A little help from anybody in school

[Las Naranjas]

In comparison to most people here I'm evidently finding it thrilling. I know about it, and I know what I know because it's part of my heritage.

And it certainly has more thrills and spills than the history of Federation which we are compelled to learn here.

I was merely showboating to garner a reaction.

[Anym]

Did you know that the third astronaut (command module pilot) of Apollo 11 (besides Armstrong and Aldrin) was also called Michael Collins? Man, it must have sucked to fly all the way up to the moon and then circle around it while your pals get to walk around on the moon's surface!

[MrColossal]

why? He already liberated Ireland... let someone else have the spotlight

[Las Naranjas]

Especially when you've been dead for 50 years.

[Meowster]

I thought Irish History was boring until I actually bothered to learn about it. It's actually full of really amazing people, and the thing was there was a lot of teamwork and friendship and sticking together, because that was the only way for a country with no army or fixed arms supply, or even a government, could win a war.

Michael Collins was the swashbuckling hero of the story of the Irish War of Independence. He was less of a romantic than the likes of Dev and Cathal and Boland, and way more pragmatic. And yet, in the end, his story turned out to be the most romantic of all. Shakespeare could not have outdone the story of Michael Collins. Even down to the love triangle between Harry and Michael (best friends) and Kitty, the eventual death of Harry and many other close friends of Michael, before his last letter to Kitty and his own violent death. Even his own words and those of other peoples foreshadowed the events to come, IE, Winston Churchill, "Michael Collins looked like a man that was signing his own death certificate". "The poor man is in a hurry to meet his death". Of course, then they went and screwed up the entire story with a hollywood movie, but I'm talking about the actual story as recorded in various newspapers, books, diaries, etc..

The story of Michael Collins is  one of friendship, trust, betrayal, love, hate, war and tragedy. It's a true story, and all the characters have their faults because they are real. It's well worth the research.

Even if it's just to uncover gems like this:





On Lloyd George asking why Michael Collins assassinated the 14 RIC men, sparking off Bloody Sunday, Michael replied,
“Well, I heard those fellows had a nasty shock in store for us, so I gave them a nasty shock first.”


On asking Winston Churchill why the huge bounty on his head, Winston replied:
“It was a good price, £5,000. Look at me, £25 dead or alive [by your troops]. How would you like that?”


I remember echoing Bills words, and then there was silence. Outside, I could hear the rattle of wheels on the cobbles, and I somehow couldn’t believe that such peace would bring such terror in such a short time. I looked up and whispered, “Are you telling the truth, Michael?”
Like a bolt, Mick stood upright and grinned. “No!” He said merrily. “But didn’t I tell you not to leave the bloody thing in the hallway?”




Anyway, what I really wanted to know was if anybody knew anything about him or the war of independence and the general idea I'm getting is... no. Not much. So anyhoo, thanks. Ciao.

[bspeersjerko]

So how much do you know about Louis Riel?

[Meowster]

He was a canadian revolutionary some time in the 1800's, who executed a guy named... Thomas Ashe? Thomas Scott? And he was executed for treason for setting up an uprising... much like Collins... and then a rebellion. He fought for peoples rights but he also was violent in his methods or something like that... again, much like Collins.

I love revolutionary leaders.

All I wanted to know was the extent to which people knew about the Irish War of Independence and its heroes, for a school project. You think I randomly ask questions like.... uh oh, I think my socks are burning. Hang on.

[n3tgraph]

I never even heard of michael collins

whoever he may be  :

then again, I'm not irish

[Las Naranjas]

How much do you fellahs know about Peter Lalor?


(Hey, he was an Irish lad as well, like Ned Kelly)

[Layabout]

I've heard of Michael Collins. I never really had much of an interest in modern history. I did ancient history at school. You are better off going to a public library and finding a book on the subject. School Textbooks tend to leave out some details...

[n3tgraph]

I know some irish,

the corrs