Michael Collins House

06/05/2026

30/04/2026

🎉 Celebrating 10 Years of Michael Collins House Museum 🎉

Today we proudly mark 10 years of Michael Collins House Museum—a decade of remembering, storytelling, and sharing the life and legacy of one of Ireland’s most influential figures.

From visitors near and far, to our dedicated staff, volunteers, supporters, and community—thank you for helping make this museum a living place of history and reflection. Here’s to the past ten years of learning and connection, and to many more still to come.

Whats your favorite memory or event over the past ten years?

17/03/2026

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh.

Happy St.Patricks Day to everyone near and far from all at Michael Collins House.

Over the past two centuries St Patrick’s day festivities have sprung up in Ireland and various parts of the world where Irish people celebrate their heritage. They began in North America in the eighteenth century and grew into significant religious and nationalist demonstrations of political strength in the wake of the American Civil War. The Irish diaspora in Britain have also celebrated St Patrick’s Day for at least two centuries though their celebrations have sometimes been muted by the repercussions of Anglo-Irish political conflict.

Michael Collins lived ten years as part of Britain’s Irish community in London. At that time, the Irish identity was as varied in Britain as it was in Ireland. Some felt that Ireland should be fully independent, others favoured Home Rule, and some advocated a continuation of the Union. All of them were Irish men and women. Shamrock was frequently worn on London’s streets by all of these Irish people, regardless of their political affiliations. Some may have celebrated St Patrick’s Day by watching the Irish Guards march wearing the shamrock presented to them by the Queen (consort). Others may have watched spectacles like the 5,000 gallons of whiskey paraded through the streets, close to where Collins lived, by Dunville’s in 1905. Collins was more likely to have attended the many and varied nationalist entertainments or Gaelic League events held across the city. It was as part of this nationalist community in London that Collins first began to take tentative steps towards becoming revolutionary.

Pictured is our Michael Collins bust by Cork sculptor Seamus Murphy who welcomes every visitor to our museum, on long term loan from Crawford Gallery.

15/03/2026

Happy Mothers Day!

Michael Collins lost his own mother at the tender age of just 17 but his Irish mammy would never be far from his heart as he carried her memorial card and obituary in an envelope in his breast pocket. This card is now on display in our museum.

Marianne O'Brien was a formidable woman and mother; she was born in Sam Cross near Clonakilty in 1852. At age 23 she married Michael’s father, Michael John Collins, who was then aged 60. The couple would go on to have eight children, of whom Michael was the youngest. Michael John died when Michael junior was just seven years old and so it was up to Marianne to raise young Michael into manhood with the help of his doting older siblings. Soon after her husband’s death, the strong-minded Marianne decided that their small cottage was too small for her growing children and organised the building of a much bigger farm house on the site. It was a house that Michael would have a bedroom of his own and would look back upon with fond memories. It was also the house that would be the targeted and destroyed by the British Army at the height of the War of Independence.

As he approached his teenage years Marianne, with her health declining, feared the strong-minded Michael would ‘get himself into mischief’ and pushed strongly for him to continue his education. Michael agreed and moved in with his sister Margaret in Emmet Square in 1903 and began studying for the Civil Service exams. After passing his exams Michael moved to London to his sister Hannie where he had gained employment in the Post Office Savings Bank in West Kensington.

Unfortunately, Marianne would not get to see Michael become one of Ireland greatest heroes as she died soon after Michael left for London in 1907 aged just 52.

Pictured is Marianne Collins, Johanna O’Brien and Mary Collins with Michael in front (c1901) and her memorial card on display.

07/03/2026

Michael Collins House is back!

We are thrilled to announce that Michael Collins House Museum is officially reopening its doors today Saturday March 7th.

Step back in time at 7 Emmet Square, Clonakilty to explore the incredible life of Michael Collins and the history of Irish independence. 2026 marks our 10th year open, and we can't wait to share our interactive displays and historical artefacts with you all once again.

🕒 Regular Opening Hours:
• Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

📍 Located in the heart of Clonakilty.

🎟️ Book your visit now at michaelcollinshouse.ie or pay on entry!

25/12/2025

Michael Collins' Last Christmas

With the Dáil Treaty debates adjourned for the Christmas break Michael Collins returned home to West Cork for Christmas 1921.

After being on the run during the War of Independence and then participating in the Anglo Irish Treaty negotiations and the subsequent debates in the the Dáil, the Christmas break offered Collins a long overdue reprieve from his duties and an opportunity to return home and enjoy his Christmas. Of course, Collins family home at Woodfield had been burned in early 1921 so Christmas was spent at his cousin and neighbour, Annie Collins' house, along with his brother Johnny and his family.

On returning home Collins was somewhat fearful of what his republican minded brother would think of the Treaty. He found his brothers main concern on meeting was the moustache Collins had recently began sporting. He told Michael, ‘Next time you’re shaving, don’t forget your upper lip.’ The next time Collins is photographed in public, sure enough, he is clean shaven.

On Christmas day after mass and a ‘damn fine breakfast’ Michael and Johnny climbed the nearby Carraig a Radhairc. This rocky hilltop gives incredible views from Knockfeen across the West Cork countryside and all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. As they looked over this view they discussed the Treaty, Michael's plans and what he hoped to achieve with before deciding to return down the hill to spend time with friends, family and neighbours. Michael hung back a little commenting ‘I’ve seen more of my country this morning than I have ever seen in my whole life’.

Pictured is still from a video of Michael and Johnny Collins in the ruins of their former home. This film was released in January 1922 so is likely from Collins time in West Cork at Christmas 1921 (but also possibly could have been filmed later in 1922).

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year from all at Michael Collins House.

24/12/2025

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year from all the team at Michael Collins House Museum.

We look forward to welcoming you all back to the museum in 2026 to celebrate our tenth year open!

09/12/2025

The perfect stocking filler for just €15!

Our doors may be closed be our recent publication 'In the Shadow of the Big Fellow' is still available.

This thought-provoking new book, written by acclaimed author and Michael Collins House historian Cal McCarthy, explores the complex and evolving legacy of the Big Fellow, Michael Collins.

The book is available in local bookstores: Kerrs Bookshop, Clonakilty; BookStór, Kinsale; Fitzgeralds Bookshop, Macroom; Skibereen Bookshop; and available to order online on the link in the comments below.

04/12/2025

Update

Repair works are underway at Michael Collins House Museum.

Our doors will remain closed for December while the works are completed and reopen in early 2026.

We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to welcoming you back into our museum soon.

County Council

16/10/2025

On this day, 16th Oct 1890 Michael Collins was born.

Unfortunately we remain closed but you can still visit his Birthplace at Woodfield just a few miles from Clonakilty.

80 years after his birth Michael’s sister Helena (Sr. Mary Celestine) wrote a letter which describes the excitement of the arrival of their new baby brother. We have narrated this letter in this video.

It is hard to believe that this little boy born here in this small humble cottage at Woodfield in rural West Cork would go on to have such an influence on the Ireland in which we live today.