Rebel Week unveils Gathering event details

Cork’s Rebel Week organisers have put the “Big Fella langer” controversy behind them to unveil full details of the city and county’s flagship Gathering event.

Border checkpoints will be erected around the “People’s Republic” on Oct 16 — Michael Collins’s birthday — as Cork declares itself an independent republic for a day. Money raised at the borders will help boost the fundraising drive for Cork University Hospital Children’s Unit.

The charity stunt is one of the highlights of Cork Rebel Week, from Oct 14 to 20, run jointly by Cork City and County Councils, and supported by The Gathering Ireland and local organisations.

It will feature a range of free sporting, cultural and business events, and events like the Cork Folk Festival.

The Irish Defence Forces will mark Michael Collins’s birthday on Oct 16 with an open day at Collins Barracks, and a guard of honour at 10.30am.

“General Michael Collins holds an exalted place in the memory of Irish people, no celebration of Cork would be complete without honouring its greatest military hero and this most iconic of Irishmen,” said Lt Col Pat Coleman of Collins Barracks.

Collins’s birthplace, Clonakilty, will honour its famous son with a series of events, including a re-enactment of one of Collins’s famous speeches at 7pm that night.