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Defence Forces celebrate birthday of Michael Collins

Visitors to the barracks in Cork will have an opportunity to see armoured fighting vehicles including the ‘Sliabh na mBan’, which accompanied Collins at the Béal na mBláth ambush in 1922.

AN OPEN DAY will be held at Collins Barracks in Cork today to celebrate the birthday of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins.

The open day will fun from 10am to 4pm today with military personnel on hand to talk visitors through the barracks’ specially commissioned exhibitions including ‘The Franco Irish Exhibition’ and the ‘Irish Volunteers Exhibition’ both of which will be located in the Military Museum.

Minister Simon Coveney will attend the celebrations at 10.30am and will inspect a Guard of Honour drawn from the barracks.

There will also be an opportunity for visitors to see displays of modern military technology including bomb disposal team equipment and armoured vehicles as used at home and on overseas deployments. A military pipe band and the band of the 1st Brigade will perform at intervals throughout the day.

Visitors will be given the opportunity to see at first-hand a range of rare armoured fighting vehicles from 1922 including the ‘Sliabh na mBan’, which accompanied General Collins at the Béal na mBláth ambush.

image

(Defence Forces/Flickr)

The celebration is part of Cork Rebel Week and associated with The Gathering.

Commenting ahead of the celebration, Lieutenant Colonel Pat Coleman of Collins Barracks said Collins “holds an exalted place in the memory of Irish people, no celebration of Cork would be complete without honouring it ‘s greatest military hero and this most iconic of Irishmen”.

“For history enthusiasts the Open Day at Collins Barracks promises to be a spectacular event, one which will strike pride in the heart of Corkonians young and old,” he said.

Read: Fury in Cork as brochure calls Michael Collins a ‘langer’>

Read: Defence Forces unveils memorial to Michael Collins>

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59 Comments
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    Mute Nick Hill
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:01 AM

    An Irish hero and a great Corkman. I know people won’t agree but he dedicated his life to Irish freedom and achieved a monumental step in securing our own country. We have since embarrassingly ballsed it up however. We need another Collins.

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    Mute Frank Higgins
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    Oct 16th 2013, 12:24 PM

    who won’t agree with you Nick?. Personally I agree with you 100%

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    Mute Nick Hill
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    Oct 16th 2013, 6:18 PM

    Good man Frank. Frank the Tank.

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    Mute Dingleberrycity
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:38 AM

    Pity this exhibition isn’t on at the weekend so people at work could enjoy it :-(

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    Mute Dmc
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:11 AM

    Stupid gun in Sliabh na mBan got jammed during the ambush.

    41
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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:18 AM

    “Our object in building up the country economically must not be lost sight of. That object is not to be able to boast of enormous wealth or of a great volume of trade for their own sake. It is not to see our country covered with smoking chimneys and factories. It is not to show a great national balance sheet, nor to point to a people producing wealth with the self-obliteration of a hive of bees. The real riches of the Irish nation will be the men and women of the Irish nation the extent to which they are rich in body and mind and character.

    General Michael Collins

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    Mute Gaius Gracchus
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:57 AM

    The Rebel County kill Ireland’s greatest rebel

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:33 AM

    That’s cos he asked for bleedin directions. He was corrupted by the dubs so we shot him. I will admit it was a mistake. He was a true patriot something that is no longer true of our political elite.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 16th 2013, 10:04 AM

    He was shot by a langer.

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    Mute John Ó'Ríordán
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    Oct 16th 2013, 1:45 PM

    Ireland’s greatest Rebel was from Cork. As well as Tom Barry, Liam Lynch and many others. I think we supplied a lot more than we killed.

    Some people just have it out for Cork Giaus. But I hear this line being spouted over and over and it’s a small bit annoying.

    Anyway that’s my feeding of the trolls over for today.

    Lá breithe shona Míchaél!

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    Mute Dalai Obama
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:20 AM

    I stopped reading at ‘minister simon coveney’. It’s fcuking hypocrisy at it’s most hypocritical for fine gael to claim Collins.

    Collins would have shot the lot of them for selling the 6 counties.

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    Mute Jeremiah Horsebeard
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:35 AM

    Look up your history dear sir! Twas Collins that supported giving up the six counties!

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    Mute TalkingSence
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:35 AM

    What are you on about? Explain please?

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    Mute Dalai Obama
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:39 AM

    jer,
    yes he signed off on that but he did have plans to get them back. Collins would have started a border campaign, Fine gael sold nationalists down the river.

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    Mute Shane Griffin
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:39 AM

    Hilarious

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    Mute TouchyMcFeely
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:50 AM

    It’s impressive that we can now add History to Politics and Economics in terms of subject of which you know nothing about.

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    Mute Dalai Obama
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:06 AM

    aah touchy,
    you read the queens arse in college.

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    Mute David Harris
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:11 AM

    Off the blocks at a rapid pace and slipped on your arse there Dali. Fine Gale is rooted in the Anglo Irish Treaty which was negotiated by team headed by Collins which in turn caused a civil war with anti treaty forces (dev & ff) opposed to partition and it was during this conflict Collins lost his own life. That’s essentially 1922/3 in a single sentence.

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    Mute Jimmy
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:30 AM

    But Dalai, We kept Munster…what other “6 counties” did we want?

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    Mute Podge Lehany
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:55 AM

    It was Collins who gave the six counties!

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    Mute Cathal Golden
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    Oct 16th 2013, 9:09 AM

    Aren’t you very pretentious to think you can sum up 22 and 23 like that! Do you really have a clue what went on back then? I severely doubt it! There was a civil war which is always a tragedy but the people on both sides fought for what they believed in. I’m sick of people who sit in the comfort that is Ireland moaning and complaining about Collins and his motives! He loved Ireland and did what he thought was best for this country! We are sadly missing his like now today!

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    Mute David Harris
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    Oct 16th 2013, 9:36 AM

    Cathal. Of coarse such a complex period of our history cannot be summarised in a sentance. It was a very basic response to Dalis very basic abilities. I thought the better of delving into the subtle nuances of 1920s political infighting and the post colonial mindset. I also made no remark either pro or anti Collins. I’ll get your coat.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Oct 16th 2013, 9:46 AM

    Well as I remember it and I am sure I will be corrected if I’m wrong…. The original deal was 8 counties but this was rejected as there would have been potentially a catholic majority overall with the 8 so 6 were chosen to ensure a Protestant majority. Being a child of both traditions you hear stories …. Lol

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Oct 16th 2013, 9:49 AM

    I don’t mind if I am corrected I just love Irish history and am loving this discussion.

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    Mute Cathal Golden
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    Oct 16th 2013, 2:57 PM

    It was a very basic answer indeed David! That’s the most sensible comment you did make!

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    Mute David Harris
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    Oct 16th 2013, 3:15 PM

    You seem a somewhat delicate flower Cahill. Perhaps you could point out where you disagree with my single sentence synopsis. Lots of finger pointing but no point of view.

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    Mute Cathal Golden
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    Oct 16th 2013, 3:42 PM

    Just making observations, and no I’m not so delicate thanks very much! I didn’t like the way you stated so matter of fact that this was what happened and that’s a fact everybody! You were attempting to over-simplify something that was far from simple!

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    Mute David Harris
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    Oct 16th 2013, 4:26 PM

    I said it was a simplification already. You seem to dislike the way I said it as a matter of fact yet you offer no counterpoint to its factuality. Your issue seems to be a perceived tone of certainty on my part which I had not intended.

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    Mute James Duffy
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:33 PM

    Rubbish
    Dev. Knew what was on the table thats why he sent Collins.

    A threat gone to his Position

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    Mute ☆♬Andrew Byrne ♬☆
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:27 AM

    He’s more than likely turning in his grave with the way the country is now

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    Mute Tom Newnewman
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:45 AM

    Collins spoke the only language the British understand.

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    Mute Rocky Dennis
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    Oct 16th 2013, 10:16 AM

    English?

    28
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    Mute big shmoke
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    Oct 16th 2013, 9:37 AM

    RIP Gen Collins, you were ahead of your time but there when we needed you. You stood head & shoulders above your contemporaries & were taken all too soon. Who knows where our country would be know had you have lived longer than you had. The freedom you fought for has been handed over to people who have never set foot in Ireland.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Oct 16th 2013, 9:37 AM

    I would love to see this exhibition. This man is one of my heroes. Can’t make it to Cork mores the pity but hope the local people take advantage to view this piece of our history.

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Oct 16th 2013, 9:28 AM

    I guess if the Big Fella was going to have an armoured car, “mountain of women” was as appropriate a name for it as any other.

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    Mute richardmccarthy
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    Oct 16th 2013, 11:39 AM

    Not so long ago we were cycling the coast road from Kinsale to Clonakilty when we discovered the old whitewashed homestead of Michael Collins family home near Clon in west Cork quite by accident, it is located up a very narrow lane and open to the public,and for a fiver you can take a tour, for such a historic figure in the history of this country it could be better signposted from the town for visitors.

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    Mute Fernhill House Hotel
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    Oct 17th 2013, 8:28 AM

    You were at the excellent Michael Collins centre not his homeplace at woodfield. His homeplace has no charge and is not whitewashed

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    Mute RiobairdOMaingain
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:52 AM

    Shhhh dont mention the IRA!

    13
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    Mute TouchyMcFeely
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:55 AM

    Gerry Adams

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    Mute Dalai Obama
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:08 AM

    don’t mention the Dublin and monaghan bombings and the fact that the special branch aided and abetted the escape from justice of the brit army murderers.
    And they harassed the families of those who were murdered.

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    Mute Joey JoeJoe Shabadoo
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    Oct 16th 2013, 8:03 AM

    Shinners wont like this.

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    Mute PåddÿGooner.
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    Oct 16th 2013, 9:21 AM

    Somebody always takes offense to something!

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