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In the movie 'Michael Collins' the charector of de Valera was not portrayed as a good man. He was portrayed as a self-absorbed narcissist who only wanted power without sticking his neck out politically, as seen by him sending Collins to England to do the bargaining. If he was a spy/agent for the British then that would explain much. And my hats off to the British for pulling this off, if it's true.

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That was a Hollywood parody of history. The struggle between Collins and Cathal Brugha was reduced from being fundamental ideological differences to a spat over a woman. It was a disgusting film. I agree that the Brits are clever-my father used to say they have the best brains in Oxford and Cambridge employed full time doing badness. He wasn't far wrong.

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The movie was about Harry Boland and Collins. Not Cathal Brugha.

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Dr McCloskey there's a great nugget of wisdom from your father re: Cambridge & Oxford.

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Geoffrey yes a lot of it is Hollywood gloss but the friendship between Collins and Boland collapsed. Alan Rickman played the role of De Valera and he did a fine job. It was lamb to the slaughter Michael Collins going over to England.

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This seems to echo much of what is in the book, "Crowdfunding the Revolution", regarding the financial affairs of the alleged Irish Republic, (which was of course only ever a descriptive term). The "republic" had no fiscal nor legal autonomy, with her gold in the Bank of England, her notes and coins printed in the Royal Mint, and her lawyers operating from "King's Inns", linked directly to the City of London.

Available for thirteen quid on Amazon, Crowdfunding the Revolution: The First Dáil Loan and the Battle for Irish Independence Paperback – 4 Nov. 2020

by Patrick O'Sullivan Greene (Author)

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Thomas my ancestor was there on Mount Street Bridge. The house is on Haddington Road. Poor Michael (Malone) was a sniper and a good shot. Himself and a man with surname Grace held the position, there was only two of them there as Michael had sent two younger lads home as he knew how it would pan out. Grace escaped and bore witness to what happened, but Michael died in action. This is referred to as "The battle of Mount Street" although the house is no 25 Haddington Road.

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How far back do we have to go I wonder to be truly an Irish nation , I often wonder was St Patrick a saint or a destroyed of Ireland ?? I would love to be able to go back a few thousand years and see who we are.

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