Understanding the real Michael Collins

Best wishes to Gaelscoil Mhichil Ui Choileain in Clonakilty which opened this week.

It is a wonderful and overdue tribute to Michael Collins who had such a high regard for the Irish language and all aspects of Gaelic culture. In all the speeches, articles and biographies and films about The Big Fellow, this aspect of his philosophy of a free Ireland is barely mentioned.

A series of articles published in 1922, the year of his death, in a booklet entitled The Path to Freedom, set out his ambitions to build a new nation free, not only politically, but also culturally.

He wrote about how the economy could be developed, but to him unless we developed our Gaelic culture we would only be free in name.

Anyone who honours the memory of Michael Collins should read his The Path to Freedom. Therein is the real Big Fellow.

Go neiri an tadh le Scoil Mhichil Ui Coileain ina cheantair duchais.

Noel Ó Coileain

Cill Mocheallog

Co Luimneach