Michael Collins was born in Woodfield, Clonakilty, in County Cork in 1890. He was the third son and the youngest of eight children.
His father, who encouraged his children to learn patriotic ballads and poetry. West Cork was the heartland of Fenianism, the Irish nationalist movement founded in the 19th century. Jermiah O'Donovan Rossa, one of its founders, had been a teacher in a school in Rosscarberry, three miles away from the Collins household. Michael's own teacher, Denis Lyons, was a member of the Fenian organization.

 

 

  


 

As a child Michael also read widely. He was familiar with Shakespeare and the great novelists of the 19th century. Every week he read the nationalist newspapers "The Freeman's Weekly" and "The Leader". When only 11 years of age Michael began to subscribe to 'The United Irishman', edited by Arthur Griffith. Almost 20 years later, Griffith and Michael Collins would be the most important Irish representatives in the Treaty negotiations with Britain. Griffith was the founder of Sinn Fein, a nationalist party that exists to this day.  
The young Michael Collins was a keen sportsman. He played the local game of road bowling. He enjoyed the Irish game hurling, and was fond of fishing.General Michael Collins with General Richard Murphy at President Arthur Griffith's funeral.

  
In July 1906, at the age of 15, Michael Collins immigrated to London where he worked as a boy clerk in West Kensington Post Office. He quickly found his feet in the strong Irish community in London. He joined the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the Gaelic League, which promoted the revival of the Irish language, and Sinn Fein. In November 1909 he was inducted into the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). General Collins pictured at Arthur Griffith's funeral. 

Shortly after joining the IRB Michael left the Post Office and took up a post with a stockbroking company and later he worked in the Whitehall Labour Exchange. Finally, before returning to Ireland, he worked briefly with an American firm, the Guaranty Trust Company.

 

  Members of first Dail Eireann, January 21st, 1919
Outside of work Collins wrote papers on Irish history and current political events
 
      

In 1919, Michael Collins wasmade President of the IRB Supreme Council. 

On 21 November 1920 Michel Collins squad assassinated 14 British officers. 

The girlfriend of Michael Collins was Catherine Brigit. Michel and Kitty exchanged more than 300 letters. They became engaged. Once, Michael Collins declared that he was a soldier, not a politician. 

In July, the provisional government appointed a Council of war and Collins became commander-in-chief of the national army.  

Michael Collins left a mission to visit troops in his home county of Cork.  

On the last day of his life, 22 august 1922, he set out from Cork in a convoy.

He was killed in 1922.

 

      

   

 

 

 

            


 

Questions

1-     When and where was Michael Collins born?

2-     Who encouraged him about Patriotic ballads?

3-     What did he play when he was a child?

4-     How old was he when he subscribed to “The united Irishmen”?

5-     When did he emigrate to London?

6-     What’s the name of the American he worked with?

7-     What did he do when he grew older?

8-     When was he made president of the Supreme council?

9-  What was the name of Michael’s girlfriend? 

10- When did Michael Collins die?