Michael Collins - Sam's Cross

Michael Collins, born 16 October 1890 near Sam’s Cross (named after Sam Wallace, a local highwayman) in West Cork.

In 1916 he returned from London where he been actively involved with the Gaelic Athletic League and in the Irish Republican Brotherhood, he became secretary then president.
On the 6 July 1922 he was elected Commander in Chief of the Irish National Army (IRA). He visited his troops in the Cork region in August 1922 and having passed through Woodfield, stopped at the ‘Four Alls’ pub where his mother was born. On his return trip he again passed through Bandon and around 8pm on the 22 August, his convoy was ambushed, and only one person was killed – Michael Collins. Controversy still surrounds that event as to who actually killed him.