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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Michael Collins would be deeply unhappy with the Ireland of today -- Enda Kenny statement that he’d approve of bailout is off the mark

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Michael Collins would be deeply unhappy with the Ireland of today -- Enda Kenny statement that he’d approve of bailout is off the mark

Posted on Monday, August 20, 2012 at 08:07 AM

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Enda Kenny and Michael Collins

The Irish Times reported today that Irish leader Enda Kenny had made clear that Michael Collins would have supported the government’s economic policies—i.e. paying back billions in loans given to rotten banks by European banks.

The Times stated, “Mr. Kenny told the 90th annual Béal na mBláth commemoration he was certain Collins would have approved of the restructuring program embarked upon by the Government to regain economic sovereignty.”

Collins will be 90 years dead this week, hence the Kenny speech at the annual commemoration—but I seriously doubt if he was alive he’d agree with the economic policy of this Irish government, or the previous one.

Indeed, I could see him leading the charge outside parliament, hurling the “little streets upon the great” as Yeats so wonderfully wrote. Once a revolutionary, always one.

Given his revolutionary past he would hardly be likely to accept that the Irish people put themselves into near bankruptcy to serve foreign banks.

Collins would be much more likely to put two fingers in the air to Brussels, Germany, and all their works, and tell the Irish people to cop themselves on.

He would have been outraged over the corrupt bankers and the gombeen men who brought Ireland to its knees — and at the politicians who allowed the crimes to fester.

Collins would have been standing with the ordinary people and not the establishment on this one.

Collins is Ireland’s most iconic figure and Irish America’s too. When we did a poll last year as to the greatest Irishman he won hands down.

His legend lives on –sometimes in extraordinary and hilarious ways.

There were two wonderful student rascals let loose here in America this summer who had brought along a huge cardboard cutout of Michael Collins and posed with photographs of him everywhere – in subway stations, Empire State Building, et cetera.

It spoke volumes about the stature of Collins that even kids today there clearly revere him.

That is as it should be. He has become the most iconic figure in Irish history.

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oonafitz | Aug 21, 2012, 10:29 AM EDT

I agree with DanOLoingsigh. I find the constant speculation about what long dead people would do in this vastly different world a waste of time, although perhaps worthy of discussion in the pub or around the kitchen table. Even worse is politicians or other celebrities claiming that the person would be on their side.

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MichaelMcGrath | Aug 21, 2012, 09:56 AM EDT

As for the banksters , Collins would have emptied his Mauser into them:-)

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MichaelMcGrath | Aug 21, 2012, 09:48 AM EDT

Collins would not be very P.C., I can assure you:-) He wasn't very liberal either, he was an out-and-out proud Irish nationalist up for the Irish people and for nobody else.

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KerryGold | Aug 21, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT

Collins must be turning in his grave. Then again he must have been spinning in his grave for the last number of years. It sickened me to hear Enda talk when he compared himself to great Irishman Collins. These politicians, bankers and builders destroyed this country with their greed, AngryPaddy is correct Collins would have shot them for financial treason. Kenny should not have spoken at that memorial and insulted the memory of a hero. Shame on him.

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ArmaghCity | Aug 21, 2012, 09:33 AM EDT

I too am disappointed in the Ireland of today. It has sadly become a less-friendly, and in certain circles (here) an even downright hostile and angry population. Not a great way to go through life ...

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ancavker | Aug 21, 2012, 09:30 AM EDT

Dan: I don't hear people saying what he would have done, but rather speculating on what he might have done, had he lived and based on what he had accomplished prior to his death. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and people who enjoy history Irish and otherwise, do that all the time. There is nothing dofferent here with Collins. No need for you to be petty.

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DanOLoingsigh | Aug 21, 2012, 06:52 AM EDT

Poor old Mick Collins, everybody tells him what he would have done had he lived...who he'd have shot...or not... would he have changed like his 'alleged' nemesis...how can we know?

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Collette2 | Aug 21, 2012, 06:35 AM EDT

Coming from Enda Kelly, as with Mick Collins, he had the balls to take things face on, including the Vatican on Kelly's watch.

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barneyjo | Aug 21, 2012, 03:21 AM EDT

@angrypaddy - this is precisely the point I am making; that organs of the Irish State, and those in charge of them were culpable in the creation of circumstances in which the bottom fell out of a large part of the Irish economy. At very least, Collins would have held them to account in the courts, possibly for crimes against the State. However, even Collins would have to recognise the mitagating circumstances in this. And that is the fact that the Irish People per se, literally went off "the edge of the pier" in a collective, indecent rush to wealth, driven by greed, and built on sand. My understanding of Collins would suggest that he would have been prepared to do what was necessary to restore Ireland to its full Sovereign state. However, that does NOT mean that he would have endorsed the view that the "Lunatics who have taken over the asuylum" should be followed blindly!!

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angrypaddy | Aug 21, 2012, 01:18 AM EDT

Collins would have had BERTIE,BIFFO,& ENDA shot for financial treason

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barneyjo | Aug 20, 2012, 02:35 PM EDT

I agree with the sentiment generally expressed, that Collins at the peak of his powers would never have allowed this to happen in Ireland. Equally though, now that it has, he would have summoned all the powers and resources at his disposal to drag the country back into the "light." He would have NO TIME for the "poor me" brigade; those who go looking for others to blame for their own stupidity, shortsightedness and ultimately greed that has landed them in difficult situations; which would include the political and business classes (so called). He would no doubt tell them, to 1) roll up their sleeves; 2) get on with it; 3) "SHUT THE F**K UP". My view anyway :)

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ancavker | Aug 20, 2012, 01:18 PM EDT

What happened to my post? Did I offen someone? I Will shorten it. Fine Gael has no rightful claim to Michael Collins!!!

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ancavker | Aug 20, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT

He is the most iconic person in Irish history. And had he lived Ireland would have been a much different and in my mind better place. Instead the lackeys and remanants of the old Irish nationalist party along with the brooding arch conservative De Valera and those that followed him ruined what could have been. Enda Kenny could not shine Michael Collin's boots. Shows you how little the man who is head of Fine Gael, the party that wrongly claims Collin's as their own knows about the man.

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