If you’ve ever walked through a small town in West Cork or wandered into a dusty antique shop in Dublin, you might have seen one. It’s small, often framed in dark wood, and usually features a stern but handsome man in a military tunic. The Michael Collins memorial card isn't just a piece of paper. Honestly, for many Irish families, it’s a secular relic.
When Collins was shot at Béal na Bláth on August 22, 1922, the country didn't just lose a politician. They lost "The Big Fellow." The grief was so massive—one-fifth of the entire population turned out for his funeral—that people scrambled for anything to hold onto. These cards became the physical manifestation of that heartbreak.
What Exactly Is a Michael Collins Memorial Card?
Basically, it's a "In Memoriam" card, similar to the ones handed out at Irish wakes today, but with the weight of a national tragedy behind it. Most of the original 1922 versions are small—about 4 by 2 inches—and carry a very specific aesthetic. You’ve got the black border, a photograph of Collins (often the one in his General’s uniform), and a prayer or a poem.
Some of the rarest ones were printed by Burgess in London or local printers in Dublin immediately following the ambush. One famous version features a deeply moving poem that starts with: “Oh! hideous war! that splits our land / Whilst brother 'gainst brother strives.” It’s a direct reference to the Civil War that took his life.
You’ll find variations in the text. Some are in English, while others use a beautiful, archaic Irish script with Celtic motifs. Collectors and historians treat these differently based on their provenance. A card that belonged to a family member, like the McGuill family (who were related to Collins through his sister Margaret), is worth significantly more than a mass-produced souvenir from the 1960s.
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Why Do People Still Collect Them?
It's kinda wild when you think about it. It’s been over a century. Yet, at auctions like Whyte’s or Mullen’s, an original Michael Collins memorial card can easily fetch anywhere from €500 to over €1,100 depending on the condition and the specific print run.
Why? Because they represent a "what if" moment in history.
- The Personal Connection: For many, owning a card is like owning a piece of the man himself.
- The Rarity: Many of these were carried in wallets or tucked into Bibles, meaning they got worn down, stained, or lost. Finding one in "EF" (Extremely Fine) condition is a big deal.
- The Folklore: There’s a story about Collins' own personal Bible, which was auctioned recently. Inside it? A memorial card for his sister-in-law. Even the man who organized the nation used these cards to process his own grief.
Identifying an Original vs. a Reproduction
You've got to be careful here. Because Collins is such a massive figure, there are tons of reprints out there. Some are honest "commemorative" prints made for the 50th or 100th anniversaries, while others are sold as "vintage" when they’re actually just aged with tea bags.
An authentic 1922 card usually has specific letterpress indentations. You can feel the ink on the page. The paper stock is often a heavy, slightly textured card or even a "green cloth-backed" material. If the photo looks too crisp—like a modern digital print—it probably is. The originals have a certain softness to the halftone dots in the photograph.
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The Cultural Weight of the "Big Fellow"
Mentioning Michael Collins in Ireland still sparks a debate. Some see him as the lost President who could have unified the island. Others focus on his role in the Treaty. But the memorial card transcends the politics. It’s a piece of funerary equipment that shows how a nation mourns.
It’s interesting to note that for decades, the Irish government sort of airbrushed Collins out of the official narrative because of the messy politics of the Civil War. During that time, these memorial cards were kept in private—hidden in dresser drawers or behind larger family photos. They were a quiet act of rebellion and remembrance.
What to Do If You Find One
If you happen to find a Michael Collins memorial card in an attic or a local market, don't just throw it on eBay.
First, keep it out of direct sunlight. The ink used in the early 1920s fades faster than you’d think. Second, get it appraised by someone who knows Irish revolutionary history. Places like the National Archives of Ireland or the Michael Collins House in Clonakilty are great resources for seeing what the real deal looks like.
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Actionable Insights for Collectors:
- Check the edges: Original cards often show "foxing" (brown spots) or slight scuffing that matches the age of the paper.
- Verify the Printer: Look for names like "Burgess" or specific Dublin-based printers from the 1920s.
- Provenance is King: If you have a letter or a family story that places the card at the funeral in August 1922, document it. That's what turns a piece of paper into a museum-grade artifact.
- Storage: Use acid-free sleeves. Never use "magnetic" photo albums from the 80s; the adhesive will ruin the card forever.
Owning one of these is basically holding a snapshot of the day the "Old Ireland" died and the new one began, messy and painful as it was. It’s a small bit of cardboard that carries the weight of a whole country’s tears.
Next Steps for Research:
If you're looking to verify a card you've found, your best bet is to compare it against the digitized collections at the National Archives of Ireland. They recently acquired a rare specimen that includes the "Oh! hideous war!" poem, which serves as a gold standard for authentication. You can also visit the Michael Collins Centre in Clonakilty to see personal items that were salvaged from the ambush site, giving you a better sense of the materials and textures used during that era.