It took news, even bad news, a while to get around in August 1922.
In The Kerry People of Saturday, August 26th 1922, under the single column headline, Michael Collins ! The paper told its readers of yet another tragedy in the bloody landscape of Ireland of that time.
Interestingly, The Kerry People was one of the few Kerry papers allowed to publish in those turbulent times as most of the others were forced to close down or were blown up or burned down by a criticism sensitive British rule during their time here – which had just ended a few months before the shooting of Michael Collins.
The following is how the paper ran with the story:
“Ireland, indeed, is a land of tragedy!
Arthur Griffith, the father of Sinn Féin has only been placed in his grave in Glasnevin, when just as we go to press, the terrible tragic news comes to hand of the murder of General Michael Collins, within ten miles of his own home, in his native County of Cork.
Michael Collins was the one man who by his splendid military leadership and dauntless courage, was responsible for the success of the national struggle, which finally drove the British army out of Ireland , and liberated the country after a struggle of 750 years.
When is this horrible demand on National leadership in Ireland to cease ?
National leaders have really become a National tragedy.
To the relatives of the lion-hearted Michael Collins we, in common with every earnest Irishman, tender our respectful condolences on the fatal act which robbed them of their best beloved, and which has deprived Ireland of a gallant and devoted son and leader.”
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