Michael Collins Centre

Michael Collins (1890-1922), Irish revolutionary and chairman of the Provisional Government was born on 16 October 1890 at Woodfield, Clonakilty, County Cork. 

The Michael Collins Memorial Centre, in Clonakilty provides a comprehensive presentation, by expert guides, on the life and times of the famous leader with a guided tour of an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia.

Tim and Dolores Crowley have been interpreting the life of Michael Collins since 1997, when they organized the first Michael Collins Tours, taking visitors to the important sites in West Cork associated with the famous patriot. The Crowleys opened a Heritage centre on their farm in 2000 and have now designed an ambush trail, a one hundred meter section of road designed to look like a War of Independence/Civil War ambush site.

The tour includes a walk through a life size replica of an ambush site with Crossley Tender and Rolls Royce Armored Car. Michael Collins Tours to his birth place at Woodfield, and Béal na mBláth, his place of death, is available by appointment. The Heritage Park interprets the history and folklore of West Cork through a Heritage Centre theatre and life size replicas of historical monuments found in the landscape. Special presentations are organized for a group which includes storytelling and baking is available.