Council fails to point the way to patriot’s last stand

ON a recent visit to west Cork I set out to visit Béal ná mBláth where the patriot and revolutionary Michael Collins lost his life in an ambush in 1922.

I am well used by now to the lack of cultural and historical sensitivity displayed by a lot of the powers-that-be in this country, but I was still a little taken aback by the disregard of Cork County Council for the place where such a notable Irishman, the subject of countless books and a Hollywood film, met his death.

Specifically, my criticism of the local authority has to do with its failure clearly to show visitors how to get to the place.