Statue to be Unveiled on Friday 20th October 2023
The unveiling of the Collins Statue by Ronan O’Gara, Rena Buckley and Jimmy Barry Murphy will take place at 12pm Friday 20th October 2023.
Cork Singer / Songwriter, John Spillane will perform his new Michael Collins song for the first time in public at the unveiling.
The Defence Forces will have “Sliabh na mBan” the armoured car which was with Michael Collins at Béal na Blá, in position at the unveiling.
Support the Cork City Michael Collins Statue Fund
On 12th September 2022, a motion which was introduced by Councillor Shane O’Callaghan was passed with a large majority by the members of City Council asking the Council to facilitate the erection a statute of Michael Collins in Cork City Centre in recognition of his contribution to the struggle for Irish independence and the establishment of an independent, democratic, Irish State.
The proposal was for the Michael Collins 100 Committee to raise the funds, to have the statue made and then present to Cork City Council for placement at a suitable location in Cork City Centre.
The proposed Cork City Statue of Michael Collins will be a slightly over life-size bronze, based on the image of Michael Collins with a bicycle as seen in the photograph taken in Wexford in 1922.
Two members of the Michael Collins 100 Committee Tim Crowley and Traolach Ó Donnabháin were also the driving forces behind the placing of the Michael Collins Statue in Clonakilty in 2002. The Clonakilty statue shows Michael Collins as the Statesman or Politician. The Cork City statue will depict Michael Collins as the rebel leader, running a war against the most powerful Empire the world had ever known, the British Empire, while riding a bicycle dressed as a businessman. The statue will also capture Michael Collins’ economic vision for the future of a free Ireland, as he was touring industries in 1922 when the photograph of him with the bicycle was taken at the Pierce factory in Wexford
Sculptor Kevin Holland has been commissioned to make the statue. Kevin, who is based in Mallow County Cork, has created many pieces of public art, which are to be seen throughout Ireland. He is also the sculptor who made the Michael Collins Statue, which is located at Emmet Square in Clonakilty, it was unveiled by Actor Liam Neeson in 2002
The ethos of the Michael Collins 100 Committee is totally non-political
The committee is running a fundraising campaign to pay for the design and casting of the statue and base.
The Michael Collins 100 Committee is providing a unique opportunity to admirers of Michael Collins in Ireland and all over the world to be part of a wonderful tribute to him in Cork City.
