An Cosantóir

Cork Rebel Week 2013 | 39 By Wesley Bourke Photos by A/Sea Davey Jones (NS) I n conjunction with 'The Gathering', Co Cork held a week-long celebration of "all things Cork" from October 14th - 20th. Named 'Rebel Week', the celebrations had a specific focus on bringing international visitors and family home to Cork, both the county and the city, throughout the week. The initiative targeted a minimum of 5,000 international visitors in addition to returning friends and family living abroad, plus locals and other people from around the country. A host of activities were held to celebrate 'Rebel Week', including a Rebel Week passport; international marching bands; international Cork Day, on October 16th, in celebration of both Michael Collins' birthday and International Food Day; international sporting events; the Global Cork Economic Forum; and the Global Cork Network. As part of the activities Collins Bks, Cork, opened its gates to thousands of schoolchildren, tourists and members of the public. To mark Collins' birthday on October 16th, which for the day was also called Cork Independence Day, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, and former Minister for Justice (and Michael Collins' grandniece) Nora Owen, along with other invited guests attended the celebrations in Collins Bks. Brig Gen Derry Fitzgerald (GOC 1 Bde) told the large attendance about General Collins who he told them was the army's first commander-in-chief and was remembered "as an Irish hero and visionary." Minister Coveney said General Collins was "Cork's greatest son" and had made the ultimate sacrifice for his country while Nora Owen said he would have been "thrilled" at the events that were organised and would have been proud of the modern Irish army. All elements of 1 Bde were on display, from infantry support weapons to the heavy-lift capability of the Transport Corps. There were also several vintage vehicles on display including Sliabh na mBan; a Thompson Ford armoured car; and a yellow 1919 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost commandeered by the IRA in Co Cork in 1921. The latter vehicle, nicknamed the 'Moon Car', was fitted with two mounted Lewis machine-guns and had a top speed of 70mph, faster than other cars on the road at the time. This particular vehicle is believed to have been used in an attack on British troops Pictured at the launch of An Toglach viewer in disembarking in Cobh in 1924; the Military Museum, Collins Bks, Cork as part an incident in which a soldier of Cork Rebel Week are (L/R): Superintendent and a civilian were killed. The Barry McPolin, Cork City Manager Mr Tim Lucey, Moon Car has been magnificentMinister Simon Coveney, Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Catherine Clancy, GOC 1 Bde Brig Gen Derry ly restored by Jim Blackburn, the Fitzgerald, Mrs Nora Owen and Mayor of Cork same man who helped restore the County Cllr Noel O'Connor. Photo: Capt Dave Sliabh na mBan. Sweeney (1 Bde Arty Regt) Of great interest to visitors to Collins Bks was the museum with its collection of personal papers and artefacts belonging to General Collins. The day also saw the launch of a special exhibition in the museum recounting 300 years of military friendship between France and Ireland. Four members of the France's 92nd Infantry Regiment attended this ceremony. The 92nd, originally named the Walsh Regiment, was founded by Irish Wild Geese soldiers and fought for France in a number of famous battles including the 1745 Battle of Fontenoy in Belgium, where the French defeated an allied force of British, Hanoverians, Austrians, and Dutch. www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

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