MICHAEL COLLINS SIGNAGE ‘ENDING UP IN BARS FROM NY TO OZ’
SIGNAGE for a proposed Michael Collins trail would have to be “nailed down” as it was often stolen and ended up in bars from New York to Australia.
At the Macroom Blarney municipal district meeting on Friday last, District Officer Marie O’Leary said that, under the General Municipal Allocation Fund, €5,000 was being sought for a Michael Collins trail. She said that the trail goes through West Cork, Macroom and into Bandon and Kinsale.
She said the trail would cost €10,000 and they were being asked for €5,000, which would be used for signage and a walking trail.
Senior Executive Engineer James Dwyer further explained that there would be themed link signage between Michael Collins’ birthplace to Beal na mBlath as well as the museum in Kilmurry.
Michael Collins’ birthplace is located 5.3km west of Clonakilty, immediately north west of Sam’s Cross. Collins was born there in 1890.
“It would mean that a tourist can follow the trail along,” said Mr Dwyer.
At the meeting, Cllr Des O’Grady (SF) said: “At the monument itself there is very little there and people are passing within a few miles and don’t know that it is there and yet people are travelling from all over the world to get to it.”
Cllr Michael Creed (FG) said that while he welcomed signage being put in place he did caution that he met Dermot Collins, a cousin of Michael Collins, who told him that they had a huge issue with signage being stolen.
“The signage is ending up in bars from New York to Australia. Signage is grand and lovely but really it would want to be nailed down,” he said.