{"id":24591,"date":"2021-12-26T12:58:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-26T17:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24591"},"modified":"2021-12-27T10:03:59","modified_gmt":"2021-12-27T15:03:59","slug":"commemorate-michael-collins-as-statesman-on-centenary-of-death-says-martin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24591","title":{"rendered":"Commemorate Michael Collins As Statesman On Centenary Of Death Says Martin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mr Martin said Mr Collins was \u201can outstanding\u201d leader during the War of Independence\u00a0(IFI Irish Film Archive\/PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach has said that revolutionary leader Michael Collins should be commemorated as a statesman to mark the centenary of his death next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miche\u00e1l Martin ruled out a State inquiry into who shot the republican leader dead, saying it would be the wrong way to approach the source of controversy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Collins was killed on August 22nd, 1922, near B\u00e9al na mBl\u00e1th in Co Cork during the Civil War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The identity of the shooter remains a mystery almost 100 years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin said that he signed off on a plan to put resources into B\u00e9al na mBl\u00e1th to create a proper memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI met the Collins family recently. I was very taken by what Helen, the grandniece of Michael Collins, said,\u201d the Fianna F\u00e1il leader added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey much prefer Woodfield, the birthplace of Michael Collins, than B\u00e9al na mBl\u00e1th because to them B\u00e9al na mBl\u00e1th is a death site. It\u2019s a grave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has never been appealing to their family, whereas actually I got it when I was at Woodfield. The location is idyllic, where he was born and reared you can almost see him running around those fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I think we should commemorate the centenary of the death of Michael Collins in the manner we would commemorate the loss of a statesman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin said Mr Collins was \u201can outstanding\u201d leader during the War of Independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll of that generation had extraordinary commitment to the country,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was struck, when I read the [Michael Collins] diaries that we were presented with, that commitment shines through, and indeed it shines through all of the records and archives that have being made available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we should honor the leaders of that period without fear or favor and do it in a proper way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked whether an historical inquiry into Mr Collin\u2019s death would be a step too far, Mr Martin said it is the wrong way to go through the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI much prefer the work of academics, good, solid, informed histories,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat, to me is the more informed way to go about it, to look back on history. I think Diarmaid Ferriter\u2019s book Between Two Hells is one example of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s not approach history with the perspectives of today or with your own prejudices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou should approach history objectively and try to tell the story as it was through the prism of those who were there at the time, and what their impulses were and what their emotions were. History is complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are many variables, there\u2019s never one simplistic narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all biased to certain extents, to certain degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the Collins\u2019 family have an idea, they are certainly of the view that reconciliation is the key objective and they would have had that view a long, long time ago in respect of families in West Cork on the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019ll be many stories written but the idea of setting up a state inquiry would be anathema to me. I think that\u2019s the wrong way to approach it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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