Tuesday, August 01, 2023

Remembering Michael Collins in London

By New Worker correspondent

Over 100 people turned up to see a new plaque commemorating Michael Collins, the Irish revolutionary, soldier and politician, being unveiled in Islington, north London, last month,
to mark the spot where Michael Collins joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in 1909.
There was a huge turn out in north London, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as well as the Mayor of the County of Cork Frank O’Flynn, and the deputy Lord Mayor of Cork City Colette Finn. 
Collins spent a third of his life in London, and it was at 2 Barnsbury Road Islington, a minute away from Islington Town Hall and then the site of Barnsbury Hall, that he joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1909.
Pictured here after the unveiling are Aengus Connoly O'Malley, a descendant of Collins, Mayor of Islington Gary Heather, and Kaya Comer-Schwartz, leader of Islington Council. The plaque installation was organised organised jointly by the Terence MacSwiney Committee and Islington Council.
Following the unveiling there was a buffet at Islington Town Hall, and a celebration of Collins' life at the London Irish Centre in Camden, will Irish dancing, music, talks and slide shows.

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