General Michael Collins ‘most responsible’ for shaping modern British Commonwealth

Ireland’s War of Independence mastermind General Michael Collins should today be recognised as the person most responsible for shaping the modern British Commonwealth. Broadcaster and historian, Dr David McCullagh, stressed the ‘Big Fella’ realised that Ireland securing Dominion status within the British Commonwealth would, in effect, allow the country to operate as an entirely independent state such as Canada and South Africa. His remarks came as he delivered the Béal na Bláth oration in Cork on Sunday. The event on Sunday marks 104 years since the death of the IRA leader and the military strategist regarded by Britain as one of its most dangerous foes. General Collins was shot and killed in an ambush at Béal na Bláth on August 22 1922 as he returned to Cork city having completed an inspection tour of west Cork at the height of the Civil War. He served as Ireland’s finance minister from April 2, 1919 until his death at age 31 and his achievements in putting the fledgling State on a solid financial footing are ranked alongside his remarkable abilities as the IRA’s military commander during the War of Independence. The Clonakilty native is widely credited with having devised modern guerrilla warfare tactics. His approach to guerrilla warfare and the importance of winning the intelligence war is still taught at military academies including Sandhurst in the UK and West Point in the United States. A survey by the British Army Museum ranked General Collins as one of the most dangerous enemies Britain faced over the past 300 years. Dr McCullagh said General Collins had the foresight to see that Dominion status would allow the Republican movement to achieve its goals if a only patient approach was adopted. “The evolution and development of the Dominions, driven by South Africa and Canada as well as by Ireland, had cleared the path to full independence,” he said. “As at least some on the British side ruefully recognised, by forcing Ireland to become a Dominion, they hadn’t changed Ireland, but they had changed the Commonwealth – which is why Collins should be recognised, not just as a maker of modern Ireland, but as a maker of the modern British Commonwealth as well.” He said modern observers have to be careful not to be overawed by General Collins’ military reputation and to ignore how committed he was to hammering out compromises. Despite his best endeavour, he could not negotiate an agreement on an Irish constitution that satisfied both Britain and hardline Republican positions. Many within the IRA were adamant that only a Republic would achieve their stated goals. “Six months after the Treaty negotiations, Collins was back in London negotiating the Free State’s constitution with the British, making many of the same arguments he had made during the Treaty talks, facing much the same brick wall of intransigence, and with the same result. “He told his fiancé, Kitty Kiernan, that things were “far, far more serious than anyone at home thinks”, that they were “bad beyond words”, and that “the whole thing is ghastly”. “Led by Collins, the Irish did manage to reduce the Crown’s presence in the Constitution to the bare minimum the British would accept – but that bare minimum was still there, destroying any hope of reuniting the Republican movement. “The result, of course, was an enduring split, a Civil War, and, for Collins personally, a date with fate on this roadway. “Michael Collins was not to see it, but just four years later in October 1926, a century ago this year, the British government made a statement which on the face of it – given their position during the Treaty negotiations – was astonishing. “In what became known as the Balfour Declaration, the British accepted that the UK and the Dominions were ‘autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations. “It was a recognition that the Dominions were legally equal to Britain, and it was followed in 1931 by the Statute of Westminster which formally recognised that the British Parliament could no longer legislate for the Dominions, and that the Dominions could pass any law they liked – including a law to leave the Commonwealth. “The restraints imposed by the Treaty had been destroyed and the way to full sovereignty and independence for the Irish state had been cleared. And that route to freedom would be used, with the introduction of the 1937 Constitution, and then the Declaration of the Republic a dozen years later. This was Michael Collins’s vision.” At one point, British politicians refused to countenance Dominion status for Ireland - warning it would provide a path to ultimate independence and sever the link with Britain. General Collins realised Ireland had an alternative path to full independence. Dr McCullagh said that the patience General Collins had called for was fully justified. “The compromises he had made had been justified, the Treaty he had signed had indeed given the freedom to achieve freedom.” “Michael Collins the soldier, the intelligence chief, the financial mastermind, was crucial to the conduct of the War of Independence.” “But Michael Collins the diplomat, the negotiator and the constitution maker was no less crucial to moulding a compromise which secured the essential interests of the nation he represented, and the cause he led.” “And we can draw from that what lessons we need for today.” Dr McCullagh also noted that General Collins - seen by many as a military hardliner - had the courage to firstly agree a truce with Britain and then to enter peace talks. “(General) Collins recognised that reality. He also recognised that neither side had been defeated, but nor could either side achieve an outright victory – therefore, both sides would be required to sacrifice some of their red lines to reach a deal.” “But, without trying to artificially place Collins in the debates of today, or to remake him in our own image, I think we can, we should and we must, learn from our history and draw lessons from the lives of people like Michael Collins, pointers from his career as we face the challenges of today.” Amongst others to have delivered the prestigious Béal na mBláth oration are Taoisigh Enda Kenny, Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, former UN High Commissioner and President Mary Robinson, President Michael D Higgins, Lord David Puttnam, former GAA Presidents Peter Quinn and Sean Kelly (now a FG MEP) and historians Tim Pat Coogan, Brian Farrell, Ryle Dwyer, Prof John A Murphy, Dr Pat Wallace and Helen Hoare. Broadcasters George Hook and Bill O’Herlihy have also delivered the oration. In 2021, the west Cork site was carefully refurbished to bring it closer to how it appeared at the time of the 1922 ambush. A special area was developed around the memorial which marks the spot where the fatally wounded general fell. The centenary event featured joint orations by the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail leaders - symbolic given that both represent the parties on either side of the bitter civil war during which General Collins died.