A FASCINATING historical collection including what is believed to be Michael Collins’ ‘Missing Money Case’ has been unveiled for the first time.
The Clare Champion has been shown very rare historical artefacts by a local farmer in an East Clare location that would be regarded as a collector’s dream.
The family, who are steeped in IRA connections, provided safe houses for IRA volunteers during the War of Independence, which were used by Michael Collins on at least one occasion to collect money from East Clare IRA Brigade officer in charge, Michael Brennan.
During the War of Independence, Collins was Director of Intelligence of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and a government minister of the self-declared Irish Republic.
He was then Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State from January 1922 and commander-in-chief of the National Army from July until he was shot and killed in an ambush at Béal na Bláth by anti-Treaty forces on August 22, 1922.
“We are 100% sure this is Michael Collins’ money case. If it wasn’t Michael Collins’ case, the family would not have looked after it for 100 years. We believe it was the post office case that was taken by Michael Brennan when he raided a post office in Limerick in 1920 to obtain money to purchase arms from Michael Collins.”
“Michael Collins would not give him the guns without the money so Michael Brennan robbed the post office,” our source said.
“Collins came to collect the money but brought no guns. In the process, Collins had to head for a safe house, which was one of the four safe houses provided by two families.
“This case was found in my father’s home house.
“We believe either Collins brought the case with him to collect the money or it was given to him as a result of the robbery in a Limerick post office. Collins brought the case with him and at the end of the War of Independence this case came back to us.
“There was a Meelick man with Collins when he was shot in Béal na Bláth. This Meelick man was a personal friend of the Brennan family who were connected with us and he sent back the case.
“This case was always called the Michael Collins Missing Case and it was kept hidden in the family based on its history. Is this the case that Michael Collins used to store a lot of money when he went over to London during the negotiations or is it the one he brought back with him?
“Could it be the case that was with him when he died?” he asked.
The main lock on the case was broken before two new extra locks were placed on the top outside of the satchel.
The family has decided to showcase their fascinating historical collection of Civil War memorabilia through The Clare Champion for the first time following advice and encouragement from Councillor Joe Cooney.
Councillor Cooney described the farmer’s collection as very “impressive” and helped to shine a light on what happened in Irish History during the War of Independence.
“He has a lot of homework and research completed into what transpired during these times. He is very knowledgeable about this period of East Clare history,” he said.
These historical items have been safely stored on a farm, which is not easily accessible. For security reasons, the owner has opted to remain anonymous at this stage.
The family may opt to showcase this collection in a secure location at some stage in the future. The farmer has previously offered the Collins’ money case to the Béal na Bláth commemoration committee but they declined as they felt it would be too much of a security risk.
The farmer said his father’s people provided three safe houses and his grandfather and mother’s father provided one safe house for the IRA.
He said his home house where he was born was reared was “shot to pieces” in 1923 when an attempt was made to kill his grandfather during the Civil War.
He also has dinner plates and a serving dish for a goose that was used by Collins when he had dinner in one of the family’s safe houses during the bitter War of Independence.
The family have two guns – one dating back to the Fenian times. Members are not certain about the precise history of the second one, but believe it was probably used by the IRA.
Another piece of historical memorabilia is Michael Brennan’s bicycle lamp and a signal lamp that was used by volunteers on hills during the War of Independence.
In 1910, he said his grandfather went to collect money for the Irish Republican Brotherhood on the Lusitania and he apparently was given a decorative spoon by the captain after providing assistance to a person that was injured in the engine room.
The hallmarked solid silver spoon has some intricate design and some gold and is regarded as a family heirloom.
A worn oil can used to oil the RIC truck when officers were killed and the truck was burned after the Glenwood Ambush on January 20, 1921.
“Two young lads came along in the evening and kicked the oil can that was thrown up on the ditch. No one would touch it because of what had happened and it was given to the family.
“We also have a candlestick that was brought out of Glenwood House when the six men were killed. It was brought out in the evening after the ambush when the men were dying. When the priest came to anoint them, that was the candlestick that was used. It is unwashed in about 100 years, there may be still some traces of blood on it.”
“We have a very unusual stone that is in the shape of a fish including a horse’s head and another animal carving. It could date back to the 12th century.
“We have a wooden club and a cross cut saw that was used by the IRA to cut trees for the Glenwood and other ambushes.
“This saw was carried by the IRA units in East Clare. There is a hidden history out there. Some of the history of the War of Independence and Civil War was written years afterwards when people were dead. What was relayed in some cases wasn’t always accurate because they were trying to cover for their families.”
The farmer believes the Hollis shotgun, which has ten notches and is perfect working order, dates back to the 1860s as his great grandfather was a member of the Fenians. This shotgun was fired with black powder cartridges.
The second one is a Richardson and Harrington gun, which was used by members of the East Clare Brigade.
He also has other historical artefacts such as a cauldron from a Clare workhouse that was used during Famine times, a straw rope from the Famine, schoolbooks and a school desk from 1857, the original clock from Knockjames National School that was given by Fr Hugh Quigley on the opening day, a Mass rock cloth and material from an RIC barracks.
The family also kept Christmas cards from places like Lisdoonvarna dating back to 1920s.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.