Jamie Murphy, Michael Collins House General Manager; Jaqueline Mansfield Cork County Council Administrative Officer West Cork; Jessica Baldwin, National Archives of Ireland Senior Conservator; Loraine Lynch, Cork County Council A/Divisional Manager; Helen Collins, diary owner and member of Collins family; and Cllr Noel O’Donovan deputising for the Mayor of the County of Cork as the diaries are back for August 2024. Photo: Dermot Sullivan.

Diaries of Collins return to Clonakilty

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By Alex Redmond

The Big Fellas’ diaries have returned to West Cork.

Cork County Council, in partnership with the National Archives, have brought the Michael Collins diaries of 1918-1922 back to the Michael Collins House Museum in Clonakilty.

The exhibit, which will last for the month of August, will focus on the first week of August 1922 with the first six days of the month on display. Readers will gain insight into the day-to-day life of Collins.

The diaries outline an array of information, ranging from, important calls to vital upcoming meetings, for Collins. The diary pages will be accompanied by drafts of telegrams written by Collins on 15 August 1922, outlining Collins’ trouble travelling on the day of Arthur Griffiths’ funeral.

They are on loan to the National Archives by the family of the late Liam and Betty Collins, Clonakilty.

Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Joe Carroll said: “We are delighted to have the diaries on public display for the month of August in the Michael Collins House Museum. It brings our rich history to life, and affords visitors the opportunity to see the person behind the history”.

The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-6pm and on Sunday from 10am-5pm, for the duration of the exhibition.

For more information, visit michaelcollinshouse.ie

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