Thousands mark Collins’s birthday

Thousands flocked to an open day in Cork, some from as far away as France, as they celebrated the birthday of Michael Collins and came to view the proud tradition of the army stationed at the barracks named after him.

Many schoolchildren from the city and county marvelled at the change in fashion of military equipment on display, from Collins’s 1922 armoured car Sliabh na mBan to the present day €1m Mooag armoured personnel carriers.

The 1st Brigade, under the command of Brigadier General Derry Fitzgerald, put on a display of military prowess in the parade ground and soldiers showed fascinated children a wide variety of weaponry.

Brig Gen Fitzgerald said the celebrations, which were part of Cork Rebel Week, recognised the greatest political leader Ireland had ever seen.

He said General Collins, who was born in 1890, was the army’s first commander-in-chief and was remembered “as an Irish hero and visionary”.

Former justice minister Nora Owen, who is Collins’s grandniece, said he would have been thrilled to see the events which were organised yesterday, how the barracks had stood the test of time, and how he would have been proud of the modern army.

Four members of the French 92nd Infantry Regiment also attended the ceremony and visited a special exhibition in the barracks which recounts 300 years of military friendship between the two countries.

Lt Matthieu Davin-Chapon explained that his regiment was originally named “The Walsh Regiment” which was founded by Wild Geese Irish soldiers who fought for France in a number of famous battles.

They included the 1745 Battle of Fontenoy in Belgium where the French beat an allied force of British, Hanoverians, Austrians, and Dutch.

“The Irish regiment had a great impact in that victory,” he said.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney took time out from his busy post-budget schedule to travel from Dublin to attend the commemoration.

He said General Collins was Cork’s greatest son and had made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Children enjoyed some unusual face painting with many of them queuing up to get camouflage colours applied by soldiers. The army also put on some other novelty events to keep them entertained. Children were invited to try and send a sliothar hurtling past Cats greats Private Colin Fennelly and Corporal Eoin Larkin, who had travelled down from their barracks in Kilkenny.

After a great day out, getting one up on some of the Rebels’ great rivals was the icing on the cake for any Cork youngster.