‘Hero and visionary’ Collins remembered across nation

In the Big Fella’s home county of Cork, thousands flocked from as far away as France to celebrate his birthday and view the proud tradition of the army stationed at the barracks named after him.

Schoolchildren from the city and county marvelled at the fashion of military equipment on display, from Michael Collins’s 1922 armoured car Sliabh na mBan to the present-day €1m Moog armoured personnel carriers.

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

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

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