In Pics: Michael Collins statue unveiling

A new Michael Colllins statue was unveiled on Grand Parade in Cork City at lunchtime in front or a crowd of hundreds which included the extended Collins family

Members of the public and Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of Ireland at the unveiling of a new statue of Michael Collins on Grand Parade, Cork. Credit: Darragh Kane

After nearly one hour of speeches, which were mostly impossible for everyone but the VIPs to hear, Ronan O’Gara, Rena Buckley, and Jimmy Barry Murphy, along with a media scrum, unveiled the newest Michael Collins statue to great excitement on Grand Parade in Cork City.

Sculpted by Kevin Holland, it’s the second Collins statue from Mallow-based Holland - he was also responsible for the Clonakilty Collins statue erected in 2002.

The statue was commissioned and paid for by the Michael Collins 100 Committee, who raised over €100k to complete the project. Both ministers Michael McGrath and Simon Coveney were in attendance for the hour-long event, which included a song from John Spillane before the unveiling.

Former GAA All-Star Rena Buckley told the crowd that like Collins she too came from a modest background but through the institutions of the state was given ample opportunity to thrive. Hurling legend Jimmy Barry Murphy recalled how Collin got involved in GAA as teenager in London, but while he didn’t excel on the playing field he transformed the course of Irish history.

Ronan O’Gara sensing the crowd were weary from the speeches, kept his short and sweet and somehow forgot to mention Michael Collins, but, maybe that was because as he told the crowd, “Tá ocras orm.” (I’m hungry).

Michael Collins Great Grandniece Maeve Burke and Grand Niece Fidelma Collins at the unveiling the new statue of Michael Collins on Grand Parade, Cork. Credit: Darragh Kane

Relatives of Michael Collins Aidan O’Sullivan,. Maeve Burke, Colman Collins, Rev Aisling Shine and Fidelma Collins sitting on the armoured car Sliabh na mBan that accompanied Michael Collins in Béal Na Bláth at the unveiling of a new statute of Michael Collins on Grand Parade, Cork. Credit: Darragh Kane

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy, Jimmy Barry-Murphy, Rena Buckley and Ronan O’Gara unveiling the new statue of Michael Collins. Credit: Darragh Kane

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A media scum for the statue of the Big Fella. Credit: JJ O'Donoghue

We have an short interview with Cllr Shane O’Callaghan (FG) whose motion in September 2022 helped kick start the process to get the Collins statue on Grand Parade. You can read that In the Friday View below: