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Collins, Michael
(1890-1922), Irish patriot and soldier, born in Clonakilty. From 1906 to
1916 Collins worked as a clerk in London, where he joined the Irish Republican
Brotherhood, a revolutionary group working for Irish independence from British
rule. He participated in the Easter rebellion of 1916 in Dublin and was
captured and was interned at Frongoch (Wales), where he emerged as the natural
leader of the prisoners..
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After
his release he became one of the chief workers for Irish freedom as
a leader in the Sinn Féin movement. In 1918 he was again arrested.
Later, in spite of persistent attempts to capture him, he eluded the
police and helped colleagues to escape. While still a fugitive, he
was elected to the Sinn Féin revolutionary parliament and served
as finance minister. From 1919 to 1921 Collins organised the guerrilla
warfare that succeeded in forcing Great Britain to sue for peace.
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After de Valera left for America (June 1919) on an 18 month fund raising
tour, Collins became the dominant figure in the revolution (although Cathal
Brugha, the IRA's Commander-in-Chief, disliked him intensely). At various
times, Collins held positions as (1) President of the Supreme Council of
the IRB, (2) A leader, but not Commander-in-Chief of the IRA, (3) Sinn Féin
member of the Dail, (4) Commander-in-Chief of the Free State Army, (5) Minister
of Finance in the 1919 Provisional Government of the RoI, and (6) Cabinet
member in the first post-treaty government. He is best know for his brilliant
work during the Anglo-Irish war in setting up the IRA's extremely effective
intelligence and counter-intelligence unit that time and time again saved
the IRA forces to fight another day. He and Griffith were the leaders of
the team that negotiated the treaty that gave near independence to the 26
counties, while partitioning off 6 counties. During the post-treaty war,
he was ambushed and killed by anti-treaty guerillas. Had he lived, he certainly
would have competed with de Valera for political dominance in the Irish
state.
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