Michael Collins night planned
To take place within the weekend of the anniversary of Collins’s birthdate — 16 October 1890 — it is organised by the Collins 22 Society.
A short excerpt from Mary Kenny’s play ‘Allegiance’, about the bond between Collins and Winston Churchill, will be performed by actor Bryn Coldrick. Other speakers will include Margot Gearty, niece of Collins’s fiancee Kitty Kiernan, who will talk about the ‘Granard Connection’ in his life, and Michael A Doran will discuss ‘The First Department of Finance, 1918 to 1922’.
Tim Collins, curator of the Michael Collins Centre in Clonakilty, will give a presentation on ‘’Michael Collins’ Final Journey — the events of 22 August 1922’’.
“A special interest during the evening will be the display of the Sliabh na mBan armed vehicle which was present at Beal na mBláth during the ambush there in August 1922 when Michael Collins was killed,” says Martin Condon of the Collins 22 Society, “and the restored 1916 Model T Ford car which was owned by the brother of Kitty Kieran and which often transported Michael Collins during his visits to Longford. These are two poignant and tangible reminders of the tumultuous events of 100 years ago.”
Martin Condon will be chairman for the evening, which will get under way at 7.45pm. A €10 cover charge includes a commemorative programme, and surplus funds from the event will go to provide fresh flowers weekly on the grave of Michael Collins in Glasnevin.
