Diaries of Michael Collins presented to the State
21.11.08
Members of Michael Collins’ family have today (8 November 2021) presented the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, accompanied by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney TD, and the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan TD, with the pocket diaries of Michael Collins covering the years 1918-1922.
These diaries are of major historical importance particularly in the context of the centenary of Collins’ death in August 2022. They provide important additional information relating to a key period in Michael Collins’ life and that of the nation, spanning the War of Independence, the Treaty Negotiations and the Civil War, up to his death in August 1922. They contain historical information, details of meetings, events, appointments and other arrangements, often secret in nature, which have never been seen before.
The diaries will be on long-term loan to the National Archives where they will undergo conservation and preservation treatment, archival processing and digitisation to enable public access to the diaries. The National Archives will work with Cork County Council to provide local access to digitised copies of the diaries at the Michael Collins House, Clonakilty as well as an agreed return of the original diaries from August 2022 to mark the centenary of Michael Collins’ death.