The soaring oratory of the Easter Rising Proclamation – “In this supreme hour the Irish nation must . . . prove itself worthy of the august destiny to which it is called” – was followed by seven long years of desperate deal-making, retribution, and bloodshed. Only then did the Irish find themselves on the path to freedom. The fallout from the Rising did not end when all seven … [Read more...] about After the Rising
Michael Collins
Ireland at War: Photos from the Sean Sexton Collection
These rare photos from the Sean Sexton Collection chronicle the years of terror following the Rising when the Irish were caught up in the War of Independence and the Civil War. You can read all you want of Irish history, but photographs give us a window to the past that words can’t. For the centenary of the Easter Rising, London’s Photographer’s Gallery put together an … [Read more...] about Ireland at War: Photos from the Sean Sexton Collection
1916 – 2016: The Centenary
Welcome to the 1916 Centenary issue of Irish America. This special issue of Irish America is dedicated to the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Its aim is two-fold: to highlight and investigate the key individuals and movements, both American and Irish, who had a hand in the planning, execution, and aftermath of the Rising, and to showcase underrepresented aspects of the … [Read more...] about 1916 – 2016: The Centenary
Michael Collins: From the GPO to Béal na mBláth
By Dermot McEvoy, Contributor
Michael Collins was born into a farming family near Clonakilty in County Cork in 1890. In 1906 he passed a civil service exam and went to London to work in the British postal system, which included the banking and communications sections – an invaluable learning experience for the future Minister for Finance in the first Dáil. While in London, Collins joined the usual Irish … [Read more...] about Michael Collins: From the GPO to Béal na mBláth
The Collins Clan
Collins, also sometimes found as Cullane or O’Cullane, is one of the most common surnames in Munster. It originates from the sept of Ó Coileáin, which extended from County Cork to south Limerick. The name itself is thought to come from the Irish coileán, meaning a whelp or a young dog. In the 13th century, the Ó Coileáins were chased southward into Cork after losing a war with … [Read more...] about The Collins Clan