is an x-file and always will be until such time as the IRA come clean about it. (3rd time lucky)

• darragh S | Dec 06, 2012, 05:44 AM EST

  Sean McGarry was Mr Collins right hand man right! Look what the IRA did to McGarry, tried to kill him to only they killed his son. The IRA at the time were also not phased by the threat that the British Empire would come through and do what King Edward of Holland ordered Oliver Cromwell to do to King James, which is what Collins was threatened with during the treaty talks. That's the way I understand it. Given Wolfe Tones instruments in setting up the IRA that's hardly surprising coming from a conspiracy theory perspective. Other wise the death of Mick is x-file and always will be until such time as the IRA come clean about it.

• darragh S | Dec 06, 2012, 04:40 AM EST

  Sean McGarry was Mr Collins right hand man right! Look what the IRA did to McGarry, tried to kill him to only they killed his son. The IRA at the time were also not phased by the threat that the British Empire would come through and do what King Edward of Holland ordered Oliver Cromwell to do to King James, smash. That's the way I understand it. Given Wolfe Tones instruments in setting up the IRA that's hardly surprising coming from a conspiracy theory perspective. Other wise the death of Mick is x-file and always will be until such time as the IRA come clean about it.

• Stiofain | Dec 05, 2012, 06:38 PM EST

  The Kodak Brownie came out Feb. 1900.

• ciarajoyce | Dec 05, 2012, 06:36 PM EST

  I'm very glad to see that there is a collection of photographs of Michael Collins and sadly, of the location of his tragic murder. The politics of that time were as nasty as today's politics. At least Collins wasn't surprised by his murder; he knew Dev has signed his death warrant when he was ordered to sign a treaty that lead to nearly a century of hatred and bloodshed. He remains one of the shining stars of Irish history, and every bit of evidence we find lets us know more about him. I expect he'll always be one of my heroes. Thanks to the photographer who had the presence of mind to take photographs as soon as it was safe to visit the site of Collins' death, and to her family that had the good sense to hold on to the snapshots. I too have seen this one photograph published before. I won't chime in on the kind of car that's in the photo because I wasn't around back then. As for folks dressed for chilly weather, it's Ireland. A cold damp day can make summer nasty and raw, and make the exhaust from a car visible. Without knowing the kind of film, the filter, if any, on the lens (it could have been built-in by the camera manufacturer), and the developing and printing techniques, the presence of the white exhaust says very little. If this photo was taken hours before or the day before the dear man's death, the photograph itself doesn't say one way or the other if this is the car in which Michael Collins was murdered. What a thrill it must have been to see Michael Collins up close.

• Stiofain | Dec 05, 2012, 06:35 PM EST

  Greensmoke, Good point. When Collins signed the treaty with England(it is reported) he said: "I am signing my own death certificate."Quess he knew deValera pretty well. Churchill offered deValera unification if Ireland would join England in WW II.

• anglo-norman | Dec 05, 2012, 05:58 PM EST

  Dev also.

• KevinKehoe | Dec 05, 2012, 05:44 PM EST

  anglo norman, you mean Dev surely

• greensmoke | Dec 05, 2012, 05:16 PM EST

  Was Collins not travelling in the armoured car Beal na mBlath? On the subject of on heavy military equipment: in the famous newsreel footage of the shelling of the Four Courts in June 1922 who were operating the artillery pieces? The former IRA now Free State troops would have had no training with field guns.

• anglo-norman | Dec 05, 2012, 04:01 PM EST

  Collins was Churchills bitch..

• cillowen | Dec 05, 2012, 03:12 PM EST

  33 year old collins sent by Dev to negotiate terms for Erin's freedom. Dev was neatly off to America to speaks before his father's tribe for moola. Such a leader known for his oratory and skill at diplomacy sending such a substitute beggars the mind. Collins who having access to British files knew who to target for the terror he unleashed upon Merry O's finest, driving England to distraction with wonderment about the perpretator(s). Dev (England's Greatest Spy) setting up of this Collins chap - this is yer man - flies over heads of those who will not see. Dev was focused primarily on finding a home for his father's tribe. Irelands neutrality served as a breadbasket for M-O and a workforce resource all through WWII and still. Some have joined the British Army in recent times - an indication of a people totally divided - dysfunctional.

• calceltic | Dec 05, 2012, 03:03 PM EST

  The Irish, their own worst enemy.

• joelglach | Dec 05, 2012, 01:08 PM EST

  This is the last Photo by all accounts of Michael Collins. I may be mistaken but Im sure it was up for auction some months ago in a Dublin Auctioneers . Michael Collins was one of the greatest Irish Patriots from a militaristic and Political point of view.His sacricices were made long before his death. His integrity and love of Ireland far outweighes the pro and anti treaty arguments,.He was neither but a true son of Ireland whose last months are clouded in secrecy.I was given an account which I believe to be true from a a respected ,credited source . The Irish Govt still will not release documents on the British and Free State Heads communication on Michael Collins. A Thiarna den Throcaire ar a anam Micheal .

• Seanmor | Dec 05, 2012, 12:32 PM EST

  There are a few important facts about the Partition of Ireland that the media almost never mention nowadays. After Partition was established in Westminister in May, 1920, Winston Churchill said: "Ireland is a nation, not two nations". King George V addressed the first meeting of the Six-County Parliament on 7 June, 1920, and made a speech calling for reconsiliation amony "all my Irish subjects". Soon after Partition John Redmond stated that it would only be temporary. At the hight of the "Troubles" in the '70s, British Prime Minister Wilson said on N.Y.C. T.V. that Irish reunification was a "valid aspirastion". To my knowledge, the Dáil crowd have done noting in the past half century that might encourage the majority in the North to consider Irish unity.

• merefalow | Dec 05, 2012, 12:07 PM EST

  michael collins,man amongst men.patriot of patriots.dont ever dare to diminish him.What ever he was FORCED to sign he did for the good of ireland and the irish people with no ulterior motives or selfish motivation.r.i.p.

• 2ndrepubalik | Dec 05, 2012, 11:02 AM EST

  I'm undecided about Collins insofar as He is revered by many as a true Patriot that used all means at His disposal to achieve Independence nd at the other extreme that He was a murdering psycopath . I do sense ,f rom everything I have read , the "Dev" ( who only ever cheated death by virtue of His American Citizenship) was a conniving snake who sent Collins to London to ensure He (Dev) could distance Himself from the partition of Ireland if it happened - which it did. I think all involved in those negotiations are now dead and it is a shame we cannot get a handle on "The Truth" or "Facts" of the matter or is there a book or papers I have missed ? Please advise if so .

• JohnnyMac | Dec 05, 2012, 10:55 AM EST

  While I do see a picture of Michael Collins riding in the car, I'm not convinced the photo was taken just hours before his death in August of 1922. Looking at the photo, the children appear to be dressed for much cooler weather. One child appears to be wearing a scarf. The woman behind the car appears to be wearing a hat and top coat. Both officers in the back of the car are wearing heavier uniform topcoats. And the car's exhaust is most visible with the white fumes shown in the photo. Much the same a car's hot exhaust is dramatically more visible today during cold weather. I'd say the photo is from some other time.

• Bocktherobber | Dec 05, 2012, 10:39 AM EST

  Correction. Collins was in a Leyland Eight as shown. However, this photo has been in circulation for at least three years.

• Bocktherobber | Dec 05, 2012, 10:34 AM EST

  The vehicle Collins was in at Béal na mBláth was an armoured Crossley tender. The car shown in the photo appears to be a different vehicle.

• johnshiel | Dec 05, 2012, 09:53 AM EST

  "an old brownie camera" used in 1922? sounds fishy...

• Seanmor | Dec 05, 2012, 09:42 AM EST

  Obviously Michael Collins still has his supporters and detractors. But few, if any, of these ever mention that Collins was very much opposed to Parrtition. He reluctantly signed the Treaty, which he saw as a steppping stane to full independence for the whole Irish nation. Besides, he was led to believe that the Nationalist areas in the North would be transferred to the Free State by the Boundary Commission. During the past quarter century or so, Reunification has been a taboo subject by most T.D.s for they have forgotton the very valid and noble ideals of the pragmatic patriot, Michael Collins.

• staker42 | Dec 05, 2012, 09:11 AM EST

  It is an indictment of Irish government then and since that the perpetrators of this great tragedy was never caught or made known.

• handsome68 | Dec 05, 2012, 08:50 AM EST

  Several years ago I was at the New York University Library and came across a book with photos taken from film footage of Michael Collins in his last hour or so. In the last segment, he looks worried, as if he knew he was about to experience assassination. May he rest in peace.