Foxford-made blanket accompanied Michael Collins on his final journey

A travel blanket presented to General Michael Collins by Foxford Woollen Mills in July 1922, a month before he was killed, accompanied him on his last journey to hospital after he was shot in Co. Cork.

The blanket, or ‘throw’ as it is sometimes described, was gifted to Collins by the mills on his appointment as Commander in Chief of the newly established Irish Army.

The blanket was in Collins’ armoured car at the time of the ambush and accompanied his remains to Shankiel Hospital in Cork where it was recovered by a caring nurse, Nora O’Donoghue.

The blanket was later donated to the National Museum.

A special function to mark the 100th anniversary of the presentation of the blanket was held in the Woollen Mills.

Former Minister Nora Owen, a grandniece of Michael Collins, was a special guest.

The Foxford Mills have reproduced the 1922 blanket, coloured olive, gold and white, in conjunction with the Michael Collins House, Clonakilty, Co. Cork.

Mrs. Owen was presented with one of the commemorative rugs.

Speakers included Tracey Smith, marketing manager at the mills, Mrs. Owen, Jamie Murphy of the Michael Collins Museum in Cork, Sr. Collette of the Sisters of Charity and two local public representatives, Councillors Gerry Coyle and Neil Cruise.

In her address, Mrs. Owen spoke eloquently about her late granduncle, stressing that not only was he a military and political figure but also had business acumen with a strong vision for the development of the nation, post Treaty.

“He was CEO, chief executive of Ireland,” Mrs. Owen stated.

The proceedings included a presentation to Colonel Caimhin Keogh, on behalf of the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. General Sean Clancy.

Jamie Murphy, representing the Michael Collins House Museum, speaking to The Connaught Telegraph, said that General Collins would have died almost immediately from gunshot wounds sustained in the Beal na mBlath ambush.

“The (Foxford) rug was probably used to cover the body as it was being transferred to hospital,” Mr. Murphy explained.

He added that the rug, which is in the care of the National Museum, spent some time in Britain before being transferred back to Ireland.

Mr. Murphy pointed out that apart from the Foxford gesture, Collins’ connections with Mayo were strong.

“He had an older sister, Kate, a teacher, living in Bohola. She was married to Joseph Sheridan, brother of Martin, the Olympian.”

Mr. Murphy said it wasn’t known where the presentation of the rug to General Collins was made but it could have been done in April 1922 when Collins visited Castlebar.

Councillor Gerry Coyle, whose father, Henry, was an IRA activist based in Scotland and a friend of General Collins, spoke at last week’s function, as did Councillor Neil Cruise.

Both men are Fine Gael representatives on Mayo County Council.