How was Michael Collins assassinated?
Collins was the third son and youngest of eight children when he was born on October 16, 1890, at Woodfield, Sam’s Cross, close to Rosscarbery, County Cork. His father, Michael John (1816–1897), was an Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) activist as well as a farmer and amateur mathematician. Collins later advanced in both Sinn Féin and…
Collins was the third son and youngest of eight children when he was born on October 16, 1890, at Woodfield, Sam’s Cross, close to Rosscarbery, County Cork. His father, Michael John (1816–1897), was an Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) activist as well as a farmer and amateur mathematician.
Collins later advanced in both Sinn Féin and the Irish Volunteers. In December 1918, he was chosen to represent South Cork as a Teachta Dála. In January 1919, the First Dáil, which was made up of elected members of Sinn Féin, proclaimed Ireland’s independence. Collins was named finance minister.
How was Michael Collins assassinated?
Michael Collins, an Irish rebel and politician with Sinn Féin, was assassinated in an ambush in west County Cork. On August 22, 1922, Denis “Sonny” O’Neill, a former officer of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the IRA who participated in the Irish Civil War on the Anti-Treaty side, was present at Béal na Bláth during the ambush that claimed Collins’ life.
He stated that his appearance that day was an accident, per pension papers that Ireland’s Military Archives disclosed and the Irish Independent examined.
“We unintentionally came across the Ballinablath thing. In 1934, when he was requesting a military pension, he stated in a sworn declaration, “We took up a position and maintained it there until late in the evening. O’Neill and his companions were ready to give up the ambush since the Collins party was late when they heard them coming. When they were shot at, Collins jumped out of the car and started firing. A single bullet to the head struck him, killing him instantaneously.
