By Anthony Neeson
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that the death of Michael Collins one hundred years ago deprived Ireland of one its greatest hopes of reconciliation.
Mr. Martin was speaking to a gathering of thousands at Béal na Bláth in County Cork where the former IRA leader was ambushed and killed by former colleagues on August 22, 1922. Although the anniversary is commemorated every year by Fine Gael, this was the first year that a Fianna Fáil leader has spoken at the event, which was also addressed by Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar.
Collins was one of the signatories to the Anglo-Irish treaty which led to the civil war between former republican comrades over the oath of allegiance to the British monarch and the partition of Ireland.
Speaking to those gathered, Micheál Martin said that today Collins was an “inspiring symbol of how much we can achieve in the face of even the most terrible odds."
“In his short 31 years he rose from a modest West Cork home to become a leader in a struggle for independence – a struggle which is responsible for what is today one of the longest continuous democracies in the world.”
Martin added: “It is perhaps the greatest tragedy of Collins’ death that it deprived us of our best hope for reconciliation. The bitterness which grew out of the events of the following year showed how much was lost in this place.”
Taking a swipe at Sinn Féin, which has emerged as the most popular party in the Republic following the 2020 General Election and in a series of recent opinion polls, Mr. Martin said: “We need to do more to confront the new revisionism of those who try to denigrate our country’s achievements and who try to claim legitimacy for violent campaigns waged in the face of the opposition of the Irish people.”
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said Béal na Bláth was “a place of death, forever associated with a senseless killing in an unnecessary war in which brother turned on brother."
Said Varadkar: "On the centenary of his death, we pay tribute on behalf of a grateful nation and join together in this place to say, thank you. Michael Collins’ life was Ireland and his legacy is Ireland too."
After the speeches wreaths were laid and the "Last Post" was played, followed by the national anthem. A new memorial stone has also been erected at the spot where Collins was shot dead.
