Michael Collins

Bill O’Herlihy to give address at Beál na bláth

May 8, 2013 By Brian Moore Leave a Comment

SPORTS broadcaster and PR guru, Bill O’Herilhy has been chosen to deliver the oration at Béal na bláth this August.

Mr. O’Herlihy is well known for his coverage of Champions league, European league and World Cup games for RTÉ and was chosen by the Michael Collins commemoration committee to deliver the annual Béal na bláth address, which will take place on Sunday August 25.

While the Beál na bláth address has been delivered by many high profile politicians and academics over the years Dermot Collins of the commemoration committee feels that there will be a lot of interest in what Mr. O’Herlihy has to say at the 91^st Michael Collins commemoration this August.

‘ Last year we were honoured to have An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, deliver the address. But we try to have as much variety as we can in terms of speakers. And we think there will be great interest from people in hearing Bill O’Herlihy give the oration this year,’ Dermot Collins said.

Filed Under: Bandon, News Tagged With: Beal na Blath, Bill O'Herlihy, Michael Collins, oration, West Cork

“Remarkable” photos of General Michael Collins turn up at West Cork history roadshow

December 5, 2012 By Editor Leave a Comment

General Collins is pictured here in the back (left) of the car.

WHILE scenes from a war zone are, sadly, all too common these days, historians have described photos discovered recently which, were taken at the aftermath of the ambush at Béal na mBláth in 1922 as simply “remarkable”.

The photos which, turned up at the Revolutionary Decade Roadshow in Clonakilty organised by the history department of University College Cork (UCC) recently, show General Michael Collins in Bandon just a few hours before his death on August 22, 1922 and the scenes at Béal na mBláth the following day just hours after the ambush.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Bandon, Clonakilty, News Tagged With: Bandon, Beál na mBláth, Clonakilty, history, Michael Collins, photos, Roadshow, West Cork

Birthday bash in Clon for the Big Fella

September 18, 2012 By Editor Leave a Comment

From October 12th to 14th, the people of Clonakilty will be celebrating the 122nd birthday of Michael Collins. Pic: John Allen

FROM October 12^th to 14^th, the people of Clonakilty will be celebrating the 122^nd birthday of Michael Collins.

The Birthday Celebration of ‘The Big Fella’ will be a happy and fun filled occasion with some educational talks thrown into the mix. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clonakilty, News, Tourism Tagged With: Birthday Celebration, Clonakilty, Michael Collins, The Big Fella’, West Cork

Taoiseach admits Lenin gaffe at Béal na mBláth

August 23, 2012 By Editor 2 Comments

Enda Kenny addresses the crowd at Beal na Blath. Pic: Denis Boyle

SPEECHWRITERS for Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be in for ticking off after it emerged that the Fine Gael leader made something of an error during his historic speech delivered at Béal na mBláth last Sunday.

He was the first serving Taoiseach to deliver the oration at the event which this year marked the 90^th anniversary of the assassination of the first Commander in Chief of the Irish Army.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Dunmanway, News, Politics Tagged With: Beál na mBláth, Enda Kenny, Michael Collins, mistake, speech, Taoiseach, Vladimir Lenin, West Cork

Beal na Blath 2012 in pictures

August 20, 2012 By Editor Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: 90th anniversary, address, Beal na Blath, commemoration, Enda Kenny, Michael Collins, photos, pictures, speech, Taoiseach

Taoiseach addresses Michael Collins commemoration at Beal na Blath

August 20, 2012 By Editor 1 Comment

Enda Kenny meeting supporters at Beal na Blath. Pic: Denis Boyle

THE rain held off, just, as a crowd of more than 6,000 people turned up at Beal na Blath to mark the 90^th anniversary of the death of Michael Collins on that lonely stretch of road near Crookstown.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny became the first serving holder of that office to deliver the address and was joined by several other senior party members to underline the significance of the anniversary.

Central Bank issues commemorative Michael Collins coins

August 15, 2012 By Editor Leave a Comment

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr John Buttimer, Dermot Collins, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Cork County Mayor Cllr Barbara Murray at the launch in Collins Barracks.
Pic: Ger McCarthy

THE Central Bank of Ireland has today launched two collector coins commemorating the 90^th anniversary of the death of Michael Collins.

A €20 gold proof coin and a €10 silver proof coin have both been issued and are available individually and as a set. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clonakilty, News Tagged With: 90th anniversary, Central Bank of Ireland, coins, Collins Barracks, commemoration, death, launch, Michael Collins, Michael Noonan, West Cork

RTE Nationwide featuring Michael Collins 90th anniversary

August 15, 2012 By Editor Leave a Comment

The commemorative book designed by Inspire in Skibbereen for the 90th anniversary.

RTÉ’s popular Nationwide programme is dedicated tonight (Wednesday, August 15th) to the 90th Anniversary Beal Na Blath commemoration due to take place this coming Sunday.

The programme looks back on a dark period of Irish history, the civil war and features this Sunday’s commemoration. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bandon Notes, Macroom, The Jig 2, TV Tagged With: Beal na Blath, commemoration, Enda Kenny, Michael Collins, primetime, RTE, West Cork

Dunmanway’s own Big Fella is an internet hit

August 9, 2012 By Editor Leave a Comment

The cut-out is touring the USA.

THE real Big Fella may have been from Clon, but a cardboard cut-out of national hero Michael Collins from Dunmanway is proving to be an internet sensation in its own right.

The cut-out found in a hayshed in Dunmanway has been adopted by Dunmanway lad John Grace and a group of friends who have brought the Big Fella on tour with them to the United States where they are working as life guards on J1 visas. [Read more...]