LETTERING BY FIONA BONIWELL
DeDications
DB – For John Butler my grandfather, a civilian in the Cav. Workshop on the Curragh, the only man allowed to weld the Sliabh na mBan. To Marcella, Erin, Ava & Kian for the support.
Mc – For Eve, Jack and Rachel Corrigan, and their cousin Maren, whose beautiful spirit watches over us.
FB – To Matt and Phoenix, thanks for all of your love and support.
Originally from Kildare, animator and illustrator David Butler now lives in Portarlington, County Laois. He is a graduate of the Dun Laoghaire Film Institute of Ireland, Animation Production Course. He has worked on several award-winning projects, including the BAFTA award-winning ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’. David has illustrated four original children’s books with Mario.
Website: anithing.ie
Instagram: @anithingartist · Twitter: @anithingartist
A librarian with Kildare Library Services, Mario Corrigan has written and edited many books on the history of Kildare. He has written four children’s books with schoolchildren, all of which were illustrated by David Butler.
As part of the Decade of Centenaries project in Kildare, he wrote a play A Terrible Beauty Exposed! and a narration for a series of concerts, Birth of a Nation, which included a performance in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
On 9 July 2022, he delivered the oration at the centenary commemoration for Cathal Brugha in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Website: mariocorriganblog.wordpress.com · Twitter: @mariomcorrigan
Fiona Boniwell is a comic creator based in Cork, Ireland. She has contributed to a number of Irish comics as an illustrator and lettering artist. Fiona also facilitates workshops and is equally passionate about creating and teaching comic art projects.
Her interests beyond comics centre on family and practising Kuk Sool Won (Korean martial arts) with them.
Website: boniwellgraphics.com
Instagram: @Boniwell_Graphics · Twitter: @FionaBoniwell
A fight was coming, and by God, Mick Collins would be in it!
Woodfield, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. 7 March 1897, the deathbed of Michael John Collins
You’ll do great work for Ireland. Michael, one day you’ll be a great man.
I shall not see Ireland free, but in my children’s time it will come, please God.
The seventh son of a seventh son, Michael’s father had the gift of prophesy: Mick was determined to make good on his father’s promise.
Having left Ireland for a job in the English Civil Service in 1906, and worked in several financial institutions, he joined the struggle for Irish Independence. The big Cork man became prominent in GAA circles, was sworn into the IRB by Sam Maguire and joined the Irish Volunteers.
THE RISING
Everybody out.
The Rebels took over the GPO. The Rising had begun.
At Easter 1916, while England fought a war in Europe and the Middle East, Irish rebels struck a blow for their independence. The flag of the Irish Republic was raised on the roof of their HQ at the General Post Office.
Pádraig Pearse read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, declaring all the people of Ireland equal citizens of their own independent state.
Ye have fought bravely.
Ye have held an empire at bay.. Be proud, lads.
Shells rained down on the roof of the GPO. The noise was deafening and the smoke and heat unbearable. Sackville Street (O’Connell Street) was soon in flames.
Michael Collins – The Big Fella or Mick, as the men knew him – was in the thick of it.
For almost a week they fought bravely as the might of the empire crushed down upon them.
He wrote a note to his wife as he bled out.
The brave O’Rahilly led a forlorn charge on a British barricade, and was cut down by rifle fire.
The rebels broke through the walls to escape through the adjacent buildings.
and keep your head down. Get the men moving Mick The GPO had to be abandoned.
Despite being wounded James Connolly directed operations but their position was untenable.
Finally, the commanders took the decision to surrender.
This will give us cover.Here, boys, help me.
The Easter Rising was over.
Pádraig Pearse surrendered to Brigadier General Lowe, British commander in the field.
Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell carried word to the British. Notification was sent to all the garrisons in the city.
We must prevent further bloodshed and loss of civilian life.
As the British converged on the GPO the rebels made their way through the back lanes and terraces, with little chance of success or survival.
The defeated rebels were marched to the grounds of the Rotunda Hospital, where they were kept in the courtyard for the night.
Look at this old Fenian b******, the might of the Sinn Féiners!
The defeated rebels were marched to the grounds of the Rotunda Hospital, where they were kept in the courtyard for the night. Veteran Fenian Tom Clarke, the first signatory of the Proclamation, was humiliated at the hands of a young officer, Captain Lea-Wilson..
For you, Big Fella,
Some day,
There’ll be another time.
I swear you will pay for this!
but not for me, I think.
ready aim
Michael Collins would free Ireland or die trying.
He and the other internees pledged to finish the job they had started at Easter 1916.
Here’s one of the ringleaders, Joseph Plunkett. Rebel scum.
No planting your shamrock here.Move it, Paddy.
Eventually the rebels were brought to Richmond Barracks. G-men circled like hyenas, identifying the known leaders of the Rising.
Within days, the ‘rebels’ were despatched to English prisons.
Mick learned about the execution of the leaders, including his beloved Plunkett and Connolly, while in Stafford Jail.
If you weren’t a rebel before this, we’ll make one of you!
Most of the prisoners, including Collins, were back home by Christmas.
Thank you for the position, Mrs Clarke. I won’t let you down.
The families of those who died depend on it.
Mick never missed an appointment or lost a file. Most nights, he grabbed three to four hours’ sleep. He was in contact with republicans all over Ireland.
In June, they were moved from Stafford Jail to Frongoch internment camp in north Wales. They were housed in cold, rat-infested wooden huts. But the rebels used the time to their advantage. New recruits were found amongst the internees. Irish language and history classes were taught, along with physical fitness and military techniques and tactics. Michael Collins began to establish a reputation. After a few days in Cork, he was back in Dublin. Tom Clarke’s widow gave him an opportunity, asking him to run the National Aid Association and Volunteers Dependents’ Fund. Goodbye Stafford hello Frongoch! The University of Revolution .Dear Mary, I am pleased to tell you …
De Valera, Constance Markievicz, Harry Boland and Thomas Ashe were released in June 1917 and welcomed home as heroes. Public opinion had changed to favour Sinn Féin. The Party won local by-elections to Westminster, but refused to take their seats. Dev won a landslide election victory in Clare in July.
Michael Collins shared a podium with Thomas Ashe at Ballinalee, Co. Longford, in July 1917.
Their speeches were deemed seditious, and warrants were issued for their arrest. Both men were now on the run.
The Big Fella meanwhile lost his heart to a young Longford woman, Kitty Kiernan.
We are not out for Home Rule or Colonial Home Rule, but for a free and independent Republic in Ireland. We have things to discuss get them in.
Tom Ashe and Harry Boland, men after me own heart!
First it was Harry Boland to come calling and now you, Mr Collins. Men of taste in awe of great beauty, Miss Kiernan.
The Stag’s Head, The Old Stand and Vaughan’s Hotel were popular meeting spots.