De Valera rejected 'dying request' over Collins commemoration

Eamon de Valera refused a “dying request” for him to attend a commemoration of Michael Collins, newly released official files reveal.

Papers from the Taoiseach’s department in 1957 show that Sean Collins – brother of the murdered republican leader – pleaded for an official presence at his memorial.

Mr Collins also wrote to Sean T O’Kelly, then President, saying the attendance of both him and Taoiseach de Valera would go towards “healing the sores of the Civil War”.

The request came about after the death of a Colonel Coughlan, who had previously organised the annual ceremony at Béal na mBláth, Co Cork, where Collins was assassinated in 1922.

Colonel Coughlan “left it as a dying request” that Sean Collins would approach De Valera and ask for him and the Army to attend the commemoration, according to the letter.

“Colonel Coughlan was the organiser of this little ceremony over the years, who always saw to it that there was nothing contentious in its nature,” wrote Sean Collins.

“In fact the whole proceedings only included the laying of a few wreaths by the family, the recital of the Rosary in Irish and the usual exchange of friendships by persons who had not met since the previous year.

“Although there are always men at the ceremony who took different sides in the unfortunate Civil War, I can assure you that there has never been anything but harmony on all occasions.

“How I would dearly love to see you lay that wreath at the foot of that Cross.

“I sincerely hope you will give your consent to this request, as apart altogether from the respect given to the dead, it would certainly be a great gesture towards the unity of old comrades.”

But de Valera insisted, 35 years after the assassination of his former comrade with whom he had split over the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty, that his attendance would be inappropriate.

“As I have understood it, your request is that the Army should officially take part in the commemoration,” he replied, apparently ignoring the direct appeal for his own presence.

“I have, myself, given the matter the most careful consideration and I have spoken to the other members of the Government about it.

“We are all of the opinion that the decision taken some years ago should be adhered to.

“At that time, we came to the conclusion that... the best thing to do was to have one day set apart on which the State could celebrate the securing of independence here and honour all who took part in the struggle to achieve it.

“Easter Sunday was the day selected.

“I still think that that decision was a wise one and the best, at any rate, for the present generation.

“This position, of course, does not prevent the individual anniversaries being honoured by the friends of those who died.”

In a missive to Áras an Uachtaráin, de Valera suggests the President also replies to Mr Collins stating that he understands the Taoiseach has given him the Government’s answer to the request.