Michael Collins Umbrella – A new Artefact for Michael Collins House Museum

Michael Collins House Museum has received a new artefact for its collection in the form of an umbrella previously owned by Michael Collins. The umbrella was left behind following one of his visits to Devlin’s Pub on Parnell Street, Dublin and has since been safeguarded by the Devlin family. It was their wish to have the historic item available for public display and recognised the Cork County Council run facility in his home county as the ideal location.

The umbrella was presented to the museum on long term loan by John Merivale, husband of the late Jocelyn Merivale, granddaughter of Liam Devlin, the proprietor of Devlin’s Pub and a trusted intelligence officer in the Irish War of Independence. A plaque has recently been erected on the site of the pub to mark its importance in Irish history as a crucial meeting point and safe house for Michael Collins and members of his ‘squad’.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn said

The story of Michael Collins is one that is well known, but artefacts such as the umbrella donated by the Merivale/Devlin family gives us a little more insight into the history of the revolutionary hero. I want to thank the Devlin family for preserving this piece of Irish history and urge the public to visit the Michael Collins House to learn more about our history and the fight for Irish Independence. The museum holds an incredible collection of artefacts connected to the man himself and the revolutionary period, including personal items, letters, items of clothing, uniforms, weapons, militaria, commemorative pieces and more.

The silk mechanical umbrella is tightly wound and held in a telescopic faux wood cover that doubles as a walking cane. Walking canes have become synonymous with Michael Collins with several different canes coming to prominence in recent years. It seems that Collins, though rarely photographed with a cane, may have used a cane as part of his disguise of a normal businessman about town. It is also an item he seems to have favoured as a gift with many of the canes appearing to have origins as gifts to people close to him.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan said,

Now entering its ninth season in operation, Michael Collins House welcomes up to 30,000 visitors annually and since its opening the museum has generated over €5m into the local economy. Cork County Council is proud to own and operate such an important facility that preserves and promotes our history combined with an authentic, educational, and enjoyable museum experience.

Michael Collins House Museum opens Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. For more information visit www.michaelcollinshouse.ie follow on social media or phone 023-8858676.

Scáth Fearthainne Mhichíl Uí Choileáin – Déantán nua do Mhúsaem Theach Mhichíl Uí Choileáin

Tá déantán nua faighte ag Músaem Theach Mhichíl Uí Choileáin dá bhailiúchán i bhfoirm scáth fearthainne a bhíodh ag Michael Collins. Fágadh an scáth fearthainne ina dhiaidh tar éis cuairt a thabhairt ar Thigh Tábhairne Uí Dhoibhlin ar Shráid Parnell, Baile Átha Cliath agus bhí sé á chosaint ag teaghlach Uí Dhoibhlin ó shin. Ba mhian leo go mbeadh an déantán stairiúil ar fáil don phobal agus d’aithin siad an áis atá á reáchtáil ag Comhairle Contae Chorcaí i gContae dúchais an Choileánaigh mar an suíomh idéalach.

Bhronn John Merivale, fear céile Jocelyn Merivale, nach maireann, gariníon le Liam Ó Doibhlin, úinéir de Thigh Tábhairne Uí Dhoibhlin agus oifigeach faisnéise iontaofa i gCogadh na Saoirse, an scáth fearthainne don mhúsaem ar iasacht fhadtéarmach. Cuireadh plaic in airde le déanaí ar shuíomh an tábhairne chun a thábhacht i stair na hÉireann mar phointe suntasach cruinnithe agus mar theach sábháilte do Mhicheál Ó Coileáin agus baill dá ‘scuad’, a chomóradh.

Dúirt Méara Chontae Chorcaí, an Clr. Frank O’Flynn an méid seo

Tá scéal Mhichíl Uí Choileáin aitheanta go maith, ach tugann déantáin ar nós an scátha fearthainne a bhronn teaghlach Merivale/Uí Dhoibhlin léargas beag eile dúinn ar stair an laoch réabhlóideach. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le teaghlach Uí Dhoibhlin as an bpíosa seo de stair na hÉireann a chaomhnú agus impím ar an bpobal cuairt a thabhairt ar Theach Mhichíl Uí Choileáin chun níos mó a fhoghlaim faoinár stair agus faoin troid ar son Neamhspleáchas na hÉireann. Tá bailiúchán dochreidte déantáin ag an músaem a bhaineann leis an bhfear féin agus leis an tréimhse réabhlóideach, lena n-áirítear míreanna pearsanta, litreacha, éadaí, éidí, airm, giuirléidí míleata, píosaí comórtha agus go leor eile.

Tá an scáth fearthainne meicniúil déanta as síoda agus tá sé tochraiste go docht, le clúdach adhmaid bréige teileascópach a dhúblaítear mar bhata siúil. Smaoinítear ar bhataí siúil nuair a smaoinítear ar Mhícheál Ó Coileáin agus tá roinnt bataí siúil éagsúla tugtha chun cinn le blianta beaga anuas, atá bainteach leis. Dealraíonn sé gurbh fhéidir gur bhain Collins úsáid as bataí siúil mar chuid dá bhréagriocht mar ghnáthfhear gnó an bhaile mhóir, cé gur annamh a thógtar grianghraf de le bata siúl. Is cosúil gur thug sé bataí siúil mar bhronntanas do dhaoine gar dó chomh maith.

Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí, Valerie O’Sullivan,

Tá Teach Mhichíl Uí Choileáin ag cur fáilte roimh suas le 30,000 cuairteoir in aghaidh na bliana anois agus tá breis is €5m curtha isteach sa gheilleagar áitiúil ag Teach Mhichíl Uí Choileáin. Tá Comhairle Contae Chorcaí bródúil as a bheith ina húinéir ar agus ag feidhmiú áis thábhachtach a chaomhnaíonn agus a chuireann ár stair chun cinn in éineacht le heispéireas fíor-oideachasúil agus taitneamhach músaem.

Bíonn Músaem Theach Mhichíl Uí Choileáin ar oscailt ó Mháirt go Satharn, 10rn go 5in. Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais tabhair cuairt ar www.michaelcollinshouse.ie, lean ar na meáin shóisialta, nó cuir glaoch ar 023-8858676.