Lock of Michael Collins’ hair withdrawn from auction

A lock of Michael Collins’ hair has been withdrawn from the market on the eve of its controversial auction.

The piece of his hair will instead be donated to the National Museum. This followed protests from a grandniece of the War of Independence hero. She feared her ancestor’s hair would end up as an attraction in a pub.

The lock had been clipped from Collins’ hair by his older sister while he was lying in state after being assassinated at Béal na mBláth, West Cork, during the Civil War in 1922.