Plaque honouring Michael Collins unveiled in London

A large crowd attended the ceremony on Friday which was organised jointly by the Terence MacSwiney Committee and Islington Council and which was hailed as a sign of how far the Irish in London have come.

The deputy lord mayor of Cork, Colette Finn, and the Mayor of the County of Cork, Frank O’Flynn were among the guests, and among those attending was former British Labour Party leader and MP for Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn.

Ms Finn said she attended to understand the people who live in Islington who identify as being Irish or having an Irish heritage.

"I think it is important now that the UK has left the EU, that we build new understandings of our relationships,” she said.

“Post the Belfast/Good Friday agreement we know that there are three sets of relationships that need to be nurtured — relationships between Ireland and the UK, between differing perspectives in the north and south of Ireland and nurturing and understanding different identities within Northern Ireland."

She said Collins and Maguire acted with "courage, determination, and integrity". 

"We should aspire as modern-day politicians to continue that tradition," she said. “I believe nonviolent dialogue is the best way to come to a satisfactory resolution of differing perspectives.

“We need to contemplate enormous change as we move to deal with the fallout of climate change.

“Wars and the consequent migration will challenge us all. However, there are always solutions if we understand the needs and fears of others.

“The ability to cooperate marks us out as a species in evolving and adapting to our environment.

“Building trust and understanding is what underpins that cooperation.”

The unveiling of the plaque was attended by politicians from both London and Ireland, which Islington Council said highlighted its commitment to celebrating the cultural diversity of the borough, and the huge contributions of the local Irish community.

After Collins left school aged 15, he took the British civil service examination in Cork in February 1906 and moved to his sister Hannie’s home in London, where he became a boy clerk in the Post Office Savings Bank at Blythe House.

By 1910, he was a messenger at the London firm of stockbrokers, Horne and Company, and he also studied law at King's College London but he did not finish the course.

It is understood that his republicanism emerged during his time on the London GAA scene, and he returned to Ireland in 1916 where he went on to become a leading figure in the Irish struggle for independence.

He was also a key figure in the negotiation of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the Irish Free State in 1922.

Ambassador Fraser attended the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Michael Collins on Barnsbury St today, organised by @IslingtonBC in conjunction with the Terence MacSwiney Committee. A great turnout marking an important part of the story of the Irish community in London! pic.twitter.com/xcZJU2n02I

— Embassy of Ireland (@IrelandEmbGB) July 14, 2023

At last year’s ceremony at Béal na Bláth, marking the centenary of Collins' death there in August 1922, then taoiseach Micheál Martin said that Collins should “be remembered as one of the greatest Irishmen to have ever lived”.

Kaya Comer-Schwartz, leader of Islington Council, said: “The Irish community in Islington has contributed so much to our borough over many decades.

“In recent months we have unveiled the mural at Navigator Sq to celebrate our Irish community and this plaque for Michael Collins is another example of our recognition.

“Migrant communities make up so much of our borough so it is vital that we celebrate their contribution and our diversity.” 

The council has now installed over 50 plaques at different locations across the borough, showcasing its rich and colourful heritage through the stories of notable historical people, places, and events.

Plans are well advanced for the installation of a statue of Collins on the Grand Parade in Cork.