Historical figure

Irish Leader Michael Collins, 1890 –1922

Early Life Michael Collins was born on October 16, 1890 in Clonakity, County Cork, Ireland
and was the youngest of 8 children born to Michael and Marianne O’Brien.  Michael’s father was 60
when he married the young Marianne in 1875.  Michael was six years old when his father passed
away and predicted while in his death bed that his son would do great things for Ireland.  Michael at
a young age was very passionate about nationalism.  At fifteen he left for London and while there
stayed with his elder sister.  While there in studied at King’s College and worked for the post office. 
In 1909 at the age of 19 Michael was introduced to the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret
society dedicated to achieving Irish independence.  After joining the IRB Michael left his job at the
post office and went to work for a stock broking company.

Easter Rising When Michael returned to Ireland in 1916 things were heating up with plans
for an armed uprising.  Eoin MacNeill, the founder of the Irish Volunteers, issued orders to abandon
all plans for a Rising but the IRB went ahead as planned.  The Easter Rising went ahead and
resulted in the destruction of large parts of Dublin.  In the aftermath there was the execution of the
seven leaders of the revolt.  This act would end up working against the British and turned the tide in
favor of the insurgents for the first time. Public sympathy towards the executed men increased so
much that Collins, and the remaining leaders could see that nationalism was about to peak in
Ireland.  Collins and his fellow Volunteers were rounded up and would eventually end up in
Frongach camp in Walse. This still caused problems for the British which forced them to release the
prisoners to help diffuse the unrest.  Collins found employment as secretary of the Irish National Aid
and Volunteer Dependants Fund.  Collins had worked at reviving the volunteer movement and
attracts new recruits to the IRB but it was Sinn Fein that had become popular. It was then that
Collins realized that it was a radical nationalist party that could defeat the IPP. Collins nominated Joe
McGinnis who would end up winning this set in motion for the British to release more prisoners one
of whom was Eamon de Velera.  Collins would then work to make de Valera as president of Sinn
Fein and Collins began organizing an effective intelligence gathering operation.  Collins was able to
recruit two men on the inside who worked in British intelligence in Ireland.In 1918 Michael fell in love
with Kitty.  Though he was not the only one pursuing her so was his friend and comrade Harry
Boland.  During this time both men were very busy and rarely stayed in one spot for very long.  They
had been arrested once and were tipped off by another arrest.  The British were set to arrest the
leading nationalists in an attempt to stop the anti-conscription protest.  Though to win a moral victory
it was decided that de Valera, Sean McGarry the president of the IRB and others would be arrested. 
They did succeed in gaining nationalist sympathy.  This left Collins and Boland in effective control of
the republican organizations.  With General Elections coming up this became a main focus.  Collins
was elected for the South Cork constituency.  On 21 January 1919, Sinn Fein's newly elected
candidates assembled in Dublin's Mansion House to form the first national assembly in over a
century.  The new parliament would be known as the Dail and Eamon de Valera was elected its
president with Collins being Minister of Finance.  This was also the start of the War of Independence
set off by two policemen being shot by a group of Volunteers
The Treaty "To me the task is a loathsome one. I go; I go in the spirit of a soldier who acts
against his best judgment at the orders of his superior." - Michael Collins on being sent to the
"Treaty" negotiations by De Valera.Much would transpire for Michael Collins over the next few years.
He had a price on his head and was elected in the six county area of Ulster, which had now been
effectively partitioned off under the Government of Ireland Act. In June Lloyd George invited de
Valera to London for talks without precondition. De Valera accepted and a Truce was set for 11 July,
1921. When the peace talks were set for October, Collins and Griffith were unexpectedly chosen to
lead the Irish team of negotiators. Collins felt he was selected because it was a no win situation. On
Saturday 8 October, while the rest of the peace delegation travelled to London, Collins became
engaged to Kitty Kiernan. Three months into the negotiation the British forced them to either sign or
hostile actions would resume. Collins signed and turning to Lord Birkenhead said, what would
become a prophetic statement "I have signed my death warrant." The Treaty was rejected by de
Valera and others even Harry Boland was one of the opponents. On the January 14th 1922, Dail
Eireann ratified the Treaty, establishing southern Ireland as a Free State. The Dail was now split into
pro- and anti-Treaty camps. De Valera resigned and Michael Collins was elected Chairman of the
Provisional Government. The Provisional Government had to take over the evacuated British posts.
The first occupation was Dublin Castle itself, where Collins arrived seven and a half minutes late for
the changeover. Collins remarked to the British general "after seven and half centuries we won't
begrudge you seven and a half minutes." This division among the Irish would set things in motion
that would get one man killed."In my opinion it gives us freedom, not the ultimate freedom that all
nations desire ... but the freedom to achieve it." - Michael Collins, about the Treaty

The Big Fella is Gone"To go for a drink is one thing. To be driven to it is another." -
Michael Collins .On August 22, 1922 on a quiet country road in Cork shots rang out and lying dead
on the road was Michael Collins. His death brought the country to a standstill. His name even to this
day invokes much passion. Some have wondered what Ireland would be like today if his life had not
been cut short that day. Just two months shy of his 32 birthday he had so much more time to get
things done for his beloved country. Conspiracy theories have also surrounded his death one of
which was pointed at Eamon de Valera, or even to one of his own men. But no matter who was
behind it, the name Michael Collins will never be forgotten. In 1966, while President of the Republic
of Ireland, de Valera said: "It's my considered opinion that in the fullness of time, history will record
the greatness of Collins and it will be recorded at my expense