Michael Collins (Irish leader)

Michael Collins (Irish name Micheál Ó Coileáin; October 16, 1890 – August 22, 1922), an Irish revolutionary leader, served as Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, as Director of Intelligence for the IRA, as a member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, as Chairman of the Provisional Government and as Commander-in-Chief of the National Army. He was assassinated in August 1922, during the Irish Civil War. Members and supporters of the political party Fine Gael hold in particular respect his memory.

The film Michael Collins

In 1996 Michael Collins became the subject of a semi-fictional film by Neil Jordan called Michael Collins with Liam Neeson playing the title role, as well as Julia Roberts playing Collins' bride-to-be. Although the film received praise for bringing the story of Michael Collins to a wide international audience, some historians criticized it for taking liberties with historical facts, not least the suggestion that Éamon de Valera was directly responsible for Collins' death. The assassins were part of the anti-treaty faction headed by de Valera, but the suggestion in the film that they were acting under his direction appears to be little more than a dramatic invention. The assassination itself is a controversial issue with more speculation than fact. Theories put it down to Irregular forces, British soldiers, de Valera and many others. These controversies were explored in an episode of the TV documentary The South Bank Show which was later included as an extra with the DVD release of the film.

Related Topics:
1996 - Film - Neil Jordan - Michael Collins - Liam Neeson - Julia Roberts - TV - The South Bank Show

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