A large crowd attended the event which included more than 200 of Collins’ direct descendants. Photograph: Stock ImageMichael Collins never demonised his political opponents and his death in an ambush at Béal na Bláth during the Civil War robbed Ireland of its best hope of reconciliation, Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin has told the 100th anniversary commemoration of Collins’ death.
“He did not demonise others because he remembered all he had gone through with them as colleagues and friends. He never celebrated deaths of opponents and showed deep compassion – openly weeping when he heard of the deaths of former colleagues like Cathal Brugha.” He noted that Collins was shaped by his community in West Cork with its values of self-reliance, determination, and compassion while he was also a brilliant administrator and with his great friend, Harry Boland, was central to the overwhelming victory of Sinn Féin in the 1918 General Election.
“In his short 31 years, Michael Collins made a deep, lasting and positive impact on our country. Shaped by the ideals of his community, he devoted his life to his country. He was a dynamic leader who could both inspire people and, in the middle of a bloody conflict, build a new administration from nothing,” Mr Martin said.
He noted Collins’s achievements as a minister for finance in the First Dáil, raising money to allow an independent government to operate in a state that did not yet exist while as director of intelligence during the War of Independence, he was able to paralyse an “imperial war machine”.
MichealMartinTD LeoVaradkar simoncoveney Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney are BOOED at the Michael Collins centenary commemoration... 🫣 'Let there be no doubt about where Ireland stands. We want nothing to do with a backward-looking idea of sovereignty.'
The article should say 'collateral descendants' not 'direct descendants'.
Who makes this up. Michael Collins only wanted the British out of Ireland so he could use the free state to wipe out the northern Ireland state.
Fine speech from An Taoiseach.
Very impressed with the speech of the Taoiseach. What would have happened if Collins lived? That we can only imagine. But for those who blamed him for partition, remember De Valera went on to live a long life, became Taoiseach and President, and did nothing to end partition.
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