Restored monument at Béal na Bláth gets finishing touches

Extensive work ahead of centenary commemorations at site where Michael Collins was shot dead in 1922

Giulia Vallone, senior architect at Cork County Council, with Martin Horgan and Paul Kearney of Conhor construction with the new stonework at the Michael Collins memorial at Béal na Bláth. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The finishing touches are being put to the restored monument at Béal na Bláth, which marks the site where Michael Collins was shot dead in 1922, ahead of this weekend's centenary commemorations.

Giulia Vallone, a senior architect with Cork County Council, is part of the team which has restored the monument in West Cork in a partnership project with the Department of An Taoiseach, the Department of Defence, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. She said the extensive work, which included a narrowing of the road, resurfacing, the installation of additional parking spaces, information maps, and guides, has made the area more visitor-friendly.