Big fella Neeson honours hero Collins

ACTOR Liam Neeson revealed last night how his Irish hero, Michael Collins, brought him through a near tragic accident.

The Hollywood star said as he lay in a New York hospital bed after a motorbike crash, he asked himself: “What would Mick do?” and, in his best doctor’s acting voice, Neeson declared: “You were told to do one-hour physical therapy - you will do two hours and be thankful for it.”

To a cheering crowd, he said: “Forgive me, I am just an actor, I have to do something.”

The anecdote brought a rousing response from thousands of people who packed Emmet Square in Clonakilty, Co Cork last night on the 80th anniversary of the death of Michael Collins. Neeson portrayed Michael Collins in the 1996 movie, which grossed over $30 million at the box office.

At the invitation of a National Monument Commemorative Committee, Neeson made a transatlantic dash to unveil a life-size bronze statue to Collins in the patriot’s native West Cork. “If my presence here today will help to keep alive his memory, I will be doubly honoured,” said Neeson.

Committee chairman Traolach Ó Donnabháin disclosed Neeson had responded by fax within 24 hours of being invited to unveil the statue.

The Ballymena-born actor was accompanied by his mother Kitty.

“Collins was a remarkable man,” said Neeson. “He was always his own man. In these days of corporate shenanigans, where the buck is passed, in Collins’ day the buck stopped with him.”

The actor proudly declared: “He’s my hero. He still inspires me.” Church bells tolled to sound the hour at which Collins died in an ambush at 8.00pm on August 22 on the roadside at Béal na nBláth. His armoured car Sliabh na Mon, in which Collins had toured West Cork on his last fateful journey, was parked beside the Kevin Holland-sculptured monument in the shade of leafy chestnut trees.

Collins’ two closest living relatives, Nancy Hurley and Joan Burnworth, both living in Dublin, joined dozens of family members at the unveiling ceremony.

They laid two wreaths at the foot of the monument which carried an epitaph of Collins’ last written words: “The people here are splendid.”