I (I suppose like many) have a family story relating to Michael Collins and wonder if anyone recognises any of these links please?
My old aunt, Dora who passed away a few months ago at the grand old age of 95 was bright as a button, clear headed, had a fantastic memory and I have no reason to doubt a word she said. She told me that when she was a child b1912, the family, (who lived in Penarth, Glamorgan, but who originated from Cork - the family moved in the 1840s)Dora said the family had a visitor come to stay, on his way to Liverpool to catch a boat. This visitor gave Dora a whistle. She loved the toy and a day or so was playing with it on the street when a policeman walked past and snatched the toy off her. She cried and asked why he'd taken it and he replied that it was a real policeman's whistle and she shouldn't have it! Dora said the visitor who gave it to her was Michael Collins. Collins was the name of her grandmother, Catherine, who married Patrick Fielding in the 1830s and the family moved from Cork to South Wles in the 1840s. I'm looking for connections, but as I'm sure you know, its difficult. Thank you all for taking time to read this. All the best