One hundred years on, how will Michael Collins be remembered in his hometown of Clonakilty? The Michael Collins Centenary Commemoration Festival takes place from 14 August to 22 August.
Michael Collins Centenary Commemoration in Clonakilty
The Michael Collins Centenary Commemoration Festival, which takes place in Clonakilty in West Cork and the surrounding region from 14 August to 22 August 2022, celebrates the life of Michael Collins and commemorates the 100th anniversary of his death. The festival programme is crammed full of a variety of events from historical lectures to guided walks, as well as theatre, music and outdoor cinema shows. Most events are free but some do require tickets and/or booking.
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Programme of Events
The festival programme is jampacked with over 30 diverse events but we’ve highlighted some of our favourites below. Please note that some of the activities are scheduled at or around the same time and are located some distance apart, so planning ahead is essential. For the full programme of events, visit the festival website here.
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Sunday 14th
- Hill Walk from Woodfield to Carraig a Radhairc and Outdoor Theatre Event. Registration at Sam’s Cross, at 2.30pm. Walk to Woodfield, the birthplace of Michael Collins, where act 1 of a radio play written by Tim Crowley of the Michael Collins Centre will be played. Proceed to the top of Carraig a Radhairc hill where Michael Collins walked with his brother Johnny on Christmas Day 1921; act 2 of the play will be played on the hilltop.
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Monday 15th
- “Last Footsteps of Michael Collins” presentation by Tim Crowley. Michael Collins Centre, Castleview, at 1pm.
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>>> READ MORE: Who was Michael Collins’ mother? Mary Anne O’Brien explored
Tuesday 16th
- “Clonakilty At War” a walking tour of the Michael Collins, War of Independence and Civil War sites in Clonakilty town. Starts at the Michael Collins Statue, Emmet Square, Clonakilty, at 6:30pm.
- “A Legendary Figure: British Perceptions of Michael Collins” lecture by Gabriel Doherty. Clonakilty GAA clubhouse, Ahamilla, at 8.30pm, €5 entry.
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Wednesday 17th
- History Scoops: three short, informal talks on the theme of Béal na Blá. De Barras Folk Club, Clonakilty, at 8pm.
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Thursday 18th
- Unveiling of memorial to Jeremiah McDonald. McDonald was a Free State soldier, local man and friend of Michael Collins, who was killed on this date 100 years ago. R588 (Enniskeane road), at 7pm.
- “Denis O’Neill – One Man’s War” lecture by John Flannery. Michael Collins Centre, Castleview, at 8.30pm.
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Friday 19th
- An Evening of History and Memories of Michael Collins’ Life in Woodfield, Sam’s Cross and Lisavaird. Among the items to be discussed by local historians and family members are the Kitty Kiernan connection and the O’Brien and Collins families. Discussions are followed by traditional music, dance and entertainment. Lisavaird Community Hall, at 8.00pm, tickets €10.
- Movie Night: “Hang up Your Brightest Colours” (1973). Followed by live music. The Four Alls Pub, Sam’s Cross, at 8pm.
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Saturday 20th
- Michael Collins Commemoration Parade. Brass bands, vintage cars, period dress and more! Starts at 2pm at Faxbridge continues through Pearse Street and finishes at Emmet Square. Followed by re-enactments of iconic scenes from Michael Collins’ life, performed at Emmet Square, 3pm.
- Michael Collins Symposium. A series of talks, workshops, films and a replica of Michael Collins’ classroom. Clonakilty Parish Centre (where Michael Collins attended school from c.1904–06), at 4pm, tickets €10.
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Sunday 21st
- Michael Collins Commemoration Oration. Béal na Blá monument, at 3pm.
- World Record Attempt: the largest gathering of people named Michael Collins. Newcestown, at 4pm.
- Outdoor Cinema Event: “The Young Fella” documentary premiere; “Beloved Enemy” (1936); “Michael Collins” (1996). Emmet Square, Clonakilty, from 5pm–10pm.
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Monday 22nd (100th Anniversary of the Death of Michael Collins)
- Open Day at Michael Collins House Museum. Here you can view the new Michael Collins Diaries 1918–1922 exhibit. All Day.
- Coach Trip from Clonakilty to Béal na Blá via Woodfield. Community College car park, Clonakilty, leaving at 5pm.
- A Toast to Michael Collins. The Four Alls Pub, Sam’s Cross, at 6.15pm (this will coincide with the approximate time that Michael Collins left Sam’s Cross for the last time 100 years ago).
- Official Wreath-Laying Ceremony by Mayor of County Cork. Béal na Blá, at 7.30pm (this will coincide with Michael Collins’ approximate time of death).
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From Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th, Clonakilty Library will host the “Southern Echoes of 1916: Michael Collins (1890-1922)” exhibition. This focuses on the role Michael Collins played in the 1916 Easter Rising. The library will also feature the “Michael Collins Book Display” and you can collect children’s Michael Collins-themed take-home quizzes, word searches and colouring sheets.
This festival offers something of interest for everyone. For the full programme of events and to find out where to purchase tickets, visit the festival website here.
The festival is a cross-community collaboration between the Michael Collins House (Emmet Square, Clonakilty), the Michael Collins Centre (Castleview, Clonakilty, recently voted one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions!), the Michael Collins Commemoration Committee Clonakilty, the Sam’s Cross Commemoration Committee, Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage, Cumann Seanchais Chloich na Coillte and Cork County Council.
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Recent events gearing up for Michael Collins’ 100th anniversary
Some commemorative events have already taken place including the re-enactment of Michael Collins’ famous pre-election speech, which he gave outside O’Donovan’s Hotel in Clonakilty on 15 June 1922. Local talent John O’Leary, standing in the back of a Ford Model T in front of the hotel, delivered the speech 100 years later to the day. Surrounded by a large crowd, many in period costume, John superbly delivered the speech while mimicking Collins’ gestures, as the original footage of the election rally played on a screen nearby. If you missed it, watch below!
A new Civil War mural by Cork artist Garreth Joyce was also unveiled in Croppy Park in Clonakilty in early July to commemorate the beginning of the Irish Civil War.
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