I
know that Michael Collins lived and worked in London but it's not altogether
clear why Islington council erected a plaque to honour him in July 2023.
The
Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), which Collins joined in 1909, were better
known as the Fenians. During the 19th century, the Fenians conducted bomb
attacks in London, that killed and injured Londoner's.
The
1867, Clerkenwell bombing, killed 12 and injured another 120. The Fenian
Dynamite Campaign between 1881-1885, resulted in deaths and injuries of
Londoner's. Some 80 people were injured and one boy killed when the Fenians
bombed London Bridge in 1884. In October 1883, two bombs exploded in the
underground at Paddington Station, injuring 70 people. In February 1884, a bomb
went off at Victoria Station.
Some
people might find it rather curious that Labour controlled Islington Council,
would want to honour a man who was a Fenian and a leader of the IRA, and
advocated armed rebellion against Britain. Although Michael Collins, wasn't
involved in these bombing campaigns, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have disavowed
the actions of 'O'Dynamite' Rossa and the Fenian bombers that were killing and
injuring Londoner's.
Not
so long ago, Jeremy Corbyn, who was at the unveiling of this plaque, sought to
become the Prime Minister of this country. Many British voters wouldn't vote
for Labour because they believed that he was soft on terrorism and despised the
West, and what it stood for. I suppose that if you want to lead this country,
it helps if you can persuade the British people that you feel some affinity and
patriotism towards a country that you wish to lead, and that you like the
place. Unlike Corbyn, Michael Collins was certainly an Irish patriot.
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