In its first field trip, Macroom History Group visited Béal na Blath and other locations associated with Michael Collins’s shooting there almost 100 years
ago. The erudite Michael Galvin was the guide and he attracted a good crowd of twenty, with others popping in and out at various stages.
The tour traced part of the route traveled by Collins on that fateful day. Michaels brilliant grasp of the larger picture was combined with many telling local details. Being there and following the route enhanced the understanding of his very interested audience.
From a Macroompian’s perspective, this seminal event in Irish history was intimately connected with the town.
Macroom History Group is very grateful to Michael for giving his time and sharing his deep knowledge on Collins’s death at Béal na Blá. A special word of thanks to Mary O’Mahony, Chairperson of Kilmurry Musuem, for allowing us the use of Kilmurry Museum for the concluding talk and the very welcome ‘cuppa’. The audience’s very warm round of applause at the end summed up the outing.
Below are two of Michaels hand-drawn maps of the route.