Michael Collins Sam's Cross Commemoration 3.38

Chronology of Michael Collins
Important dates in Michael Collins Life

16th. October 1890, Michael Collins is born near Clonakilty Co.Cork.

1895, Collins enters Lisavaird National School.

1906, Collins emigrates to London at age 15 after passing entrance exam for British civil service, where from July 1906 to early 1910 he works as a clerk at the Post Office Savings Bank, followed by employment in private financial institutions.

November 1909, Collins is sworn in as a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

1915, Collins joins Morgan Guaranty Bank’s London office.

January 1916, Collins resigns position with Bank, returns to Ireland and joins the Irish Volunteers under command of Eoin McNeill.

April 1916, Collins participates in Easter Uprising as a combatant inside Dublin’s GPO, and is afterwards transported to Frongoch prison camp, Wales, for internment.

December 1916, Collins is released under a general amnesty and returns to Ireland where he becomes a member of the IRB’s Supreme Council.

February 1917, Collins becomes Secretary of the Irish National Aid Association to assist dependants of Irish political prisoners or those killed during the Easter Rising.

May 1918, Britain undertakes ‘German Plot’ arrests, but Collins eludes British dragnet.

June 1918, British Government suppresses Sinn Fein, but movement wins second consecutive by-election for parliamentary seat with de Valera’s victory in Co. Clare. Sinn Fein’s policy of abstentionism from House of Commons implemented.

1918-1919, Collins plays central role in setting up underground newspapers, building an intelligence network along with an arms smuggling system.

October 1918, British Government announces its intention of introducing conscription in Ireland.

December 1918, British General Election held with Sinn Fein winning vast majority of parliamentary constituencies, decimating the Irish Party in the process. Collins elected for South Cork constituency.

January 1919, Dail Eireann is established. On same day Jan 21st, two policemen are killed in an ambush in County Tipperary by local Volunteers, setting the stage for the Anglo – Irish War.

February 1919, Collins actively assists Eamon deVaIera from England’s Lincoln Jail.

November 1920, Guerilla war against British rulte in Ireland escalates against backdrop of death via hunger strike of Cork’s Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney and the execution of Kevin Barry.

April 1920 Collins home at woodfield burned by auxiliaries commanded by Lt Percival. Promoted to Lt General Percival he would during WW2 surrendered the British forces to the Japanese at Signapore. The only Commander to ever surrender in British Military History.

20 November 1920 ‘Bloody Sunday’ when Collins’s assassination squad wipes out British intelligence network in Dublin, an event which is followed by attack by British forces upon spectators at Croke Park.

December 1920, De Valera returns from 18 months spent in the US. Seeks truce with British but Collins opposes effort.

January-June 1921, Guerilla war continues. Britain introduces curfews in key Irish population centres, along with heightening of martial law.

11 July 1921, Anglo-Irish Truce takes effect.

14 September 1921, Delegation to negotiate with British representatives appointed by Dail Eireann.

10 October 1921, Irish delegation with Michael Collins meets Lloyd George for first time.

6 December 1921, Anglo-Irish Treaty Articles of Agreement signed.

January 1922, Treaty ratified by Dail.

14 January 1922, Provisional Government appointed. Collins named as Chairman.

29 March 1922, Collins in London for conference.

13 April 1922, Four Courts occupied by Anti-Treaty forces.

29 April 1922, Irish Conference to avert split ends in failure involving Collins, Griffith, deValera and Brugha.

18 and 19 May 1922, Collins and deValera meet in secret.

20 May 1922, Collins/deValera pact announced.

27 May 1922, Collins meets with British officials in London after being summoned to explain pact with de Valera. He provides Draft Irish Constitution to British.

29 May 1922, British reject Draft Constitution.

1 June 1922, Lloyd George issues ultimatum to Free State Government calling for action against Anti-Treaty.

5 June 1922, Joint Collins/deValera appeal to support pact.

16 June 1922, Pact election held. Constitution published.

22 June 1922, Sir Henry Wilson assassinated in London. Reginald Dunne and Joseph O’Sullivan were both arrested for the murder of Sir Henry Wilson.

26 June 1922,Winston Churchill issues ultimatum demanding that Free State attack Anti-Treaty forces in Four Courts.

2 July 1922, Collins covertly sends Tom Cullen to London to plan escape of Reginald Dunne and Joseph O’Sullivan. Effort is abandoned and the two men are subsequently executed by British.

12 July 1922, Provisional Government meets. Collins resigns as Chairman and becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Army.

12 August 1922, Arthur Griffith dies.

18 August 1922, Collins is radioed terms of a ceasefire by Anti-Treaty forces from Cork.

20 August 1922, Collins leaves Dublin ostensibly to conduct military tour of south-west Munster, first to Roscrea, then Limerick, Mallow and Cork.

21 August 1922, Collins tours Cork city and Macroom.

22 August 1922, 6:16 a.m. Collins leaves Cork city for Bandon,Clonakilty and Skibbereen via Macroom.

8 a.m. En route to Bandon via Macroom. Stops at Beal na mBláth for directions. Lunch in Clonakilty.

5 p.m. Leaves Skibbereen and heads for Bandon.

7.45 p.m. Collins is killed in ambush at Beal na mBláth.