Michael Collins Sams Cross Commemoration Committee will be hosting a number of events marking the life of 'The Big Fella'. Chronology of Michael Collins
Important dates in Michael Collins Life

16th. October 1890, Michael Collins is born near Clonakilty Co.Cork.

1895, Collins enters Lisavaird National School.

1906, Collins emigrates to London at age 15 after passing entrance exam for British civil service, where from July 1906 to early 1910 he works as a clerk at the Post Office Savings Bank, followed by employment in private financial institutions.

November 1909, Collins is sworn in as a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

1915, Collins joins Morgan Guaranty Bank’s London office.

January 1916, Collins resigns position with Bank, returns to Ireland and joins the Irish Volunteers under command of Eoin McNeill.

April 1916, Collins participates in Easter Uprising as a combatant inside Dublin’s GPO, and is afterwards transported to Frongoch prison camp, Wales, for internment.

December 1916, Collins is released under a general amnesty and returns to Ireland where he becomes a member of the IRB’s Supreme Council.

February 1917, Collins becomes Secretary of the Irish National Aid Association to assist dependants of Irish political prisoners or those killed during the Easter Rising.

May 1918, Britain undertakes ‘German Plot’ arrests, but Collins eludes British dragnet.

June 1918, British Government suppresses Sinn Fein, but movement wins second consecutive by-election for parliamentary seat with de Valera’s victory in Co. Clare. Sinn Fein’s policy of abstentionism from House of Commons implemented.

1918-1919, Collins plays central role in setting up underground newspapers, building an intelligence network along with an arms smuggling system.

October 1918, British Government announces its intention of introducing conscription in Ireland.

December 1918, British General Election held with Sinn Fein winning vast majority of parliamentary constituencies, decimating the Irish Party in the process. Collins elected for South Cork constituency.

January 1919, Dail Eireann is established. On same day Jan 21st, two policemen are killed in an ambush in County Tipperary by local Volunteers, setting the stage for the Anglo – Irish War.

February 1919, Collins actively assists Eamon deVaIera from England’s Lincoln Jail.

November 1920, Guerilla war against British rulte in Ireland escalates against backdrop of death via hunger strike of Cork’s Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney and the execution of Kevin Barry.

April 1920 Collins home at woodfield burned by auxiliaries commanded by Lt Percival. Promoted to Lt General Percival he would during WW2 surrendered the British forces to the Japanese at Signapore. The only Commander to ever surrender in British Military History.

20 November 1920 ‘Bloody Sunday’ when Collins’s  assassination squad wipes out British intelligence network in Dublin, an event which is followed by attack by British forces upon spectators at Croke Park.

December 1920, De Valera returns from 18 months spent in the US. Seeks truce with British but Collins opposes effort.