The 98-year-old walking cane, once owned by Michael Collins was by him as a gift to one of his drivers in the early 1920s.

JOHN Connolly, 72, was ten years old when he laid eyes on the photograph of Terence MacSwiney’s comrades, which was published last week in the Irish Examiner.

Eamon de Valera refused a “dying request” for him to attend a commemoration of Michael Collins, newly released official files reveal.