An Cosantóir

28 | COMMEMORATING THE 'BIG FELLA' by Pte Noel McDonnell, Barber (7 Inf Bn) Photos Armn Adam Murphy (105 Sqn) M onday August 22nd 2011 was just the start of another week in the barber shop at Cathal Brugha Bks: the BSM had obviously been busy on parade as there were a few young soldiers waiting for haircuts. One of them remarked on the photograph of General Michael Collins, which is the central display in my barber's shop. It is the iconic photograph of a purposefullooking Collins in uniform striding through Cathal Brugha Bks, followed by a young boy dressed in a kilted pipe-band uniform looking on admiringly. When I remarked that not only was it the 89th anniversary of General Collins's death at Béal na Bláth, but that he had also lived and worked in the Brugha – then named Portobello Barracks – and had set out on his ill-fated tour of the south-west from the barracks, there was an expectant quiet. I went on to explain that General Collins, the first commander-in-chief of Óglaigh na hÉireann, had occupied the house that is now the headquarters of the Defence Forces School of Music; that his former office is now that of OC 2 Brigade Training Centre; and that the photograph had reputedly been taken as General Collins was making his way back to his quarters having attended Mass in Saint Patrick's Garrison Church in the barracks. Where exactly the photograph had been taken had exercised many a customer in my barber's chair over the years and that day was no different. Later that morning, I reflected that it The memorial, paid for by the soldiers of should be possible Cathal Brugha Barracks to identify the date and occasion and locate the exact spot where the photograph had been taken. At the same time, the idea of a memorial in the barracks to commemorate General Collins was hatching in the back of my mind. I approached Coy Sgt Aidan Power and BSM Andrew Murphy of 2 Inf Bn and both senior NCOs offered their full support and encouragement for the project. Consequently the idea of a memorial to General Collins took a step closer to becoming a reality. Research into the likely date and occasion was greatly assisted by Pte Ronnie Daly of McKee Bks, CQMS Chris Nally of the School of Music, Pte Paul Thompson, and Ms Noelle Grothier of Military Archives. Mr Jim Wilson in the Drawing Office of the Brigade Engineer Section produced maps and drawings of Portobello Barracks from the 1920s and as a result, to our delight, it was possible to identify the exact spot where General Collins had been when the photograph was taken. The date was August 7th 1922 and General Collins had been attending a funeral Mass in the Garrison Church for National Army soldiers from Portobello Bks killed in the ongoing civil war. Their bodies had been laid out in the recreational hall cum cinema, the building in the background of the photograph. The boy in the photograph was identified as 14-year-old Alphonsus Culleton, a member of a civilian pipe band that had rendered honours at the funeral ceremony. I felt there was a touch of serendipity in that the spot where General Collins is pictured is just to the left of the main entrance to the Privates' Mess where I am honoured to currently serve as Mess president. The decision as to the form of memorial to be erected was greatly assisted by Mr Robbie McGowan of Glasnevin Monuments. The cost of the memorial was a hurdle that Coy Sgt Matt Masterson of 2 Bde Trg Centre cleared through the Barrack Welfare Fund, and Brigade EO Col JJ O'Reilly translated my proposed inscription into Irish. The memorial will also have the words "Funded by the Soldiers of Cathal Brugha Barracks" inscribed on the base of the stone. With the permission of Lt Col B Delaney, OC 7 Inf Bn and Cathal Brugha Bks, the memorial was unveiled on August 22nd 2013. With the generous assistance of the BFW, the memorial will be illuminated throughout the hours of darkness. The bollards protecting the memorial stone are provided by Mr Brendan Dunne of Castit Ireland. The memorial will remind all who pass by of our first commander-in-chief and his role in our struggle for independence. Special thanks are due to many individuals. Chief among those not already mentioned are the members of the Privates' Mess, Col Brian Reade, Lt Col John O'Loughlin, Comdt D Noone, Capt James Burke, Lt Jane O'Neill, Sgt Maj Michael Dillon, Sgt Tony Maher, Cpl Jim Brien, Mr Jim Halpin and the BFW staff, the engineering staff of Cathal Brugha Bks and Mr Patrick Brennan of the Military Service Pensions Project. Helen Collins, grand niece of Michael Collins, laying a wreath Pte Noel McDonnell, the Cathal Brugha Bks barber An Cosantóir October 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie Lt Gen Conor O'Boyle (COS ) addresses the guests

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