Michael Collins' Assassination In Béal na Bláth: August 1922
On August 22, 1922, Michael Collins, one of Ireland's most iconic revolutionary figures, was assassinated in an ambush in Béal na Bláth, County Cork. His death marked the culmination of a bitter and bloody Irish Civil War, and to this day, it remains one of the most tragic events in Irish history. The circumstances surrounding Collins' assassination have been the subject of much debate, analysis, and speculation. To understand the full magnitude of this event, it is essential to delve into the context of the Irish Civil War, the personal rivalries involved, and the final moments of the man who helped shape modern Ireland.
The Civil War Context
The Irish Civil War (1922-1923) erupted following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, which established the Irish Free State as a dominion within the British Empire but did not grant full independence. Michael Collins, who had been instrumental in negotiating the treaty, viewed it as a stepping stone toward greater sovereignty for Ireland. However, many of his former comrades, including Éamon de Valera and significant elements of the IRA, rejected the treaty outright, seeing it as a betrayal of the Irish Republic declared during the 1916 Easter Rising.
This divide led to a bloody civil war, with pro-Treaty forces (the National Army or Free State Army) under Collins’ command facing off against anti-Treaty forces (Republican IRA). Collins, now leading the fledgling Free State government, was dedicated to bringing the conflict to a swift conclusion. He believed that reconciliation with the anti-Treaty side might still be possible, and his final trip to his home county of Cork was partly intended to assess the situation and explore potential ceasefire negotiations. However, Cork was a stronghold of the anti-Treaty forces, and Collins' visit there would prove to be perilous.
The Final Journey Begins
Michael Collins and his party left the Imperial Hotel in Cork city at 6:15 am on Tuesday, 22nd August 1922. The day began with Collins’ typical determination and sense of purpose, but he was entering deeply hostile territory. The convoy was small for a man of his stature, especially given the level of danger in the region. Nevertheless, Collins pressed on, intent on completing his tour of inspection and negotiations.
The convoy included several vehicles and personnel:
A motorcyclist: Lt. John ‘Jersey’ Smyth, who acted as a scout for the convoy.
A Crossley Tender: Commanded by Commandant Seán (Paddy) O’Connell, it included Captain Peter Conlon, Sergeant Conroy, Sergeant Cooney, John O’Connell, and eight riflemen—Gough, Barry, Carmody, Coote, Edmunds, Murray, Caine, and McKenna.
A yellow Leland Thomas Straight Eight touring car: This car carried Michael Collins and Emmet Dalton, Collins’ close military aide and advisor. The driver of the car was Private Michael Smith Corry, with M. Quinn as the reserve driver.
A Rolls Royce Whippet armoured car (A.R.R. 2), named Slievenamon: The armoured car was led by Captain Joe Dolan, with Jim Wolfe as the driver, Jimmy ‘Wiggy’ Fortune as the co-driver, and John (Jock) McPeak as the machine-gunner manning the Vickers gun. Also present in the armoured car were Cooney and Monks.
The military detail was undeniably small given that Collins, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Free State Army, was travelling through one of the most active anti-Treaty areas in Ireland. This decision has been questioned by historians and contemporaries alike, but Collins was known for his bravery and refusal to shy away from danger. He had often travelled with small escorts, relying on his familiarity with the people and the land.
The Morning of August 22
The convoy made its way through the southern Cork countryside, passing through Macroom around 8:00 am. As they approached Béal na Bláth, they briefly stopped to ask for directions from locals, before proceeding onwards towards Crookstown and then Bandon. Collins was familiar with this area, having grown up nearby, and perhaps believed that his presence there would not attract hostility, or that he could rely on the goodwill of former comrades.
Collins and his convoy were unaware that anti-Treaty forces in the area had been alerted to his presence. Tom Hales, a former comrade of Collins from the War of Independence who had now taken the anti-Treaty side, and other local anti-Treaty IRA officers, including Liam Deasy, were actively monitoring military movements in the area. Collins was a high-value target, and any opportunity to capture or eliminate him would have been seen as a significant blow to the Free State forces
The Ambush at Béal na Bláth
The ambush that would claim Michael Collins’ life was set in motion as his convoy travelled towards Béal na Bláth. At some point during the journey, anti-Treaty forces, which included Denis "Sonny" O'Neill, a former British Army soldier and sharpshooter, and Jim Hurley, were able to position themselves along the road, anticipating the convoy's approach. The ambush was planned at a narrow bend in the road—an ideal spot to attack a slow-moving convoy.
The ambushers’ intentions are not entirely clear. Some historians suggest that their primary goal was to capture Collins alive rather than kill him, but the ensuing firefight would escalate quickly. As the convoy entered the ambush zone in the late afternoon, shots rang out. Collins’ motorcyclist scout, Lt. Smyth, was one of the first to react, firing back at the attackers.
Collins, who had been travelling in the touring car with Emmet Dalton, ordered his men to return fire. Dalton and others pleaded with Collins to leave the area immediately. However, Collins, showing his typical resolve and bravery, refused to retreat. He was determined to fight back. Amidst the confusion and chaos, Collins, Dalton, and others engaged the ambushers from the roadside.
It was during this exchange that Collins was struck by a bullet to the head, believed to have been fired by Denis O’Neill. Collins fell to the ground, fatally wounded. Emmet Dalton rushed to his side, but it was too late—Collins was already dead. His last words are said to have been, “Forgive them.”
The ambush ended shortly after, with both sides withdrawing. Collins' convoy, devastated by the loss of their leader, gathered his body and prepared to return to Cork. The assassination had claimed the life of Ireland’s most prominent revolutionary figure, and the impact of his death would be felt across the nation.
The Aftermath
The news of Michael Collins’ death spread rapidly across Ireland and shocked the nation. He was only 31 years old, yet he had already played a pivotal role in Ireland’s fight for independence and had become one of the most beloved and respected figures in the country. His death was a profound loss, not just for the pro-Treaty side but for the entire Irish nation.
Collins’ body was brought back to Dublin, where he lay in state, and thousands of mourners came to pay their respects. His funeral was one of the largest in Irish history, with people from all walks of life coming to honour the man who had given so much for Ireland’s freedom. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, where his grave remains a site of pilgrimage to this day.
The exact circumstances of Michael Collins’ death have been the subject of debate for decades. While Denis O’Neill is widely believed to have fired the fatal shot, the chaotic nature of the ambush and the passing of time have led to varying accounts of what happened. O’Neill himself later defected to the IRA along with other members of Collins’ former forces, taking the Slievenamon armoured car with him. His motivation for doing so was reportedly tied to personal matters, including his relationship with a woman. He was later arrested in Glasgow in 1923 and imprisoned in Portlaoise, where he went on hunger strike.
Collins’ assassination did little to alter the course of the Civil War. The anti-Treaty forces continued to fight for several more months, but the Free State ultimately prevailed. The war officially ended in May 1923, leaving the country deeply scarred and divided. Collins’ death, however, left a vacuum in Irish politics and a legacy of ‘what might have been.’ Many have speculated that, had he lived, Collins would have helped to heal the divisions in Ireland and steer the country towards a more united future.
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