Cork History Matters - Michael Collins Grand-Nephew Aidan O'Sullivan talks of 'The Big Fellow'
Dave Mac's Cork History Matters
Friday, 19 August 2022 - 38 minutes
Grandnephew of Michael Collins in conversation with Dave on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Béal na Bláth ambush in West Cork that robbed Ireland of one the most charismatic, intelligent and impressive figures of the age. He died aged just 31.
‘The Big Fellow’, as he was known, from Lisavaird near Clonakilty in West Cork was an Irish revolutionary, soldier and politician who was a leading figure in the early-20th century struggle for Irish independence. Having fought in the Easter Rising in 1916, Collins rose through the political ranks and was elected as a TD for South Cork and appointed Minister for Finance in the first Dáil. He was a major figure in the War of Independence, a key negotiator of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State and commander-in-chief of the National Army until his untimely death during the Irish Civil War.
On Tuesday, August 22 1922 Collins departed the Imperial Hotel at 6.15 am via Pembroke Street where the main entrance to the Hotel was at that time. Travelling with Emmet Dalton in a yellow Leyland Thomas Straight Eight touring car, along with a small military convoy, they headed to Macroom, Crookstown, Bandon, Clonakilty and Skibbereen. The convoy was ambushed by anti-treaty forces at Béal na Bláth just before sunset, at 7.30 pm where Collins was fatally wounded. He was initially transferred to the armoured car and then the touring car for the sombre return journey. Collins’ body was brought back to the Imperial Hotel where he was examined by a military doctor and formally pronounced dead. He was tragically just 31 years old at the time of his death.
Fittingly Cork’s Grande Dame, The Imperial Hotel, has announced plans to mark the 100-year anniversary of the death of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins. One of Cork’s most famous sons, Collins was a regular guest and poignantly spent the last two nights of his life at the city centre hotel, in room 115, which had been used as a military headquarters at the time. They will be joined on the date of the anniversary by relatives of Michael Collins, who will officially open the new ‘Michael Collins Suite’ and unveil a newly commissioned portrait of the revolutionary leader. About 30 of Collins’s relatives will have spent the night previous as guests of the hotel before joining for a private family breakfast on ahead of the portrait unveiling at 10am Monday 22nd August.
