VOICE OF FREE EUROPE: We remember the tragic ambush that took place on a quiet country road in West Cork. This place is now etched into Irish history as Béal na Bláth.

General Michael Collins, Commander-in-Chief of the National Army, was assassinated here on August 22nd, 1922. This event took place during the Irish Civil War.

Collins was just 31 years old. He died in service to a cause he believed in deeply. That cause was the future and freedom of Ireland.

The Fatal Journey

Collins was travelling through Cork in an open-top car. He was part of a convoy inspecting military positions. He was also attempting to stabilize the new Free State.

Despite warnings, he insisted on taking the trip and refused to avoid danger. He famously stated, ‘They won’t shoot me in my own county.’

Tragically, the ambush at Béal na Bláth proved otherwise. During the firefight, Collins was the only fatality. He did not run. He returned fire.

A Civil War’s Greatest Casualty

The death of Collins didn’t just claim a life, it shook a nation. The Civil War that followed the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty had already divided families, friends, and comrades.

Collins, once a revolutionary hero of the War of Independence, became a target of former allies.

His killing was not just a loss to the pro-Treaty side, but to Ireland’s future leadership. Many believe the course of Irish history may have looked very different had he lived.

His Legacy Lives On

Today, the site of his death is marked by a simple cross and remembered by thousands who visit each year.

Collins remains a towering figure in Irish history, both revered and controversial. He was a man who gave everything, including his life, in pursuit of Irish self-determination.

Béal na Bláth is more than just a location. It’s a solemn reminder of the cost of nationhood. It also reflects the complexity of a hard-won peace.

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