Big Fella’s three-day bash

It’s the kind of event that the gregarious Michael Collins would have loved: A birthday celebration in his honour stretching to a fun-filled three-day event in his home town of Clonakilty in West Cork.

Among the festivities planned for next month is an exhibition of work by schoolchildren, a gentle exchange of political dialogue, the showing of three movies and — mindful of the Big Fella’s sociability — a pub stroll to raise a glass or two to his memory.

“We want people to remember the character that he was in life rather than the manner of his death,” said Hannah-Rose Farrington, one of the organisers.