€10 coin to mark 90th year since Collins's death

THE CENTRAL Bank is to issue a special commemorative €10 coin this year to mark the 90th anniversary of the death of Michael Collins in 1922.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has confirmed to Jim Daly, TD for Cork South West (FG), that the Central Bank will issue the coin to mark the anniversary of the death of Collins who was killed by republicans in an ambush at Béal na mBláth on August 22nd, 1922.

“Michael Collins stands out as one of the greatest contributors to the setting up of this state as an independent republic and he gave his every waking hour to this country, eventually making the ultimate sacrifice by losing his life in the struggle for independence,” Mr Daly said.

“I am aware that there are many other significant anniversaries to be commemorated in the run-up to 2016 but Michael Collins made a particularly unique contribution that merits a special acknowldgement from the Irish State.”

The idea to mark the 90th anniversary of Collins’s death with a special coin came from the Béal na mBláth commemoration committee. Its chairman, Kinsale town councillor Dermot Collins, has warmly welcomed the Central Bank’s decision.