Collins' family donates his guns to museum

[yellowjacket]

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1128380&issue_id=10458

THE personal protection weapon of Michael Collins has been handed over by his family to the National Museum.

The Luger pistol and its matching hand-made holster are to be put on show with other artifacts at Collins Barracks, Dublin, the museum building already named after him.

The family has also handed over a Mauser pistol, nicknamed "Peter the Painter". It was used by Tom Keogh, one of a squad known as the "Twelve Apostles," sent out by Collins, which in one day assassinated 12 suspected British intelligence agents in 1920.

The decommissioned weapons were handed over by the great grand-nephew of the original Collins, also called Michael. He said yesterday: "It was fun and exciting as a kid growing up to have a gun in the house - it brings the history home, brings it clearer."

Collins played a major part in the 1916 rising against British rule.

[FMolloy]

Collins played a major part in the 1916 rising against British rule.

That's debatable.

[parkman]

Mick Collins held the rank of captain in the volunteers and was 2/ic to James Mary Plunkett.Perhaps not a major role but not an insignificant one either.

[Strangely Brown]

It's a shame they have been decommissioned I always think it's an act of vandalism when it's of historic value to the nation, mind you if it's north of the border it can only be a good thing.