Michael Collins.
Michael Collins was born in Woodfield, Rosscarbery on 16th October 1890 and he was baptised in St Fachtnas Parish Church. The youngest of eight children, his father died when Michael was only seven years old. He was educated at Lisavaird N S from 1897 to 1903. His teacher there was Denis Lyons. Denis was an active Fenian all his life and was a huge influence on Michael. Across the road from the school was Jim Santry’s forge, and on many an afternoon on his way home, Michael visited the forge where he listened to stories of the Fenians and Young Irelanders. This was the forge where the pikes for the Battle of the Big Cross, Shannonvale in 1798 were made. Michael then spent two years in Clonakilty preparing for the Civil Service exams and he lived with his sister Margaret in Emmet Square. In 1906, Michael went to London to work in the GPO and there became good friends with Sam Maguire. He joined the Irish Volunteers and returned to Dublin in 1915.Michael fought in the GPO during the Easter Rising, and was imprisoned in Frongoch after the Rising. On his release he returned to Dublin and took a leading role in the War of Independence. He was elected as a TD for West Cork in the First Dail, and was Minister for Finance in the Provisional Government. He was part of the delegation that went to London for the Treaty negotiations. He took the pro treaty side in the Civil War that followed, and was Commander in Chief of the National Army. Michael was killed in an ambush at Beal na Blath on August 22nd 1922 and is buried in Glasnevin. On both the first and last day of his life Michael was in Rosscarbery town.
Micheál Ó Coileáin.
Rugadh Micheál Ó Coileáin I Gort na Coille , Ros Cairbre ar 16 Deireadh Fómhair 1890 agus baisteadh é in Eaglais Naomh Fachtna. Bhí ochtar sa chlann agus b’é Micheál an duine ab óige. Fuair a athair bás nuair nach raibh Micheál ach seacht mbliana d’aois. D’fhreastail sé Scoil Náisiúnta Lios a’Bhaird ó 1897–1903. B’e Donnachadh Ó Liatháin a mhúinteoir agus bhí sé siúd an-ghníomhach ins na Fíníní. Bhí tioncar ollmhór ag an Liathánach ar Mhiceál. Bhí ceárta ag Seamuas Ó’Seantraibh trasna an bhóthair díreach as comhair na scoile. Is iomaí iarnóin a thug Micheál cuairt ar Shéamus agus é ar a shlí abhaile ón scoil. Chuala Micheál scéalta faoi na Fíníní agus faoi na hÉireannbaigh Óga sa cheárta sin. Ba sa cheárta sin freisin a rinneadh na pící a úsáideadh I gCath na Croise Móire I mBéal a’Mhuige Shalaigh. Ansin chaith Micheál dhá bhliain i gCloch na Coillte ag ullmhú do scrúdaithe le h aghaidh iontrála don Státseirbhís I Londain agus chónaigh sé lena a dheirfiúr, Máiread, I gCearnóg Emmet.
D’imigh Micheál go Londain I 1906 agus d’oibrigh sé in Ard Oifíg an Phoist ann. D’eirigh sé cairdiúil le Somhairle Mac Uidhir ann. Chuaigh sé isteach in Óglaigh na hÉireann agus d’fhill sé ar Bhaile Átha Cliath I 1915. Throid sé in Ard Oifig an Phoist I rith Éirí Amach na Cásca 1916. Tar éis an Éirí Amach gabhadh é agus cuireadh é I bpríosún Frongoch. Nuair a scaoileadh soar é d’fhill sé ar Bhaile Átha Cliath agus glach sé príomhpháirt I gCogadh na Saoirse 1919-1921. Toghadh é ina Theachta Dála d’Iarthar Chorcaí (sa Chéad Dáil) agus bhí sé ina Aire Airgeadais. Rinneadh Ardcheannasaí an Airm Náisiúnta de.
Bhí sé ina bhall den toscaireacht a chuaigh go Londain chun an Conradh a thabhairt I gcrích. Shínigh se an Conradh agus throid sé leosan a ghlac leis an gConradh sa Chogadh Cathartha 1922-1923. Maraíodh é I luíochán I mBéal na Bláth ar 22 Lunasa 1922 agus tá sé curtha I Reilig Ghlas Naíon. Bhí Micheál I baile Ros Cairbre ar an gcéad lá agus ar an lá deireanach dá shaol.