91
800Years IrishPolitical, Literary&MilitaryHistory - 15thApril2014
222 COLLINS,Michael.
Aportrait ofGeneralMichaelCollins -Commander-in-Chief -NationalArmy. Framed. 30x42.5cm. In
verygood condition.
A legend in his own lifetime,Michael Collins (1890-1922) is one of the greatest heroes Ireland has ever
produced. Hewas born atWoodfield, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, the son of a small farmer. Educated locally,
at the age of sixteenwent toLondon as a clerk in thePostOffice.He joined the I.R.B inLondon.During
EasterWeek hewas Staff Captain andADC to James Connolly in theGPO.WithTheO’Rahilly he led
the first party out of the GPO immediately before its surrender. Arrested, imprisoned and released in
December 1916.
After the victory of Sinn Féin in the 1918 general election and the establishment of Dáil Éireann as the
Irish parliament he wasmadeMinister of Home Affairs and laterMinister for Finance, and organised
the highly successful National Loan. Amost capable organiser with great ability and physical energy,
courage and force of character, he was simultaneously Adjutant General of the Volunteers, Director of
Organisation,Director of Intelligence andMinister for Finance.Heorganised the supplyof arms for the
Volunteers and set upa crack intelligencenetworkandan execution squadnicknamed ‘TwelveApostles’.
Hewas for a long time themost wantedman in Ireland but he practically eliminated the British Secret
Servicewith theBloodySundaymorningoperation.
Collins himself had foreseen, when signing the Treaty, that it would be his deathwarrant. Sixmonths
later he died in action on aCork hillside, a death bitterly regretted by the best soldiers on both sides of
theCivilWar.
€150 - 200
223 [COLLINS,Michael]
The Tomb of Michael Collins. By Denis Devlin. Reprinted from the October Number of The Sewanee
Review, 1956. 4 pp. Signed presentation copy: “toBrianCoffeywith all affectionate regards fromDenis
Devlin. Rome, December 1956”. A very good copy in printedwrappers. Superb association copy of this
fine poem inmemory ofMichael Collins. Rare.With: Invitation card to the unveiling of theMemorial
PortraitsofArthurGriffith,MichaelCollins andKevinO’Higgins at LeinsterHouseonFriday, 21st Jan-
uary, 1944. 15x11.5cm. Fine. (2)
€200 - 300
224 [CONSIDINE, Joseph]
A file of documents relating to anOld I.R.A. pension application fromVolunteer Joseph S. Considine of
Rathmines (formerly of Ennis). Includes completeddraft questionnaire, official service record, and fair
copiesof testimonials fromSeanLemass, FrankGallagher, J.J.Walshandothers. JosephConsidine came
of awell-knownEnnis family (several brothersplayedhurling forClare), andwasamemberof theDublin
Brigade I.R.A. 1917-23. He saw service in various capacities, opposed theTreaty, andwas imprisoned at
Ballykinlar,HarePark andMountjoy. It appears that his applicationwas granted.
€300 - 400
