‘Vain’ Collins probably died a virgin: history professor

Michael Collins was vain, conspiratorial, and probably died a virgin, a UCC professor said on unveiling a plaque in honour of the former rebel leader in Bandon last night.

The unveiling at the Munster Arms Hotel came just two days after commemorative events in nearby Clonakilty and in Cork City to mark his birthday, with the Bandon unveiling taking on special resonance given that the last photograph of Collins was taken outside the hotel shortly before his death at Béal na mBláth in Aug 1922.

Emeritus professor of history at University College Cork John A Murphy unveiled the plaque in the hotel at a ceremony yesterday and in his speech said Collins was “hardly a flawless hero”, even if he was now “universally attractive to public opinion”.