Michael Collins Research Paper
Michael Collins Death in Beal Na mBlath
With the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, a bitter Civil War erupted in Ireland between the Pro-Treaty and Anti-Treaty forces. As Commander-In-Chief of the Free State Army, on the 18th of August 1922, Michael Collins announced his intention to inspect the State military posts in the South, having previously returned from earlier inspections to attend Arthur Griffith’s funeral. His colleagues advised him not to go, as he would have to travel through deep IRA territory yet he joked that “no one will shoot me in my own county.” He was proven wrong as 4 days later, he was killed in an ambush at Beal na mBlath.
At 6 am on the 20th of August, Michael Collins left Dublin on route to Cork. He was suffering …show more content…
He along with Dalton set out in a convoy, headed towards Bantry. They were seated behind two drivers in the back of a Leyland Eight touring car. The convoy was headed by a motorcyclist scout, followed by a Crossley tender carrying ten men under Sean O Connell. This preceded the touring car and the Rolls Royce Whippet armoured car, the “Slievenamon” came …show more content…
Dozens were subject to suspicion and some even suspected Dalton. Many members of the Anti-Treaty forces, such as Tom Hales and Bob Doherty, were also suspected. John McPeak, the machine gunner of the “Slievenamon,” also endured suspicion after he later joined the republicans. There is also an unsupported theory that De Valera himself ordered the attack. The most scrutinised suspect was Sonny O Neill, an Irregular who maintained he had shot him yet some claimed he was not even engaged at this time.
On the 24th of August, Michael Collins body lay in Glasnevin cemetery as thousands of mourners paraded past to pay their respects to “The Big Fella”. His death was the climax of the Civil War, as the government was now more determined than ever to end the violence. The Free State had lost both Collins and Griffith and the burden of leading the new state through these troubled times fell to William T. Cosgrave. He set about restoring law and order.
With the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, a bitter Civil War erupted in Ireland between the Pro-Treaty and Anti-Treaty forces. As Commander-In-Chief of the Free State Army, on the 18th of August 1922, Michael Collins announced his intention to inspect the State military posts in the South, having previously returned from earlier inspections to attend Arthur Griffith’s funeral. His colleagues advised him not to go, as he would have to travel through deep IRA territory yet he joked that “no one will shoot me in my own county.” He was proven wrong as 4 days later, he was killed in an ambush at Beal na mBlath.
At 6 am on the 20th of August, Michael Collins left Dublin on route to Cork. He was suffering …show more content…
He along with Dalton set out in a convoy, headed towards Bantry. They were seated behind two drivers in the back of a Leyland Eight touring car. The convoy was headed by a motorcyclist scout, followed by a Crossley tender carrying ten men under Sean O Connell. This preceded the touring car and the Rolls Royce Whippet armoured car, the “Slievenamon” came …show more content…
Dozens were subject to suspicion and some even suspected Dalton. Many members of the Anti-Treaty forces, such as Tom Hales and Bob Doherty, were also suspected. John McPeak, the machine gunner of the “Slievenamon,” also endured suspicion after he later joined the republicans. There is also an unsupported theory that De Valera himself ordered the attack. The most scrutinised suspect was Sonny O Neill, an Irregular who maintained he had shot him yet some claimed he was not even engaged at this time.
On the 24th of August, Michael Collins body lay in Glasnevin cemetery as thousands of mourners paraded past to pay their respects to “The Big Fella”. His death was the climax of the Civil War, as the government was now more determined than ever to end the violence. The Free State had lost both Collins and Griffith and the burden of leading the new state through these troubled times fell to William T. Cosgrave. He set about restoring law and order.